How do I get an EIN?

Most people with US taxpayer IDs can quickly obtain an EIN on the IRS website. Applying online is the fastest method, but you can also potentially apply by fax or mail. US taxpayer status and other circumstances may affect your ability to use some of these methods.

This article will cover:

Do I need an EIN for my LLC?

Most LLCs will need an EIN to open a bank account and to pay employees. FinCEN's BOI report will also ask for your LLC's EIN, though SSNs are permitted for single-member LLCs. Therefore it’s possible that you may not need an EIN if you have a single-member LLC with no employees and no plans to open a bank account. That said, if you end up needing an EIN in the future, you should be aware that it can often take weeks or months to get one if you're unable to apply for one from the IRS website.

Applying on the IRS Website

You must have a US taxpayer ID to apply on the IRS website.

Most LLCs can obtain an EIN on the IRS website within a few minutes. The person who fills out the online application is typically one of the LLC's members. The IRS calls this person the "responsible party". Someone other than the responsible party may only apply for the EIN if they've received proper authorization.

Note that when the online EIN application asks where your LLC is physically located, they mean your LLC’s primary physical location. This is usually the address of wherever most of the work for your company is happening. For LLCs that don't yet have an office or who split activities between multiple locations, this is often the home address of one of the owners. It is not the address of your LLC's registered agent.

Be aware that eligibility to apply online does not guarantee you'll be able to obtain an EIN online. Some applicants may receive an error message directing them to apply by fax or mail.


Applying by Fax

You do not need a US taxpayer ID to apply by fax.

If you don't have a US taxpayer ID or can't apply online for some other reason, you can apply for an EIN by faxing the IRS your application, or Form SS-4. The IRS will then fax you back the new EIN back after it's been assigned. The IRS estimates a wait time of four business days to a week to assign the EIN, but we've observed that it can often take a month or longer. If you have questions about how to fill out Form SS-4, you can find more information on the IRS website. 

Applying by Mail

You do not need a US taxpayer ID to apply by mail.

Applying by mail is generally slower than applying by fax. If you choose to mail in your SS-4 instead of faxing it, the IRS estimates a wait time of four or five weeks. This is only an estimated turnaround time provided by the IRS and is not guaranteed.

Applying by Phone

Wyoming LLCs are not eligible for this method. 

Only LLCs that were formed outside of the US are eligible to apply for an EIN by phone. This can be a confusing topic because the IRS website states that "international applicants" may apply by phone. In practice, even if the LLC in question or its owners are located outside of the US, the IRS staff won’t allow LLCs formed in the US (including in Wyoming) to apply for an EIN by phone. If you consider yourself an "international applicant" but your LLC was formed in the US, you will need to apply for an EIN either online (if eligible) or by fax or mail. 

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