Is an EIN the Same as 501(c)(3) Status?
No. An EIN identifies the organization; 501(c)(3) status is a separate exemption. The IRS issues the EIN in 15 minutes for $0, then decides exemption later on Form 1023 or Form 1023-EZ, which carry $600 and $275 user fees.
A new charity holds an EIN long before it holds a determination letter. The EIN lets it open a bank account and sign contracts; the 501(c)(3) letter lets donors deduct gifts and the group skip federal income tax. A public charity draws at least one-third, about 33%, of its support from the public under section 509(a), while a private foundation does not. The IRS grants exemption retroactive to the formation date only when Form 1023 is filed within 27 months of forming. The identifier basics stay on what is an EIN, and the step-by-step filing route stays on how to get an EIN.
The determination letter arrives 2 to 6 months after Form 1023 is filed, or within 2 to 4 weeks after Form 1023-EZ. Until it lands, donors who give in good faith keep their deduction, because the IRS dates the exemption back to the formation date when Form 1023 reaches the IRS within 27 months. A 501(c)(3) that skips Form 990 for 3 straight years loses its exemption automatically, yet it keeps its EIN; only the tax status is revoked. The 9-digit number outlives every status change and every board turnover. The exemption rules for charities sit on the 501(c)(3) EIN page, and the number the IRS assigns is defined on IRS EIN number.
How Do You Get an EIN for a Nonprofit?
A nonprofit files Form SS-4 to get its EIN, and the IRS fee is $0. There are 4 methods: online in 15 minutes, fax in 4 to 7 business days, mail in 6 to 11 weeks, or phone for international founders.
| Method | Time to EIN | SSN needed? | IRS fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| IRS online assistant | About 15 minutes | Yes | $0 |
| Fax Form SS-4 | 4 to 7 business days | No | $0 |
| Mail Form SS-4 | 6 to 11 weeks | No | $0 |
| Phone, international only | On the call | No | $0 |
Source: IRS Form SS-4 instructions, verified August 2026.
On Form SS-4, a nonprofit checks the Other box on line 9a and writes its purpose, and names an individual responsible party on line 7a. The online tool runs 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Eastern but validates the applicant against SSN and ITIN records, so an organizer with neither enters the word Foreign on line 7b and faxes the signed form to 855-641-6935 within the US or 855-215-1627 from abroad. The international line, 267-941-1099, releases the number on the call. The full walkthrough sits on how to get an EIN and the EIN application.
The IRS limits each responsible party to 1 EIN per day, so an organizer forming 2 nonprofits waits until the next day for the second number. After the EIN issues online, the confirmation prints instantly and the paper CP-575 arrives by mail within 4 to 6 weeks. Keep that letter, because it verifies the 9-digit number for every bank, grantor, and payroll provider. The daily tasks the number handles are mapped on using your EIN, and the ways to confirm it are on how to verify an EIN.
No SSN. No passport upload.
What Comes After the EIN, Form 1023 or 1023-EZ?
After the EIN, the nonprofit applies for 501(c)(3) status. Form 1023-EZ carries a $275 user fee for groups under $50,000 in gross receipts and $250,000 in assets. Larger nonprofits file the full Form 1023 for $600.
| Step | Form | IRS fee | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Get the EIN | Form SS-4 | $0 | Required first, about 15 minutes |
| Small-nonprofit exemption | Form 1023-EZ | $275 | Under $50,000 receipts, under $250,000 assets |
| Standard exemption | Form 1023 | $600 | Over $50,000 receipts or over $250,000 assets |
| Annual return | Form 990 | $0 | Filed yearly to keep the exemption |
Source: IRS Form 1023 and 1023-EZ instructions, verified August 2026.
| Item | Cost | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| IRS fee for the EIN | $0 | One-time |
| Form 1023-EZ user fee | $275 | Once, with the application |
| Form 1023 user fee | $600 | Once, with the application |
| einforllc.co filing — Standard | $97 | Faxed within 7 business days |
| einforllc.co filing — Fast | $127 | Filed within 24 hours |
Form 1023-EZ launched in 2014 as a 3-page online form for small groups; the full Form 1023 covers every nonprofit above the $50,000 and $250,000 ceilings. Once exempt, the organization files a Form 990 return each year: the postcard 990-N for receipts under $50,000, the 990-EZ for receipts under $200,000 and assets under $500,000, and the full 990 above that. The einforllc.co fee covers only the SS-4 EIN filing, not the $275 or $600 exemption fee. Costs are broken out on LLC EIN cost and the EIN application itself on the EIN application.
How Do You Look Up a Nonprofit's EIN?
A nonprofit EIN is public. The IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search returns it by name or EIN, and every Form 990 prints it. A lost EIN is recovered free by calling the IRS at 800-829-4933 for a 147C letter.
Unlike a private company, a tax-exempt organization publishes its 9-digit number. The number shows up in 5 public places: the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search, the annual Form 990, the CP-575 assignment letter, GuideStar, and the group's own bank records. There is no fee to search, and no fee for the 147C replacement letter from 800-829-4933. The lookup routes are on EIN lookup, the verification steps on how to verify an EIN, and the confirmation and replacement letters on EIN verification letter.
Donors and grantmakers vet a charity before writing a check, so the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search lists more than 1.8 million active organizations by name, EIN, city, and state. A match returns the determination date and the group's current 501(c)(3) standing. The database refreshes every 2 weeks from IRS master files. An organization missing from the list either never applied or lost its exemption after 3 missed Form 990 filings. Recovering a misplaced EIN from a prior Form 990 or the CP-575 costs $0 and takes 1 phone call to the IRS at 800-829-4933. The verification routes are on how to verify an EIN, and the number itself is defined on IRS EIN number.
Which Nonprofits Need an EIN?
All of them. A 501(c)(3) charity, a 501(c)(4) social welfare group, a church, a PTA, and a private foundation each need an EIN. There are 29 subsections under 501(c), and all use the same 9-digit number.
| Organization | EIN required? | Exemption form |
|---|---|---|
| 501(c)(3) public charity | Yes | Form 1023 or 1023-EZ |
| 501(c)(4) social welfare | Yes | Form 1024-A |
| Church or ministry | Yes | Automatic, Form 1023 optional |
| PTA or booster club | Yes | Often a group ruling |
| Private foundation | Yes | Form 1023 only |
| Homeowners association | Yes | Form 1024 |
Source: IRS Exempt Organization Types, verified August 2026.
Every entity above needs an EIN before it files. A 501(c)(4) group also files Form 8976 within 60 days of forming to notify the IRS, then Form 1024-A for recognition. A nonprofit is never a disregarded entity, so it always carries its own EIN rather than reporting under a person, which is the split covered on what is a disregarded entity. A person running a solo venture without incorporating uses the rules on EIN for a sole proprietor, and the number the IRS assigns is explained on IRS EIN number.
This page states federal tax rules current as of August 2026. It is not legal or tax advice. Confirm your organization's position with a licensed CPA or attorney before filing.