How to Get an EIN: The 4 IRS Methods (2026)

What Do You Need Before You Apply?

Gather 4 things: the business's legal name and address, its structure, the reason for applying, and the responsible party's name with an SSN, ITIN, or the entry Foreign. All 4 map to lines on Form SS-4.

The responsible party is the person who controls the entity, named on Form SS-4 line 7a, as required under 26 U.S.C. section 6109. Their identifying number goes on line 7b, and an applicant abroad enters the word Foreign there instead of an SSN. Because the IRS matches the legal name to state records, forming the business first avoids a mismatch. The full field-by-field guide sits on IRS Form SS-4 PDF and IRS EIN application form.

Line 1 carries the exact legal name the state approved, and line 4 the mailing address. Lines 9a and 10 record the entity type and the reason for applying, such as starting a new business or hiring employees. A sole proprietor, a single-member LLC, and a nonprofit each answer these lines differently, so read EIN for a sole proprietor, does a single-member LLC need an EIN, and EIN for a nonprofit for the entity that fits. Forming the business first is the single step that prevents a name mismatch, because the IRS matches line 1 against the state charter before it issues the 9-digit number.

What Are the 4 Methods to Get an EIN?

Online, fax, mail, and phone. Online is fastest at 15 minutes but needs an SSN. Fax takes 4 to 7 business days, mail takes 6 to 11 weeks, and phone serves international applicants. All 4 cost $0.

Source: IRS Form SS-4 instructions, verified August 2026.

The online assistant is the only route that validates an SSN or ITIN, which is why it turns a US applicant around in a single 15-minute session but stops a non-resident at the identity screen. Fax is the workhorse for everyone else: a signed Form SS-4 goes to 855-641-6935 within the US or 855-215-1627 from abroad, and the IRS faxes the assigned 9-digit EIN back in 4 to 7 business days.

Mail follows the same paper form to an IRS service center but stretches the wait to 6 to 11 weeks, so it suits applicants with no fax access and no deadline. Phone is reserved for international applicants, who call 267-941-1099 and receive the number on the call. Every route files the same Form SS-4 and every route costs $0. To see which method an LLC owner picks, read how to get an EIN for an LLC and new EIN for LLC.

How Do You Apply for an EIN Online?

Open the EIN Assistant on irs.gov, complete it in 1 session under 15 minutes, and download the EIN at the end. It runs weekdays, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Eastern, and issues 1 EIN per responsible party per day.

The 5 online steps

Step 1, select the entity type. Step 2, enter the reason, such as starting a new business. Step 3, name the responsible party and their SSN or ITIN. Step 4, enter the legal name, address, and formation date. Step 5, choose how to receive the CP-575, then submit to get the 9-digit EIN on screen. The tool saves no progress, so all 5 steps happen in 1 sitting. The LLC version is on apply for an EIN online for an LLC.

The assistant runs on irs.gov weekdays from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Eastern and saves no progress between screens, so gather every field before you begin. It issues exactly 1 EIN per responsible party per day, a hard limit that applies across online, fax, and phone alike. When the final screen appears, the 9-digit EIN is live at once and the CP-575 confirmation downloads as a PDF. Store that letter, because the IRS issues it only 1 time; a later replacement arrives as a 147C letter. For what to do with the number next, see using your EIN and how to find your EIN.

How Do You Apply for an EIN by Fax or Mail?

Complete and sign Form SS-4, then fax it to 855-641-6935 within the US or 855-215-1627 from abroad. The IRS returns the EIN by fax in 4 to 7 business days. Mail takes 6 to 11 weeks to the same address.

The fax route is the workhorse for applicants who cannot use the online tool. A complete, signed Form SS-4 is faxed to the number that matches the applicant's location, and the IRS faxes back the assigned 9-digit EIN. Mailing the same form to the IRS service center works too, but the wait stretches to 6 to 11 weeks. Both routes cost $0. The paper form is detailed on IRS Form SS-4 PDF.

Match the fax number to the applicant's location: 855-641-6935 for a US address on Form SS-4, and 855-215-1627 for an address outside the US. Sign line 18 by hand before sending, because an unsigned SS-4 is rejected and restarts the 4-to-7-day clock. Keep the fax confirmation page as proof of the send date. If you later need to confirm the assigned number, how to verify an EIN and EIN lookup explain the 147C route, and once the entity's address changes, Form 8822-B updates the responsible party on file.

How Do You Get an EIN Without an SSN?

File Form SS-4 by fax and write Foreign on line 7b. The IRS issues the EIN with no SSN and no ITIN. This is how founders across 150+ countries obtain a US EIN, with the number returned in about 4 business days.

The online assistant is the only route that requires an SSN, and it stops applicants who lack one at the validation screen. The fax route has no such check, so a non-resident owner reaches the same 9-digit number without a passport upload. The full no-SSN process sits on LLC EIN without SSN and EIN for a foreign-owned LLC.

The word Foreign on line 7b tells the IRS the responsible party holds no US identifying number, and the agency accepts it without a passport or ITIN upload. A non-resident who owns a US LLC uses this exact route, then receives the 9-digit EIN by return fax in about 4 business days. Because the online assistant hard-blocks anyone without an SSN, fax is the only free federal path a foreign founder has. The number carries the same weight as one issued to a US citizen: it opens a US bank account, files Form 5472, and satisfies a payment processor. The confirmation arrives as a CP-575, detailed on LLC CP-575 letter.

How Long Does It Take and How Much Does It Cost?

Time ranges from 15 minutes online to 11 weeks by mail. The IRS fee is $0 on every route. einforllc.co files Form SS-4 for applicants with no SSN for $97, or $127 within 24 hours.

The IRS fee is $0 on every route, so a paid filing buys speed and hands-off paperwork, not the number itself. einforllc.co files Form SS-4 for founders who cannot use the free online tool: the Standard tier lands the EIN in 16 to 19 business days for $97, and the Fast tier in 6 to 8 business days for $127. Neither the EIN nor the CP-575 ever renews or expires, so it is a one-time cost across the life of the business. For a step-by-step of the free online path, see apply for an EIN online; for the complete fee comparison across every route, see LLC EIN cost.

IRS fee verified August 2026. Full breakdown on LLC EIN cost and the IRS process on IRS EIN number.

This page states federal rules current as of August 2026. It is not legal or tax advice. Confirm your position with a licensed CPA or attorney.