EIN Guides
Everything about getting and using an Employer Identification Number, written by the team that prepares and files EIN applications every business day, including the failure modes the IRS’s own pages never explain.
Skip the paperwork. Our specialists prepare and file your EIN application and get your EIN to you, typically within 2 to 4 business days (7 to 10 if it has to go by fax).
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Do I Need an EIN? (Every Situation, Answered)
Banks require one in almost every case and the IRS requires one in six. Single-member LLC, sole proprietor, DBA, no employees, contractor, rental property, and the bank account question, each answered plainly.
Does a Single-Member LLC Need an EIN?
Almost every bank requires one to open the LLC's account, and hiring or electing S corporation status makes it mandatory. What actually happens, what the IRS rule says, and what goes on the SS-4.
EIN for a Sole Proprietor: Why Most Get One, and When It Becomes Mandatory
Most sole proprietors get an EIN to keep their SSN off W-9s, to open a business account, and to be ready to hire. It becomes mandatory with the first employee. What the SS-4 asks a sole proprietor.
Can You Get an EIN for a DBA?
A DBA is a name, not an entity, so the EIN belongs to whoever is behind it. What that means for a sole proprietor and for an LLC with several trade names, and the mistake that leaves a DBA with two numbers.
EIN Before or After the LLC? (And Whether You Need an LLC at All)
Form the LLC first, then apply for the EIN in the LLC's name. Why the order matters, what happens if you did it backwards, and how to get an EIN with no LLC at all.
Can You Get an EIN the Same Day?
Yes, on a weekday during IRS hours, if the online application completes. What stops it, what the realistic timeline is when it does, and who takes over from there.
Can You Get an EIN During a Government Shutdown?
In past shutdowns the IRS online EIN application kept running while phone, fax and mail processing stopped or slowed. What that means for each application method, and what to do if you cannot use the online tool.
Can You Get an EIN With an ITIN?
Yes. An ITIN works as the responsible party's number on Form SS-4. Which application methods accept it, which do not, and what to do when you have neither an SSN nor an ITIN.
Do You Need an EIN to Open a Business Bank Account?
For an LLC, corporation, partnership, estate or trust, the bank will ask for one. For a sole proprietor it depends on the bank. What each account type needs, and what else to bring.
How to Cancel or Close an EIN
An EIN is never reused or deleted, but the IRS will close the business account tied to it. When that is worth doing, what to write in the letter, and why a wrong EIN is a different fix.
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 7 to 10 when the IRS requires the application by fax. One flat $197 service fee. No upsells, no subscriptions.
- ✓ Prepared and filed by specialists
- ✓ Error 101 and rejection handling included
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EIN Registration is an independent document preparation and filing service and is not affiliated with the IRS or any government agency. You can also apply for an EIN directly with the IRS at irs.gov at no cost.