On this page
- Short answer
- How do I apply for an EIN?
- Is an EIN free?
- What do you need before you apply for an EIN?
- How does the online EIN application work?
- When should I use Form SS-4 instead of the online tool?
- What happens after you get your EIN?
- How can an accounting practice speed up SS-4s for clients?
- Questions people ask
- Sources
Short answer
You get an EIN free, directly from the IRS. Most US businesses apply online at irs.gov, during the tool's published hours, and receive the number immediately if approved. If you can't use the online tool, file Form SS-4 by fax or mail; applicants based outside the US can also apply by phone. You never have to pay a fee for an EIN.
Key takeaways
- An EIN is free from the IRS. Sites that charge are optional middlemen at best.
- The online tool has set hours (Eastern Time), times out after 15 minutes of inactivity and can't be saved.
- You can get only one EIN per responsible party per day online.
- The responsible party must be an individual, with an SSN or ITIN for the online route.
- Form SS-4 by fax or mail is the route when online isn't available to you.
You've picked a name, registered the company, and a bank wants an EIN before it will open the account. You search "get EIN," and the top results ask for a credit card. Stop there. The number is free, and it comes from one place: the IRS.
This guide covers what an EIN is, what to have ready, how the free online application works, when to use Form SS-4 on paper, and how to avoid paying a middleman. It's part of our wider guide to US and Australian tax and onboarding forms.
How do I apply for an EIN?
Apply directly with the IRS. If your principal place of business is in the US or its territories and the responsible party has an SSN or ITIN, use the free online application at irs.gov and you'll get the number immediately if approved. Otherwise, file Form SS-4 by fax or mail, or apply by phone from outside the US.
An EIN, or employer identification number, is a nine-digit number the IRS assigns for tax filing and reporting. The About Form SS-4 page (opens in a new tab) lists who gets one: "employers, sole proprietors, corporations, partnerships, estates, trusts, certain individuals, and other entities."
The Form SS-4 instructions (opens in a new tab) say the IRS "recommends that you apply for your EIN electronically, if possible." The options, in short:
| Route | Who it's for | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Online at irs.gov | Domestic entities; responsible party has an SSN or ITIN | EIN issued immediately if approved; set hours |
| Form SS-4 by fax | Anyone who can't or won't use the online tool | Check the IRS page for current fax details and timing |
| Form SS-4 by mail | Same | Check the IRS page for the current address and timing |
| Phone | Applicants with a principal place of business outside the US | The IRS no longer issues EINs by phone to domestic taxpayers |
Is an EIN free?
Yes. An EIN costs nothing from the IRS, whichever route you use. The IRS says it plainly: "Beware of websites that charge for an EIN. You never have to pay a fee for an EIN." Sites that charge are offering to fill in the same application on your behalf. That's a service fee, not a government fee.
How to spot a paid middleman:
- The URL isn't irs.gov.
- You're asked for a card payment at any point.
- The site promises a "faster" or "guaranteed" EIN.
- The page looks official but has small print about being an independent filing service.
What do you need before you apply for an EIN?
Have your entity type, the legal name and address, the responsible party's name and SSN or ITIN, and the reason you're applying. If you're forming a corporation or LLC, form it with your state first; the IRS says applying before that can delay things. Third-party designees need signed authorization.
A pre-flight checklist:
The "responsible party" matters more than people expect. The SS-4 instructions say "the responsible party must be an individual (that is, a natural person), not an entity," except for government entities. It's the person who controls the entity, not a registered agent or a formation service.
How does the online EIN application work?
You complete one interview at irs.gov in a single session. It's available only during set hours in Eastern Time, it expires after 15 minutes of inactivity, and you can't save and return. You can get only one EIN per responsible party per day. If approved, the EIN is issued immediately online.
The rules from the IRS Get an employer identification number (opens in a new tab) page:
- Check the hours. The tool has longer weekday hours and shorter weekend hours, all in Eastern Time. They can change, so check the IRS page on the day.
- Confirm eligibility. Your principal place of business is in the US or its territories, and you are the responsible party or their authorized representative with the responsible party's SSN or ITIN.
- Set aside uninterrupted time. "It expires after 15 minutes of inactivity, and you'll need to start over."
- Answer the interview. Entity type, reason, names, addresses, dates and employee expectations.
- Keep the result. Save or print the confirmation you receive and file it with the formation records.
When should I use Form SS-4 instead of the online tool?
Use Form SS-4 when the online application isn't available to you. That includes a principal place of business outside the US, a responsible party without an SSN or ITIN, or an application you'd rather prepare on paper for a client to sign. You complete the same questions and send the form by fax or mail.
Form SS-4 is the paper version of the same application. Common reasons accountants use it:
- The client is abroad. International applicants can't use the online tool.
- The responsible party has no SSN or ITIN yet.
- You need a signature on file. If you apply as a third-party designee, the SS-4 instructions say "you must complete the signature area for the authorization to be valid." The designee's authority ends when the EIN is assigned and released.
- You're past the online daily limit.
Fill it carefully: names and addresses exactly as registered, the responsible party's name and number, and the correct entity type. Always download the current form from the IRS; fax numbers, mailing addresses and processing times are on the IRS pages, and we don't repeat them here because they change.
What happens after you get your EIN?
Keep the EIN confirmation with your formation records, give the EIN to your bank, and use it on payroll, W-9 requests and tax filings. If the responsible party, address or location changes later, tell the IRS on Form 8822-B. The About Form SS-4 page says responsible-party changes must be reported within 60 days.
Once there's an EIN, the rest of the onboarding pack follows: Form W-9 for anyone who pays the business, and Form 2848 or 8821 if an accountant will deal with the IRS for it. Our guide to Form 2848 vs 8821 explains which one to use.
How can an accounting practice speed up SS-4s for clients?
Fill the SS-4 from the client's record, have the responsible party sign the designee authorization, and keep the signed copy with the engagement. The slow part is usually retyping names, addresses and numbers that already sit in your practice system, then chasing a signature.
Form SS-4 is one of AppliFlo's 54 official government forms, ready with its fields in place, so filling it never uses AI pages. AppliFlo fills it from the client's record in GlobalyOS, HubSpot or a CSV, and flags anything missing, such as a blank responsible-party number, for you to complete rather than guessing. You can then send it for signature and keep the sealed copy.
For the full pre-season workflow, see our tax-season paperwork playbook for accounting practices and the accounting and tax solution page.
This is general information, not tax or legal advice. A tax professional can advise on entity choice and whether you need a new EIN.
Questions people ask
How do I apply for an EIN?
Apply directly with the IRS. If your business is in the US or its territories and the responsible party has an SSN or ITIN, use the online application at irs.gov during its published hours; approved applicants get the EIN immediately. Otherwise, complete Form SS-4 and send it by fax or mail, or apply by phone if your business is based outside the US.
Is an EIN free?
Yes. The IRS says: 'Beware of websites that charge for an EIN. You never have to pay a fee for an EIN.' Some services charge to file the application for you. That's a convenience fee, not a government fee, and you can always apply yourself at irs.gov at no cost.
When is the IRS EIN online tool open?
The online tool runs on set hours in Eastern Time, with longer weekday hours and shorter weekend hours, and is closed at other times. Hours can change, so check the IRS 'Get an employer identification number' page before you start. Plan to finish in one sitting, because the session expires after 15 minutes of inactivity.
When do I need Form SS-4 instead of the online tool?
Use Form SS-4 when you can't use the online application: for example, when the principal place of business is outside the US, when the responsible party has no SSN or ITIN, or when you simply prefer paper. You complete the same questions on the form and send it by fax or mail, following the current Form SS-4 instructions.
Can my accountant apply for an EIN for me?
Yes, as a third-party designee. The Form SS-4 instructions say the authorization is valid only when the signature area is completed, and the designee's authority ends when the EIN is assigned and released to them. The IRS also notes a third-party designee needs signed authorization before applying online.
