Is a FEIN the Same as an EIN?
Yes. A FEIN and an EIN are the identical 9-digit number, written XX-XXXXXXX, for example 12-3456789. The IRS uses only EIN on Form SS-4 and the CP-575 letter. The F in FEIN adds nothing but the word Federal.
| Term | What it means | Format | Issued by |
|---|---|---|---|
| FEIN | Federal Employer Identification Number | XX-XXXXXXX | IRS |
| EIN | Employer Identification Number, identical | XX-XXXXXXX | IRS |
| Federal tax ID | Plain-English label for the FEIN | XX-XXXXXXX | IRS |
| TIN | Umbrella for 5 taxpayer IDs | 9 digits | IRS or SSA |
| SSN | Identifies a person, not a business | XXX-XX-XXXX | SSA |
Source: IRS Form SS-4 instructions and 26 U.S.C. section 6109, verified August 2026.
The habit of writing FEIN comes from state agencies and banks that print Federal to separate the IRS number from a state number on the same form. There are 0 differences in the digits, the format, or the function. An SSN and an ITIN each identify a person, not a business: an ITIN always begins with the digit 9, with its first 3 digits in the 900 to 999 range, and it was introduced in 1996. The FEIN sits under Treasury Regulation section 301.6109-1. The pairing is covered in full on EIN vs federal tax ID and is an EIN the same as a TIN.
What Is the Difference Between a FEIN and a State Tax ID?
A FEIN is 1 nationwide number from the IRS. A state tax ID is issued separately by each of the 50 state revenue departments, so a business operating in 3 states holds 1 FEIN and up to 3 state numbers.
| Attribute | FEIN (federal) | State tax ID |
|---|---|---|
| Issued by | The IRS | State revenue department |
| How many | 1 nationwide | Up to 50, one per state |
| Format | XX-XXXXXXX | Varies by state |
| Cost | $0 | $0 in most states |
| Used for | Federal tax, payroll, banking | State income and sales tax |
Source: IRS and state revenue department registration rules, verified August 2026.
A state tax ID registers a business for state payroll withholding or sales tax, and the state asks for the FEIN first. The FEIN comes before the state number in every case, which is why founders secure the federal 9-digit number at the start. The plain comparison of federal against personal identifiers sits on taxpayer ID vs EIN.
State tax IDs run on their own numbering. A Texas franchise number, a California entity number, and a New York withholding ID look nothing alike, while the single FEIN stays 12-3456789 across all 3. A company that hires in 4 states registers for 4 state IDs. It still reports federal payroll under the 1 FEIN on Form 941. The FEIN is requested first, in about 15 minutes online or 4 to 7 business days by fax. Every state form then asks for it. How the personal number differs from the business number is covered on EIN vs SSN.
Who Needs a FEIN?
Every partnership, every corporation, every multi-member LLC, and any business with employees needs a FEIN. A sole proprietor or single-member LLC with no employees can use an SSN, yet needs a FEIN for a bank account.
| Business type | FEIN required? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Multi-member LLC | Yes | Files a partnership return, Form 1065 |
| Single-member LLC, no employees | Optional for tax, yes for banking | Bank needs it to open the account |
| Sole proprietor, no employees | Optional | SSN is allowed on Form 1040 Schedule C |
| Any business with employees | Yes | Files Form 941 and Form 940 for payroll |
| Partnership | Yes | Files Form 1065 under 1 number |
| C corporation or S corporation | Yes | Files Form 1120 or 1120-S |
| Nonprofit or 501(c)(3) | Yes | Files Form 990, required before exemption |
| Estate or trust | Yes | Files Form 1041 under its own FEIN |
Source: IRS, Do You Need an EIN, and 26 U.S.C. section 6109, verified August 2026.
A single-member LLC is a disregarded entity that can file under the owner's SSN, yet every US bank asks for a FEIN before opening a business account. A multi-member LLC needs one from day 1 because it files Form 1065. Founders start the request on how to get an EIN for an LLC and the LLC EIN application.
A nonprofit needs the FEIN before it applies for 501(c)(3) status. It then files Form 990 under that number every year. An estate or trust receives its own FEIN and files Form 1041, apart from any related business. Foreign founders qualify the same way: the entity, not the owner's citizenship, sets the requirement under 26 U.S.C. section 6109. The LLC-specific breakdown sits on how to get an EIN for an LLC.
No SSN. No passport upload.
How Do You Get a FEIN?
There are 4 ways: 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. All 4 cost $0 at the IRS.
| Method | Time to FEIN | 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 IRS online assistant runs 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Eastern, Monday to Friday, and has assigned numbers this way since 2001. It validates the applicant against SSN and ITIN records, so it stops anyone who holds neither at the validation screen. 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. Applicants with no SSN start on LLC EIN without SSN, and the online route is detailed on apply for an EIN online for an LLC and how to get an EIN.
Mail is the slowest route at 6 to 11 weeks, so it fits only applicants with no fax access. Every method delivers the identical 9-digit number and the identical CP-575 letter. Every method costs $0 at the IRS. The paid tiers cover work, not access. einforllc.co prepares and faxes Form SS-4 for $97 within 7 business days, or $127 within 24 hours. What to do with the number once it arrives sits on using your EIN.
How Much Does a FEIN Cost?
The IRS charges $0 for a FEIN through every method. A paid service makes sense only for applicants with no SSN, who cannot use the free online tool. einforllc.co files for $97, or $127 within 24 hours.
| Item | Cost | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| IRS fee for the FEIN | $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 | A FEIN never renews |
IRS fee verified August 2026. Full breakdown on the LLC EIN cost page.
No IRS method carries a fee. Any site that charges for the government filing itself is charging for convenience. An applicant who holds an SSN files free online in 15 minutes and pays $0. The real cost falls on applicants with no SSN. The IRS online tool rejects them at the validation screen, and the fax route takes 4 to 7 business days to work through.
A FEIN never renews and carries no annual fee, so year 2, year 3, and every year after cost $0. A replacement CP-575 is not printed twice. The IRS instead sends a free 147C letter by phone at 800-829-4933. einforllc.co adds no recurring charge either; the $97 or $127 is a 1-time filing fee. The full cost breakdown sits on the LLC EIN cost page.
How Do You Find Your FEIN?
Find your FEIN on the CP-575 letter, a filed tax return, or a bank record. There is no free public database of every FEIN. A lost number is recovered free by calling the IRS at 800-829-4933 for a 147C letter.
Public companies list their FEIN in SEC filings, and a nonprofit FEIN appears in the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. For a private business there is no national lookup, so the number is retrieved from the company's own records, IRS Publication 1635, or a prior filing. The 147C process and the 5 places the number appears sit on LLC EIN number lookup, EIN lookup, and lost LLC EIN. The confirmation and replacement letters are covered on EIN verification letter.
The fastest recovery is the 147C letter. One call to the IRS Business and Specialty line at 800-829-4933 retrieves it, after the agent verifies the caller. The IRS charges $0 for the 147C and sends it by mail or fax. A bank keeps the FEIN on the account record. A payroll provider keeps it on every Form 941. The original CP-575 holds it in the top corner. Because the number prints in the 2-then-7 pattern XX-XXXXXXX, it stands out on any document, unlike a 9-digit SSN written XXX-XX-XXXX. The exact layout is shown on EIN number format.
Does a Business Keep the Same FEIN?
Yes. A FEIN stays with the business for its lifetime. A new FEIN is needed only when the entity itself changes, such as a sole proprietorship incorporating or an LLC converting to a corporation.
A name change, an address change, or a new responsible party all keep the same 9-digit number. An address or responsible-party change is reported on Form 8822-B within 60 days, not by a new application. Electing S corporation status on Form 2553, or reclassifying the entity on Form 8832 up to 75 days before filing, also keeps the same FEIN. A FEIN match at a payment processor matters for cash flow: a failed match triggers backup withholding at 24% on payouts, so the exact 9 digits are money, not paperwork. The number that identifies the entity is the same one covered on the IRS EIN number and TIN vs EIN.
A merger, an incorporation, or a switch from partnership to corporation creates a new entity, so the IRS issues a new FEIN. Bankruptcy of a corporation, by contrast, keeps the same FEIN. The IRS lists the exact triggers in its Do You Need a New EIN guidance, and there are 8 common ones. A person's own ITIN never becomes a business FEIN, a point covered on ITIN vs EIN.
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.