What Are the Online EIN Application Steps?
There are 5 steps: open the IRS EIN Assistant, choose the entity type, enter the responsible party and their SSN or ITIN, add the business address and reason, then submit and download the EIN. The full run takes about 15 minutes.
| Step | What you do | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Open the EIN Assistant | On irs.gov, weekdays 7am to 10pm ET |
| 2 | Choose the entity type | LLC, corporation, sole proprietor, or 1 of the others |
| 3 | Enter the responsible party | Name plus a valid SSN or ITIN, 9 digits |
| 4 | Add address and reason | Mailing address and why you are applying |
| 5 | Submit and download | EIN appears on screen; save the CP-575 PDF |
Source: IRS EIN Assistant and Form SS-4 instructions, verified August 2026.
The Assistant walks through the same fields as the paper SS-4 in 1 sitting, and it validates the SSN or ITIN before it will issue a number. Because the session cannot be saved, have all 5 inputs ready before you start. The exact form fields are broken down on the IRS EIN application form.
Confirm the business is already registered with the state before you begin, because the Assistant asks for the legal name exactly as it appears in the state filing. A mismatch between the SS-4 entry and the state record is the most common reason a bank later rejects the 9-digit number, so copy the name character for character. The full LLC walkthrough, field by field, sits on the LLC EIN application. Each of the 5 steps takes 2 to 3 minutes, and the Assistant validates the SSN or ITIN in real time before it moves past step 3, so an incorrect 9-digit entry stops the session immediately rather than after submission.
No SSN. No passport upload.
What Are the IRS Online Hours?
The EIN Assistant is open weekdays from 7am to 10pm Eastern Time. Each session times out after 15 minutes of inactivity, and the IRS issues only 1 EIN per responsible party per day.
| Rule | Detail |
|---|---|
| Days open | Monday through Friday, 5 weekdays |
| Hours | 7am to 10pm Eastern Time |
| Weekends | Closed Saturday and Sunday |
| Session timeout | After 15 minutes of inactivity |
| Daily limit | 1 EIN per responsible party per day |
Source: IRS, Apply for an Employer Identification Number Online, verified August 2026.
The 15-minute timeout is a security measure, so a half-finished session is discarded rather than saved. The 1-per-day cap applies to the responsible party across all 4 methods, not to the business, so a person forming 3 entities in a week applies on 3 separate days. Details on the number itself sit on the IRS EIN number.
Applicants who miss the 7am to 10pm ET window queue for the next weekday, and the Assistant retains no partial progress from an earlier visit. A person who already holds 1 EIN and needs a second entity waits until the next calendar day, since the 1-per-day cap counts the responsible party rather than the business; the rules for a second number are on a new EIN for an LLC. Once the number is assigned, the tasks it unlocks — opening a bank account, running payroll, and filing federal returns — are set out on using your EIN. The 10pm ET cutoff is firm, so a session started at 9:50pm still ends at the 15-minute timeout.
Can You Apply Online Without an SSN?
No. The online Assistant requires a valid SSN or ITIN and blocks anyone without one at the validation screen. Applicants with neither file Form SS-4 by fax to 855-641-6935 or 855-215-1627, and receive the EIN in 4 to 7 business days.
| Applicant | Online allowed? | Route and timing |
|---|---|---|
| Has an SSN or ITIN | Yes | Online Assistant, about 15 minutes |
| No SSN, US fax | No | Fax SS-4 to 855-641-6935, 4 to 7 days |
| No SSN, from abroad | No | Fax SS-4 to 855-215-1627, 4 to 7 days |
| International by phone | No | Call 267-941-1099, EIN on the call |
Source: IRS Form SS-4 instructions, line 7b, verified August 2026.
A no-SSN applicant enters the word Foreign on Form SS-4 line 7b, signs the 1-page form, and faxes it. The IRS returns the assigned EIN in 4 to 7 business days. This is the standard path for founders in 150-plus countries and is covered on LLC EIN without an SSN and EIN for a foreign-owned LLC.
The fax route accepts a 1-page SS-4 signed by the responsible party or an authorized third-party designee, and the IRS assigns the same 9-digit number it issues online. No passport upload and no US address are required to file by fax, which is why founders in 150-plus countries use it. A foreign owner who later loses the confirmation can request a 147C verification letter, explained on the 147C letter page, by calling the IRS at 267-941-1099. The fax method reaches the same IRS unit as the online tool, so the assigned EIN is identical in status and never marked as second-class.
No SSN. No passport upload.
What Do You Receive After Applying Online?
The EIN appears on the final confirmation screen the instant the IRS assigns it. You can download the CP-575 confirmation notice as a PDF and print it. The IRS issues only 1 CP-575 per EIN.
The on-screen 9-digit number is usable immediately, so you can open a bank account or run payroll the same day without waiting for mail. The CP-575 is the official confirmation letter, and because the IRS prints only 1 original, save the PDF the moment the session ends. A replacement confirmation, the 147C letter, is available later by calling 800-829-4933, and it is free. The number itself never renews, so there is no year-2 filing. More on the letter and the number sits on the IRS EIN number and what an EIN is.
The CP-575 lists the legal name, the mailing address, and the 9-digit EIN exactly as the IRS recorded them, and its layout is walked through on the LLC CP-575 letter page. If the original PDF is misplaced, the recovery steps are on a lost LLC EIN, and a later name or address change is filed on Form 8822-B rather than by requesting a new number. Banks, payroll providers, and state agencies accept the CP-575 as the primary proof of the EIN, and the IRS prints only 1 original per number, so the downloaded PDF is the copy of record.
How Much Does Applying Online Cost?
The IRS charges $0 to apply online, and the EIN never renews, so year 2 also costs $0. Paid services that charge $97 or $127 only make sense for a no-SSN applicant who cannot use the free Assistant.
| Item | Cost | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| IRS online EIN Assistant | $0 | One-time |
| einforllc.co filing — Standard | $97 | Faxed within 7 business days |
| einforllc.co filing — Fast | $127 | Filed within 24 hours |
| Year 2 and every year after | $0 | An EIN never renews |
IRS fee verified August 2026. Full breakdown on the LLC EIN cost page.
The $0 IRS fee has held since the Assistant launched in 2001, and no method — online, fax, phone, or mail — carries a government charge. A paid filing service earns its $97 or $127 by preparing and faxing the SS-4 for a no-SSN founder who is locked out of the free tool, not by unlocking a faster IRS queue. Anyone unsure whether a number was already issued can confirm it at no cost: the search steps are on an EIN lookup and the bank-and-IRS verification steps on how to verify an EIN. Because the EIN never renews, the lifetime cost for an SSN or ITIN holder who files online stays $0 across every year the business operates.
This page states federal tax rules current as of August 2026. It is not legal or tax advice. Confirm your business's position with a licensed CPA or attorney before filing.