How to Get an EIN Number for Free: 4 IRS Ways (2026)
You can get an EIN (Employer Identification Number) completely free, directly from the IRS at irs.gov — the online application can be completed in minutes and the fee is exactly $0. Any website that charges you — often $50 or more — is a third-party filing service, not the government. This guide walks through all four free application methods, who qualifies for each, and the mistakes that trip up first-time business owners.
Is an EIN Really Free, or Is There a Hidden Fee?
An EIN is always free: the IRS never charges a fee to issue an EIN, no matter which application method you use. There is no "filing fee," no "expedited processing" charge, and no premium tier. The confusion comes from look-alike websites that pay for ads above your search results, use official-sounding .com domains, and charge fees that often run from about $50 into the hundreds of dollars to submit the same free form on your behalf.
The genuine application lives only on irs.gov — a .gov domain served over https. If a site asks for a credit card to "file your EIN," it is a private preparer. You need an EIN to open a business bank account, hire employees, and file taxes for an LLC or corporation; many sole proprietors also get one to avoid putting their SSN on client paperwork like Form W-9.
Common mistake: paying a third-party site because it appeared first in search results. The official tool is the IRS EIN Assistant on irs.gov — if the URL doesn't end in .gov, close the tab. Paid preparers can also add days of delay to something the IRS issues online in a single session.
How Do I Apply Online, and How Long Does It Take?
The online application can be completed in minutes, and you receive your EIN immediately at the end of the session. To qualify, your principal business must be located in the US or its territories, and the "responsible party" (the person who controls the entity) must have a valid SSN or ITIN. The IRS limits every responsible party to 1 EIN per day, regardless of method.
The tool operates only during limited hours — it is not available around the clock, so check the current schedule on the IRS EIN Assistant page — and you must finish in one sitting, because the session expires after inactivity and your answers are not saved. Gather your entity details before you start:
- Open the EIN Assistant from the IRS "Get an employer identification number" page.
- Choose your entity type (sole proprietor, LLC, corporation, partnership, estate, etc.).
- Identify the responsible party and enter their SSN or ITIN.
- Enter the business address — note the street line is limited to 35 characters, and business names may only use letters A–Z, numbers 0–9, hyphens, and ampersands.
- State your reason for applying (started a new business, hired employees, banking purposes).
- Receive your EIN on screen and download the confirmation letter (CP 575) as a PDF.
Download and back up the CP 575 confirmation letter the moment it appears — it is generated once, banks commonly ask for it when you open a business account, and getting a replacement (Letter 147C) requires a separate call to the IRS.
What If I Can't Use the Online Tool? Fax, Mail, and Phone Compared
There are three other routes, all free, all built around Form SS-4. The trade-off is speed — here is how they compare:
| Method | How to apply | Processing time | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Online | IRS EIN Assistant (irs.gov) | Immediate — issued at the end of the online session | $0 |
| Fax | Form SS-4 to 855-641-6935 | About 4 business days (if you include a return fax number) | $0 |
| Internal Revenue Service, Attn: EIN Operation, Cincinnati, OH 45999 | About 4 weeks | $0 | |
| Phone (international) | 267-941-1099, Mon–Fri, 6 a.m.–11 p.m. Eastern | Issued during the call | $0 |
International applicants without an SSN or ITIN can still get an EIN free by calling 267-941-1099 or faxing Form SS-4 to 855-215-1627 (from within the US) or 304-707-9471 (from outside). This is the standard route for foreign-owned single-member LLCs. On Form SS-4, the fields that cause the most rejections are the responsible party (it must be an individual who controls the entity, not another company in most cases) and line 9a, where you declare the entity type — an LLC must also indicate its tax classification correctly.
π Check it now on IRS — Get an Employer Identification NumberDoes a Free EIN Mean I Can Get an LLC for Free Too?
No — the EIN is a free federal number, but forming the LLC itself is a state filing that carries a state fee. Fees vary widely by state: Texas, for example, charges $300 for a Certificate of Formation as of 2026 (subject to change), while some states charge under $100 — verify the current amount on your state's official Secretary of State site. Searches like "how to get an LLC and EIN for free" mix two different steps: only the EIN half is free everywhere.
Order matters: form your LLC with the state first, then apply for the EIN. The EIN application asks for your legal entity name, and if you apply before the state approves your LLC, the name on your CP 575 may not match your formation documents — a mismatch that banks may reject. One piece of good news for the "EIN in Texas" searches: the federal EIN process is identical in Texas and every other state. Only the state-level LLC registration cost differs.
What Are the Most Common Mistakes After Getting an EIN?
Many common — and costly — mistakes happen in the first month. Run through this checklist:
- Don't pay a third-party site for something the IRS does for $0.
- Don't apply before your LLC legally exists with the state.
- Don't lose the CP 575 letter — store a digital and paper copy.
- Don't apply twice for the same entity; duplicate EINs create tax-filing confusion.
- Don't e-file immediately — the IRS says to wait up to 2 weeks after issuance before e-filing a return, using TIN matching, or making electronic tax deposits.
If you lose your EIN, recovery is also free: check a prior tax return, your bank account paperwork, or call the IRS Business & Specialty Tax Line at 800-829-4933. You need a brand-new EIN only when ownership or business structure changes — a name or address change does not require one.
After the number arrives, open your business bank account, register for any state taxes that apply, and check whether your corporation or LLC must report beneficial owners to FinCEN (the Treasury's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network) — requirements have shifted, so verify the current rule on the official FinCEN site as of 2026.
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FAQ
Can I get an EIN for free without an SSN?
Yes. International applicants without an SSN or ITIN can call the IRS at 267-941-1099 (Mon–Fri, 6 a.m.–11 p.m. Eastern) or fax Form SS-4 to 855-215-1627 from within the US or 304-707-9471 from outside. The online tool, however, does require the responsible party to have an SSN or ITIN.
How long until I can actually use my EIN?
You can open a bank account right away with your CP 575 letter, but the IRS advises waiting up to 2 weeks before e-filing a tax return, passing TIN matching, or making electronic tax deposits, while the number propagates through IRS systems.
Is getting an EIN different in Texas than in other states?
No. The EIN is federal, so the application, cost ($0), and processing time are identical in all 50 states. What differs by state is LLC formation — Texas charges about $300 to file a Certificate of Formation, while some states charge under $100.
I lost my EIN — how do I find it for free?
Check a previously filed tax return, your business bank account opening documents, or the original CP 575 letter. If none of those work, call the IRS Business & Specialty Tax Line at 800-829-4933 and request a 147C verification letter at no charge.
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