Is a California EIN Different From a Federal EIN?
No. There is only 1 kind of EIN, and it is federal. A business in California applies to the same IRS on the same Form SS-4 and receives the same 9-digit number a business in any other state receives. There is no California-only EIN.
People search for a California EIN because they register the company with the California Secretary of State, so it feels state-specific. It is not. The IRS assigns the EIN under 26 U.S.C. section 6109, prints it in the format XX-XXXXXXX, and charges $0. The number stays fixed if the company moves from California to Texas or Florida.
| Business type | EIN required? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Multi-member LLC | Yes | Files federal Form 1065 |
| Single-member LLC, 0 employees | Optional for tax, yes for banking | Bank needs the EIN to open the account |
| Corporation, C or S | Yes | Files Form 1120 or 1120-S |
| Any business with employees | Yes | Federal payroll tax reporting |
| Sole proprietor, 0 employees | Optional | SSN is allowed on Schedule C |
| Partnership | Yes | Files Form 1065 under 1 number |
The confusion is common because California assigns its own entity number when you file the Articles of Organization. That 12-digit Secretary of State number is not the EIN. The EIN stays 9 digits, follows the business across all 50 states, and never expires once the IRS issues the CP-575 confirmation letter. The same federal number is explained on what is an EIN.
Source: IRS, Do You Need an EIN, and 26 U.S.C. section 6109, verified August 2026.
What Is the Difference Between an EIN and a California State Tax ID?
The EIN is 1 federal number from the IRS. A California business also holds up to 3 state accounts: an FTB account for income and franchise tax, a CDTFA seller's permit for sales tax, and an EDD account for payroll. Each carries its own number, distinct from the 9-digit EIN.
| Identifier | Issued by | Covers | Fee to register |
|---|---|---|---|
| EIN | IRS, federal | Federal tax, payroll, banking | $0 |
| FTB account | Franchise Tax Board | State income and $800 franchise tax | $0 |
| Seller's permit | CDTFA | Sales and use tax collection | $0 |
| Payroll account | EDD | State payroll withholding | $0 |
Source: IRS, California FTB, CDTFA, and EDD registration pages, verified August 2026.
Get the federal EIN first, because the CDTFA and EDD both ask for it when you open the state accounts. A California EIN lookup means finding this same 9-digit federal number on a CP-575 letter or a filed return, not a separate state ID. The federal number is the one covered on IRS EIN number.
The FTB number tracks the $800 franchise tax and state income tax. The CDTFA seller's permit lets you collect the 7.25% base sales tax. The EDD account handles state payroll withholding once you pay wages over $100 in a quarter. All 3 state accounts reference the same federal EIN, so apply for the EIN online first and register the state accounts after.
No SSN. No passport upload.
How Do You Get an EIN in California?
There are 4 ways, all through the IRS and all $0: online in 15 minutes with an SSN, by fax in 4 to 7 business days, by mail in 6 to 11 weeks, or by phone for international applicants. California adds 0 steps to the federal application.
| 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.
The online route is fastest, but it validates the applicant against SSN and ITIN records, so it stops anyone who holds neither. Those applicants use the fax route, entering the word Foreign on Form SS-4 line 7b and faxing to 855-641-6935 within the US or 855-215-1627 from abroad. The IRS international line, 267-941-1099, releases the number on the call. The online option is detailed on apply for an EIN online, and a single-owner California LLC starts at EIN for a single-member LLC.
The mail route is slowest, taking 6 to 11 weeks after the IRS receives Form SS-4. Fax is the practical choice for a founder with no SSN, returning the EIN in 4 to 7 business days. Keep the CP-575 letter the IRS sends, because a bank and the FTB both ask to see the 9-digit number.
What California Taxes Apply to a New Business?
A California business faces a state income tax with 9 brackets from 1% to 12.3%, plus a 1% surcharge over $1 million that reaches 13.3%. Every LLC owes the $800 minimum annual franchise tax, and a seller of goods collects sales tax at a 7.25% base rate.
| California tax | Rate or amount | Paid to |
|---|---|---|
| State income tax | 1% to 12.3%, up to 13.3% over $1M | Franchise Tax Board |
| LLC minimum franchise tax | $800 per year | Franchise Tax Board |
| LLC fee, income over $250,000 | $900 to $11,790 per year | Franchise Tax Board |
| Sales and use tax | 7.25% base, up to 10.75% with local | CDTFA |
| Federal EIN | $0 | IRS |
Source: California FTB and CDTFA rate schedules, verified August 2026.
The 13.3% top rate is the highest state income-tax rate in the United States, and it passes through to the owners of an LLC on top of federal tax tied to the EIN. The gross-receipts fee climbs from $900 at $250,000 of income to $11,790 at $5 million. None of these state taxes change the federal EIN or its $0 price.
An LLC can elect S-corporation treatment by filing Form 2553, which changes how the IRS taxes the profit but keeps the same EIN. The $800 minimum franchise tax still applies every year to the FTB. A California seller registers with the CDTFA before the first taxable sale, then files sales-tax returns under the seller's permit.
What Does a California LLC Cost?
A California LLC costs $70 to file the Articles of Organization, Form LLC-1, with the Secretary of State, plus the $800 minimum annual franchise tax to the Franchise Tax Board. The federal EIN adds $0. A Statement of Information, Form LLC-12, costs $20 every 2 years.
| Item | Cost | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Articles of Organization, Form LLC-1 | $70 | One-time, to Secretary of State |
| Minimum annual franchise tax | $800 | Every year, to the FTB |
| Statement of Information, Form LLC-12 | $20 | Every 2 years, to Secretary of State |
| LLC fee if income tops $250,000 | $900+ | Every year, to the FTB |
| Federal EIN, from the IRS | $0 | One-time, never renews |
Source: California Secretary of State and FTB fee schedules, verified August 2026. Full federal breakdown on the LLC EIN cost page.
So the first-year cash cost of a California LLC is $70 to form it plus $800 in franchise tax, for $870 before any income-based fee, and the EIN adds nothing. einforllc.co files Form SS-4 for founders with no SSN for $97 within 7 business days, or $127 within 24 hours.
This page states federal and California 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.