How to Get an EIN for Your LLC (Free IRS Method)

An Employer Identification Number (EIN) is a nine-digit number the IRS assigns to your business for tax purposes. Think of it as a Social Security number for your LLC. You need one to open a business bank account, hire employees, file business taxes, and apply for business credit.

The best part: getting an EIN is completely free and takes about 5-10 minutes online.

Do You Need an EIN?

Technically, a single-member LLC with no employees can use the owner’s Social Security number for tax purposes. But there are several reasons to get an EIN anyway:

Banks require it. Most banks won’t open a business account without an EIN.
It protects your SSN. You can give vendors and clients your EIN instead of your personal Social Security number.
You’ll need one eventually. If you ever hire employees, take on a partner, or elect S-corp tax treatment, you’ll need an EIN.
It’s free. There’s literally no reason not to get one.

Bottom line: Every LLC should get an EIN, even single-member LLCs with no employees.

What You’ll Need Before Applying

Gather this information before starting the application:

Your LLC’s legal name — Exactly as it appears on your Articles of Organization
Your LLC’s mailing address — Can be a home address or business address
The responsible party’s name and SSN/ITIN — This is the person the IRS considers the primary point of contact (usually the owner or a managing member)
Your LLC’s formation date — The date your state approved your Articles of Organization
Your LLC’s formation state
The reason you’re applying — Usually “Started a new business”
Expected number of employees — Enter 0 if you don’t plan to hire right away
Your LLC’s primary business activity

Step-by-Step: Getting Your EIN Online (Free)

Step 1: Go to the IRS EIN Assistant

Navigate to irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/apply-for-an-employer-identification-number-ein-online.

Click “Apply Online Now” and then “Begin Application.”

Important: The IRS online EIN application is only available Monday through Friday, 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM Eastern Time. If you try outside those hours, you’ll get an error message.

Step 2: Select Your Entity Type

Choose “Limited Liability Company (LLC)” from the list of entity types. This tells the IRS you’re applying for an LLC, not a corporation or sole proprietorship.

Step 3: Confirm the Number of Members

Select how many members (owners) your LLC has. This determines your default tax classification:

Single-member LLC — Taxed as a sole proprietorship (disregarded entity) by default
Multi-member LLC — Taxed as a partnership by default

You can always change your tax election later by filing Form 8832 (entity classification) or Form 2553 (S-corp election).

Step 4: Select “Started a New Business”

Under “Reason for Applying,” choose “Started a new business.” If you’re converting from a sole proprietorship to an LLC, you’ll still typically select this option.

Step 5: Enter the Responsible Party Information

The “responsible party” is the individual who controls or manages the LLC. For a single-member LLC, this is you. For a multi-member LLC, it’s typically the managing member.

Enter:

Full legal name
Social Security Number or ITIN
Date of birth
Home address (or business address)

The responsible party must be an individual — you can’t list another business entity.

Step 6: Enter Your LLC Details

Fill in:

Legal name of LLC — Must match your state filing exactly, including “LLC” at the end
Trade name/DBA — Only if you operate under a different name
County and state — Where the LLC is physically located
Mailing address — Where the IRS should send correspondence

Step 7: Describe Your Business

Select the category that best describes your LLC’s primary activity (e.g., “Retail,” “Real Estate,” “Consulting,” “Construction”). Then provide a brief description.

Also enter:

The date you started (or will start) your business
The last month of your accounting year (December for most LLCs)
Highest number of employees expected in the next 12 months

Step 8: Receive Your EIN

After submitting, the IRS generates your EIN immediately. You’ll see it on screen along with a confirmation notice (CP 575).

Download and save this confirmation immediately. Print it or save it as a PDF. The IRS will also mail a physical copy to the address you provided, but that takes 4-6 weeks. If you lose the online confirmation and don’t receive the mailed copy, getting a replacement is a hassle.

Alternative Methods (If Online Doesn’t Work)

By Fax (Form SS-4)

Download Form SS-4 from irs.gov, fill it out, and fax it to:

(855) 641-6935 — For applicants with a principal business in one of the 50 states or D.C.

You’ll receive your EIN by fax within 4 business days.

By Mail (Form SS-4)

Mail your completed Form SS-4 to: Internal Revenue Service Attn: EIN Operation Cincinnati, OH 45999

Processing takes 4-6 weeks.

By Phone (International Applicants Only)

If you don’t have a U.S. SSN or ITIN, you can apply by calling (267) 941-1099 (not a toll-free number). Available Monday-Friday, 6:00 AM to 11:00 PM Eastern Time.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Applying before your LLC is approved. You need your LLC to be officially formed before applying for an EIN. The IRS asks for your formation date and state — you need those details.

Paying a third party for your EIN. The IRS charges nothing for an EIN. Some LLC formation services charge $50-$100 to get your EIN as an add-on. While the convenience may be worth it to some, know that you’re paying for someone to fill out the same free form you can complete in minutes.

Getting the LLC name wrong. Your EIN application name must match your state filing exactly. If your Articles of Organization say “Smith Consulting LLC,” don’t enter “Smith Consulting, LLC” (with a comma) or “Smith Consulting” (without LLC). An exact match prevents issues down the road.

Losing your confirmation. The CP 575 notice is the official proof of your EIN. Banks, lenders, and other entities may ask for it. Save it digitally the moment you receive it.

Applying multiple times. Each entity should have only one EIN. If you accidentally apply twice, you’ll end up with two EINs — which creates a headache with the IRS. If this happens, call the IRS Business & Specialty Tax Line at (800) 829-4933 to resolve it.

What to Do After Getting Your EIN

With your EIN in hand, you can:

Open a business bank account — See our guide on how to open a business bank account for your LLC
Apply for business credit cards
Set up payroll (if hiring employees)
File for any needed tax elections (like S-corp treatment via Form 2553)
Register for state and local taxes (sales tax, payroll tax, etc.)

Your EIN doesn’t expire and doesn’t need to be renewed. You’ll use the same number for the life of your LLC unless you change the entity structure (e.g., converting to a corporation) or the ownership structure changes significantly.

Should Your LLC Formation Service Handle This?

Most LLC formation services offer EIN registration as an add-on. Services like ZenBusiness include it in their premium tiers, while Northwest Registered Agent offers it as an optional add-on.

If you’re comfortable filling out an online form (and you’ve made it this far in the article, so you probably are), save the money and do it yourself. The whole process takes less than 10 minutes, and you’ll have your EIN before you finish your coffee.