Tax ID for an LLC: Which Number to Use

Last updated November 5, 2026 · Written by the EIN Registration filing team

An LLC’s tax ID is usually its EIN, the nine-digit number from the IRS. An LLC with two or more members, employees, or a corporate tax election needs one. A one-owner LLC with none of those can use the owner’s number for federal income tax, though the bank will usually still want an EIN.

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Which number your LLC uses

Your LLC	Tax ID
Two or more members	The LLC’s EIN
Any LLC with employees	The LLC’s EIN
Elected S corporation or C corporation tax treatment	The LLC’s EIN
One owner, no employees, no election	The owner’s SSN or ITIN for income tax, or an EIN if the LLC has one for other reasons

For a W-9 from a one-owner LLC, see how to fill out a W-9 for an LLC.

How to get it

Apply once the state approves the LLC, in the exact legal name. Online answers in the same session when the IRS accepts it, and fax takes about 11 business days. How to get an EIN for an LLC covers each situation.

Other numbers people call a tax ID

The state LLC number identifies the company with the state, and is not a tax number.
State tax accounts cover state taxes such as sales tax and withholding.
A sales tax permit lets you collect sales tax.

Quick answers

Is an LLC's tax ID the same as its EIN?

Usually, yes. The exception is a one-owner LLC with no employees and no EIN, which can use the owner's SSN on federal income tax forms.

Can I use my SSN for my LLC?

For federal income tax, a one-owner LLC treated as part of its owner can. Banks generally want an EIN for an account in the LLC's name.

Is the state number the LLC's tax ID?

No. The number on your state approval identifies the company with the state. State tax accounts have separate numbers too.

Does an LLC need a new tax ID if it changes its name?

No. A name change alone keeps the same EIN, and you report it to the IRS.

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Related guides

How to Apply for an EIN for an LLC (LLC Tax ID Number) Nearly every LLC needs its own EIN for the bank, and multi-member LLCs and S corporation elections make it mandatory. The LLC lines on the SS-4, the timing after state approval, and the mistakes that get applications rejected.
How to Get an EIN for an LLC, by Situation What to do for your LLC's EIN when it is brand new, has one owner, has several, or already has a number.
EIN for a Single Member LLC: How to Get One, and the W-9 Question A single member LLC with no employees can file on the owner's SSN, but the bank, every W-9 and any S corporation election need the LLC's own EIN. When the IRS requires it, what the SS-4 asks a single owner, and which number goes on the W-9.
How to Fill Out a W-9 as an LLC or Sole Proprietor: EIN or SSN? Which name goes on line 1, which box to check and which number goes in Part I, for a sole proprietor, a single-member LLC and an LLC taxed as a partnership or corporation, from the form's own instructions.
LLC EIN Number: How to Find It or Get One What an LLC's EIN number looks like, where to find it, and how to get one if the LLC has none.

Sources

You can also apply for an EIN directly with the IRS at irs.gov at no cost.