How To Get An EIN For Your LLC

If you run a limited liability company (LLC), you’ll most likely need an Employer Identification Number (EIN). This unique, nine-digit number identifies your business entity for tax and other legal purposes (such as opening a business bank account). 

You can apply for an EIN online, or via fax or mail. If you’re an international applicant, you can also apply by phone. Here, we’ll cover the steps for getting an EIN for your LLC online. If you’re ready to form your LLC and get an EIN, we can handle everything for you with our EIN Service.

To get an EIN for your LLC, visit the IRS website and enter the requested information in the online EIN application: 

Step 1: Choose your legal structure 

First, you’ll choose your legal structure. Your options include: 

• Sole proprietor
• Partnership
• Corporation
• LLC
• Estate
• Trust

Step 2:Explain how many members are in your LLC

For the purposes of this guide, we’ll focus on the steps for an LLC. If you selected LLC in the previous step, the next step will be entering how many members there are in your company. 

Step 3: Select your state

Next, you’ll select your state. This is the state / territory where your business is physically located. 

Step 4: Say why are you requesting an EIN

Now it’s time to enter why you’re requesting an EIN. Your options include: 

• Started a new business.
• Hired employee(s).
• Banking purposes.
• Changed type of organization.
• Purchased active business.

Step 5: Enter Responsible Party’s information

In step 5, you’ll need to enter the information for your responsible party. This is the individual that you’ve selected to be your principal officer throughout the EIN application process.

The “responsible party” is the person who ultimately owns or controls your business (otherwise known by the IRS as the “applicant entity”). Unless the applicant is a government entity, the responsible party must be an individual (in other words, a natural person).

The information you need to enter for your responsible party includes:

• First name.
• Middle name / initial.
• Last name.
• Suffix (Jr., Sr., etc.).
• Social Security Number (SSN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN).
• Choose one:
  • I am one of the owners, members, or the managing member of this LLC.
  • I am a third party applying for an EIN on behalf of this LLC.

Step 6: Add your address information 

Next, enter the address for where the business is physically located. This must be a U.S. address, and cannot be a PO Box. 

Step 7: Fill out additional details

Finally, you need to provide a few additional details about your LLC, such as:

• The legal name of your LLC.
• Your LLC’s trade name / DBA (only if different from the legal name).
• The county where your LLC is located.
• The state / territory where articles of organization (or whatever is applicable to your state) will be filed.
• Your LLC’s start date (this is the date your LLC was formed). 

Once you submit these details, you’ll be asked a few questions about your LLC, including: 

• Does your business own a highway motor vehicle with a taxable gross weight of 55,000 pounds or more?
• Does your business involve gambling / wagering?
• A few more questions regarding the specifics of your company, including the industry in which your LLC operates.

Step 8: Confirm your application 

Once you’ve completed the aforementioned steps, you simply need to confirm your application and select how you’d like to receive your confirmation letter! Your options are online or via mail. 

Upon approval of your EIN, the IRS will send your confirmation letter within 8 to 10 weeks of assigning you an EIN. 

Note: The IRS limits all businesses to one EIN per responsible party per day. 

Additional Ways to Apply for an EIN

As we already mentioned, you can also apply for an EIN via fax or mail. International applicants have yet an additional option: telephone. 

To apply by fax or mail, go to the IRS website and print off the EIN application (Form SS-4). Click on the appropriate link under the Apply by Fax and Apply by Mail headers to determine where to send your completed forms. 

International applicants have yet an additional option: telephone. Call 1-267-941-1099 between the hours of 6a.m. and 11p.m., Eastern, Monday through Friday. 

More Details on Applying for an EIN

As long as you have all the details in order for your application, getting an EIN is a fairly straightforward process. That said, we make it even easier. 

With our worry-free formation and EIN services, you can let us handle everything for you! No more worrying about whether you got the details right or missed a step. We’ll make sure everything is taken care of and fully compliant.

Want to learn more about EINs? Check out our other pages “What is an EIN?” and “How Much Does an EIN Cost?“

Disclaimer: The content on this page is for informational purposes only, and does not constitute legal, tax, or accounting advice. If you have specific questions about any of these topics, seek the counsel of a licensed professional.