LLC EIN: How to Get Your Tax ID Number (2026 Guide)

What an EIN Is and What It Does for Your LLC

An Employer Identification Number (EIN), also called a Federal Tax Identification Number, is a unique nine-digit number assigned by the IRS to identify your business for federal tax purposes. It is formatted as two digits, a hyphen, and seven digits (for example: 47-1234567). The IRS uses it to track your business's tax obligations, filings, and payments.

Think of it as the Social Security Number for your LLC. Just as your SSN identifies you as an individual taxpayer, your EIN identifies your LLC as a business taxpayer in the federal system. The two numbers coexist: you keep your personal SSN for personal tax matters; the EIN handles business tax matters.

Here is what your LLC's EIN enables you to do:

• Open a business bank account. Most banks require an EIN to open a dedicated business checking account for an LLC, even for single-member LLCs. This is the most common practical reason new LLC owners apply for an EIN immediately after formation.
• Hire employees. Any LLC with employees must have an EIN to file payroll taxes, withhold income taxes, and issue W-2 forms. This is a legal requirement with no exceptions.
• File certain tax returns. Multi-member LLCs must file Form 1065 (partnership return) under an EIN. LLCs electing S-Corp or C-Corp treatment must file under an EIN.
• Elect S-Corp or C-Corp tax treatment. Filing Form 2553 (S-Corp election) or Form 8832 (entity classification) requires an EIN.
• Protect your SSN on W-9 forms. When clients or vendors request your taxpayer ID on a W-9, you can provide your EIN instead of your personal Social Security Number. This limits how widely your SSN circulates in vendor systems and reduces identity theft risk.
• Apply for business licenses and permits. State and local agencies commonly require an EIN on business license applications.
• Apply for business credit. Establishing a credit history in the LLC's name rather than your personal name requires an EIN.
• Accept certain payment processing. Payment platforms including Stripe, PayPal, and Square use your EIN or SSN for IRS 1099-K reporting above applicable thresholds.

When Your LLC Is Required to Have an EIN

The IRS has clear rules about when an EIN is mandatory versus optional. For multi-member LLCs the answer is straightforward: always required. For single-member LLCs the rules are more nuanced, but the practical answer is that almost every LLC owner needs one.

The IRS's official position, from the Single Member Limited Liability Companies guidance page: "A single-member LLC that is a disregarded entity that does not have employees and does not have an excise tax liability does not need an EIN." However, the next line of practical reality is that most banks do not care about this technicality. When you walk in to open a business checking account for your LLC, most banks will ask for your EIN. Without one, you may be limited to a sole proprietor account under your personal SSN, which defeats the purpose of maintaining proper LLC financial separation.

Single-Member LLC: Technically Optional, Practically Necessary

The IRS classification of single-member LLCs as "disregarded entities" creates a quirk: the IRS technically permits the owner to use their SSN for income tax purposes. But the practical reality of running a business means almost every single-member LLC owner ends up needing an EIN within months of formation, if not immediately.

Why single-member LLC owners need an EIN in practice

Banks: Most major U.S. banks require an EIN to open a dedicated LLC business checking account. Chase, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, and most community banks ask for an EIN during the business account application. Mercury, Relay, and most business-focused online banks also require an EIN. Operating your LLC through a personal checking account commingling personal and business funds is the fastest way to lose your liability protection.

Identity theft protection: As a sole proprietor or disregarded LLC without an EIN, you provide your Social Security Number on every W-9 form submitted to clients and vendors. Each of those organizations stores your SSN in their accounting systems, vendor databases, and payment processors. Every additional exposure point is an additional identity theft risk. An EIN shields your SSN from circulating widely in business systems.

Future-proofing: The moment you hire your first employee or elect S-Corp status, an EIN becomes mandatory. Applying before you reach those thresholds means the EIN is already registered and ready when you need it, rather than causing a delay in your payroll setup or tax election timeline.

Vendor and platform requirements: Many wholesale suppliers, e-commerce platforms, resale certificate applications, and contractor onboarding processes ask for a business EIN. Some require it even for sole-operated LLCs to verify your business is a legitimate registered entity.

What to Do Before You Apply for an EIN

Getting the order of operations right matters. Applying for an EIN before your LLC exists is the most common mistake new business owners make, and it causes delays because the IRS will not process the application until the entity is legally formed.

Step 1: Form your LLC with your state first. File your Articles of Organization and wait for state approval. The IRS guidance states explicitly: "If you are forming a legal entity, form your entity through your state before you apply for an EIN. If you don't form your entity with your state first, your EIN application may be delayed." Some states approve LLCs online within a day (Delaware, Wyoming); others take 2 to 6 weeks for standard processing.

Step 2: Have your LLC's approval documents ready. When you apply for an EIN, the IRS will ask for your LLC's legal name exactly as registered with your state. Errors in the name on your EIN application that do not match your state filing can cause mismatches in IRS records. Pull up your state-approved Articles of Organization and copy the name character for character.

Step 3: Know your responsible party's information. The EIN application requires the name and Social Security Number of the LLC's "responsible party": the individual who controls the LLC's assets and operations. For a single-member LLC, this is you. For a multi-member LLC, designate one member. The IRS uses this to link the EIN to an individual for accountability purposes. Nominees (people acting on behalf of the actual owner) are not permitted as responsible parties.

How to Apply for an EIN Online: Step by Step

Application Methods Compared: Online, Phone, Fax, and Mail

For anyone with a U.S. SSN, the online method is the clear choice: it is free, instant, and takes less time than any alternative. Phone is the appropriate route for non-U.S. residents applying from outside the country. Fax and mail are slow and provide no advantage over the online application for U.S.-based applicants.

Non-U.S. Residents: How to Apply for an EIN Without an SSN

The IRS online EIN application requires a U.S. Social Security Number or ITIN (Individual Taxpayer Identification Number). Non-U.S. residents who have formed a U.S. LLC but do not have an SSN must use the phone or fax method instead.

Phone application (recommended for non-U.S. residents)

Call the IRS International EIN line at 267-941-1099 (not toll-free). Hours are Monday through Friday, 6 AM to 11 PM Eastern Time. Before calling, complete Form SS-4 from IRS.gov so you have all required information ready. An IRS representative will ask questions from the form and assign your EIN during the call. Write down the EIN number verbally provided, as they will also mail a confirmation.

Fax application (alternative)

For applicants outside the U.S., fax Form SS-4 to 304-707-9471. Processing takes approximately 8 business days. The IRS will fax back confirmation with your EIN.

Some LLC formation services, including Northwest Registered Agent (with SSN: free; without SSN: approximately $50), handle EIN applications for non-U.S. residents who prefer to avoid the phone process. This is one of the few cases where paying for EIN assistance is reasonable, since the alternative requires an international phone call during Eastern Time business hours.

What to Do Immediately After Getting Your EIN

Your EIN is issued. Here is the correct sequence of actions in the hours and days that follow:

• Save the confirmation PDF in at least two locations. Your computer, a cloud service (Google Drive, Dropbox), and ideally a printed copy with your LLC's formation documents. The IRS CP 575 letter arriving by mail in 4 to 6 weeks is the "official" confirmation banks prefer for account opening, but your on-screen EIN number is immediately valid.
• Open your business bank account. Take your EIN confirmation, your LLC's Articles of Organization (state-approved), and a government-issued ID to your bank of choice. Most banks allow online account opening with uploaded documents. A dedicated LLC business account is essential for maintaining the liability protection your LLC provides.
• Update your LLC's operating agreement to include the EIN if your operating agreement has a field for it. Keep a copy of the EIN with your other LLC governance documents.
• Register for state taxes if required. An EIN from the IRS does not automatically register you for state income tax, sales tax, or payroll taxes. Many states have their own tax ID registration requirements. Check your state's revenue department website for requirements specific to your business type and location.
• Provide your EIN to your registered agent service if they requested it. Some services update their records with the EIN for compliance tracking purposes.
• Use your EIN on all future W-9 forms submitted to clients and vendors to keep your SSN out of their systems.

Common Mistakes That Delay or Complicate the EIN Application

Applying before the LLC is formed with the state

The most common mistake. The IRS requires your LLC to be legally formed before applying. If you apply before your state approves the Articles of Organization, the IRS may reject or delay the application. Wait for state confirmation, then immediately apply for the EIN.

LLC name mismatch on the application

The LLC name on your EIN application must match your state-approved name character for character. Abbreviating "Limited Liability Company" as "LLC" when your state filing says "Limited Liability Company" (or vice versa), omitting a comma, or any other discrepancy creates a mismatch in IRS records. Copy the name directly from your Articles of Organization.

Closing the browser before downloading the confirmation

The EIN confirmation screen cannot be recovered once closed. The IRS does not allow you to go back to retrieve it. If you close without downloading, you will need to call the IRS at 800-829-4933 during business hours to request a 147C verification letter, which takes additional time and a phone call. Always download the confirmation PDF as the very first action after your EIN appears on screen.

Applying outside available hours

The IRS online EIN system is only available Monday through Friday, 7 AM to 10 PM Eastern Time. It is not available on weekends, federal holidays, or outside those hours. If you attempt to apply outside this window, you will encounter an error or blocked page. Plan your application for a business day within these hours.

Using the wrong responsible party

The responsible party must be an individual with actual control over the LLC, not a nominee or placeholder. Using a nominee as the responsible party is explicitly prohibited by the IRS and creates problems if the IRS later audits the responsible party designation. For single-member LLCs, the responsible party is the owner. For multi-member LLCs, designate the member with primary control.

Applying multiple times

The IRS allows only one EIN application per responsible party per day. If you receive an error message during your application and are unsure whether it processed, do not immediately reapply. Check with the IRS at 800-829-4933 before submitting again to avoid accidentally receiving two EINs for one entity.

EIN vs SSN on W-9 Forms: The Answer for Single-Member LLCs

This question causes significant confusion because the IRS's technical guidance and the practical behavior of most business owners do not fully align.

What the IRS technically says: For a single-member LLC classified as a disregarded entity, the IRS instructs that W-9 forms should use the owner's name on Line 1 and the owner's Social Security Number as the taxpayer identification number. This is because the income is reported on the owner's personal return, not a separate business return.

What most single-member LLC owners actually do: Use their LLC's EIN on W-9 forms to avoid distributing their SSN to every client and vendor they work with. The IRS can link the EIN to the owner's SSN in their database because the EIN application itself required the owner's SSN as the responsible party. In practice, providing your EIN consistently on W-9 forms does not cause problems as long as you report the income correctly on your personal return.

The practical guidance: If you have an EIN for your single-member LLC, use it on W-9 forms to protect your SSN. Be consistent: use the same EIN or SSN across all business transactions, not switching between them. Include your EIN in the business information section of your Schedule C when you file taxes, creating a clear record linking the EIN to your personal return for the IRS. This is the approach most tax professionals recommend for single-member LLC owners who have obtained an EIN.

When You Need a New EIN

An EIN assigned to your LLC is permanent and stays with the entity for its life. Most changes to your business do not require a new EIN. However, certain structural changes do:

If you are unsure whether a business change requires a new EIN, refer to the IRS's "When to Get a New EIN" guidance at IRS.gov, or consult a CPA before applying for a new one. Applying for an unnecessary EIN creates duplicate records that must be reconciled.

For a complete post-formation checklist covering EIN, business bank account, operating agreement, registered agent, and annual report deadlines in order, see our LLC formation guides. For a comparison of LLC formation services before you commit, see our 2026 LLC Formation Service Checklist.

FTC Disclosure: OnlineLLCGuide.com earns affiliate commissions when you sign up through our links. These commissions do not affect our editorial positions.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get an EIN for my LLC?

Go to IRS.gov/ein and click "Apply Online Now." Select Limited Liability Company, enter your LLC's information and the responsible party's SSN, and submit. Your EIN appears on screen immediately. Download the confirmation page as a PDF right away. The application is free and available Monday through Friday, 7 AM to 10 PM Eastern Time. Your LLC must be legally formed with your state before applying.

How much does it cost to get an EIN for an LLC?

Zero dollars. The IRS issues EINs at no charge through their online application at IRS.gov/ein. Third-party websites that charge $50 to $99 for "EIN service" are completing the same free application on your behalf. There is no government fee associated with an EIN application under any circumstances.

Does a single-member LLC need an EIN?

Technically, a single-member LLC classified as a disregarded entity with no employees and no excise tax obligations does not need an EIN for federal income tax purposes and can use the owner's SSN. In practice, most single-member LLC owners need one because most banks require an EIN to open a business checking account, and using an EIN on W-9 forms protects your SSN from circulating widely. Getting an EIN is free and takes 10 minutes, so there is no practical reason to operate without one.

How long does it take to get an EIN?

Through the online IRS application: immediately, on the same screen where you submit. Through phone (international applicants): during the call. Through fax: approximately 8 business days as of early 2026. Through mail: approximately 30 days from when the IRS receives your application.

Can I apply for an EIN before forming my LLC?

No. The IRS requires the LLC to be legally formed with your state before applying. Applying before state approval may result in delays or rejection. Form your LLC first, receive your state approval documents, then immediately apply for the EIN.

Can I get an EIN without a Social Security Number?

Yes, but not through the IRS online application, which requires a U.S. SSN or ITIN. Non-U.S. residents without an SSN apply by calling the IRS international line at 267-941-1099 (Monday through Friday, 6 AM to 11 PM Eastern Time) or by faxing Form SS-4 to 304-707-9471. Both methods are free. Some LLC formation services charge approximately $50 to handle the application on your behalf, which is reasonable given the international call requirement.

What should I do if I lost my EIN confirmation?

Call the IRS Business Specialty Tax Line at 800-829-4933 (Monday through Friday, 7 AM to 7 PM local time) and request a 147C letter, which is an official EIN verification document. Have the LLC's legal name and your identification ready. The IRS can fax the 147C letter to you during the call or mail it to your address on file. Banks typically accept the 147C in lieu of the original CP 575 confirmation letter.

Does an EIN expire?

No. An EIN does not expire. Once assigned, it is permanent and stays with your LLC for the life of the business, even if the LLC is inactive for years. You do not renew an EIN. If you dissolve your LLC and later form a new one, the new LLC requires a new EIN: the dissolved LLC's EIN does not transfer.