EIN Application: Every Question It Asks
Last updated November 5, 2026 · Written by the EIN Registration filing team
Prefer not to answer these on an IRS form? Answer our shorter questions and we prepare and file the SS-4 for you.
Start Now →What the application asks
| Line | Question | What to watch |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Legal name | Match the state record exactly, including the suffix |
| 2 | Trade name | Only if you use a DBA |
| 3 | Care of name | Optional for most businesses. An estate or trust puts its executor or trustee here |
| 4 and 5 | Mailing and street address | IRS letters go to the mailing address |
| 6 | County and state | Where the business mainly operates |
| 7 | Responsible party and SSN or ITIN | A person, not a company or registered agent |
| 8 | LLC questions | Whether it is an LLC, how many members, formed in the U.S. |
| 9 | Entity type | Sets which returns the IRS expects from you |
| 10 | Reason for applying | Usually started a new business |
| 11 | Start date | For an LLC, the state formation date |
| 12 | Closing month of the tax year | Usually December |
| 13 to 15 | Employees and first wages | Leave at zero if you will not hire in the next 12 months |
| 16 and 17 | Main activity | Be specific about what you sell or do |
| 18 | Applied before? | Give the earlier EIN if there was one |
At the end, the Third Party Designee section lets you authorize someone to deal with the IRS on this application. For more on any line, see the Form SS-4 instructions.
The four answers that cause the most trouble
The legal name
A name close to one the IRS already has can return reference number 101. The application then has to go by fax, which takes about 11 business days.
The responsible party
The name and SSN must match Social Security records. A maiden name or a missing middle name can fail the check.
The entity type
A single-member LLC ticked as a sole proprietor puts the number on the owner rather than the LLC. See EIN for a single member LLC.
The start date
A date that does not match the state filing can create problems later with a bank or a tax return.
Online or on paper
The IRS online application gives you the number in the same session if it accepts your answers. A paper SS-4 goes by fax or mail, and you can check on its status while you wait.
Quick answers
What form is the EIN application?
Form SS-4. The IRS online tool asks for the same facts on screen, in its own order.
How do I check the status of my EIN application?
An online application answers in the session. For fax or mail, the status guide explains what to expect and when to call the IRS.
Can I change my EIN application after I submit it?
You correct it by writing to the IRS once the number is issued. The fix depends on the mistake, and starting a second application usually makes it worse.
Do I need my Social Security number?
The online tool needs the responsible party's SSN or ITIN. An applicant with neither can apply by fax or mail, or by phone if outside the U.S.
Get Your EIN the Easy Way
Answer a few questions in about 5 minutes. Our specialists prepare your IRS Form SS-4, file it, personally handle any rejection or name conflict along the way, and get your EIN to you, typically within 2 to 4 business days, or about 11 when the IRS requires the application by fax. One flat $197 service fee. No upsells, no subscriptions.
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Related guides
- How to Apply for an EIN What to check before you apply for an EIN, where to send it, and what happens after you submit.
- Form SS-4 Instructions, Line by Line Every line on the EIN application and what actually goes in it, with the entity-specific traps: Line 9a, Line 10, the responsible party, and the date the IRS wants.
- IRS EIN Assistant: How the Online EIN Application Works EIN Assistant is the IRS's name for its online EIN application. Every page of the rebuilt tool in order, the rules that end a session (hours, 15 minutes idle, one per day, SSN required), what to have ready, and what each reference number means when it returns one instead of an EIN.
- EIN Application Status: How to Check Whether Your EIN Was Issued There is no IRS status tracker. What each application method's wait really is, when to call the IRS and what to ask, why you must not apply again while waiting, and how a session that closed after submit usually still issued the number.
- Made a Mistake on Your EIN Application? How to Fix Each One A misspelled name, the wrong entity type, the wrong responsible party, an old address, or a second EIN by accident. For each: whether the IRS corrects the record or you need a new EIN, and the form, letter or call that does it.
You can also apply for an EIN directly with the IRS at irs.gov at no cost.