IRS EIN Application in 2026: What's Current and What's Outdated
Last updated November 10, 2026 · Written by the EIN Registration filing team
We file EIN applications every day and keep to the IRS's current rules. Answer a few questions and we take it from there.
Start Now →Current and outdated, side by side
| Topic | Current in 2026 | What older guides say |
|---|---|---|
| Online hours | Monday to Friday 6 a.m. to 1 a.m. (into the next day), Saturday 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday 6 p.m. to midnight, Eastern time. IRS page updated August 19, 2026. | Weekdays 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Eastern, closed at weekends. |
| Fax processing | 10 business days after receipt. IRS page updated October 2, 2026. | Four business days. |
| The form | Form SS-4 and its instructions, revision of December 2025. | Any copy with an earlier revision date at the top. |
| By phone | Only for applicants outside the United States. | That anyone can call the IRS and get an EIN. |
| The IRS "who needs an EIN" page | The list is on the IRS page "Employer identification number". The old address returned "not found" on November 10, 2026. | Links to "Do you need an EIN?", a page the IRS has retired. |
What has not changed
- The EIN is free. The IRS does not charge for it by any route.
- Who can apply online. A business in the United States or a U.S. territory whose responsible party has an SSN or ITIN.
- One EIN per responsible party per day. A second attempt the same day is refused.
- The error screen explains nothing. It shows a three-digit reference number and no meaning. See what each reference number means.
How long it takes in practice
EIN Registration delivered 23 EINs in the two weeks from November 2, 2026, and the median time from order to EIN was 2.1 hours in the first week and 4 hours in the second. Those were applications the online system accepted. A faxed application waits on the IRS. How long it takes to get an EIN sets the routes side by side.
What the IRS manual says
The IRS's own procedures for EIN applications are in Internal Revenue Manual section 21.7.13. These passages are quoted word for word.
“We are unable to provide you with an EIN. We apologize for the inconvenience, but based on the information provided we are unable to provide you with an EIN through this online assistant.”
IRM 21.7.13.3.4.1, Modernized Internet EIN (10-01-2026)
“Reference numbers 101 or 115 are directed to a CSR for assistance. All other reference numbers are routed to an automated message which provides instructions to correct invalid information and resubmit the application or submit Form SS-4, Application for Employer Identification Number, by mail or fax.”
IRM 21.7.13.3.4.1, Modernized Internet EIN (10-01-2026)
“advise the taxpayer to apply online later in the day, or they can submit a Form SS-4 by fax or mail.”
IRM 21.7.13.3.4.1.1, Technical Difficulties with the Online Application (10-01-2022)
The manual does not publish what each reference number means: the tables that list them are withheld from the public copy. The meanings on this page are what each number has meant on the applications we file. Source: IRM 21.7.13, Assigning Employer Identification Numbers, read November 10, 2026.
The manual section these come from, 21.7.13.3.4.1, carries a revision date of October 1, 2026.
Quick answers
What are the IRS EIN online application hours in 2026?
Monday to Friday 6 a.m. to 1 a.m. (into the next day), Saturday 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday 6 p.m. to midnight, Eastern time. Older guides give weekday hours of 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. and say it is closed at weekends. That is out of date.
How long does a faxed Form SS-4 take in 2026?
The IRS reports that it processes a faxed Form SS-4 10 business days after receipt, on its processing status page as updated October 2, 2026.
Is the EIN still free in 2026?
Yes. The IRS does not charge for an EIN, online, by fax or by mail.
Can I get an EIN by phone in 2026?
Only if you are applying from outside the United States, on the IRS international line. The IRS does not assign EINs by phone to applicants in the United States.
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. We file within 30 minutes of your order during IRS hours, and your EIN typically arrives the same day.
- ✓ Prepared and filed by specialists
- ✓ Error 101 and rejection handling included
- ✓ Data encrypted (AES-256)
- ✓ Order tracking and email updates
Related guides
- 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.
- IRS EIN Online Application Not Working? Every Cause and Fix Closed hours, session timeouts, the one per day rule, browser traps and the reference numbers, in the order to check them. Plus the method that does not depend on the website at all.
- How Long Does an EIN Take? Online, Fax and Mail Times The honest timeline for every application method, and what actually causes delays.
- How to Apply for an EIN by Fax: SS-4 Fax Numbers and What Comes Back 855-641-6935 for the 50 states and DC, two other numbers for everyone else. What to send, how long the IRS takes, the cover sheet it faxes back, the designee signature rule, and what to do when nothing comes back.
- IRS EIN Reference Numbers 101 to 115, Explained Every code the IRS online application can return, what it means in practice, and the fix. Which ones are your answers, which are the IRS, and which two you must not retry.
- 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.
Sources
You can also apply for an EIN directly with the IRS at irs.gov at no cost.