# ein-number.com — full text for AI systems # Generated 2026-10-15 from the published HTML. One section per page: the direct answer, the key facts, every FAQ, the primary sources. Canonical URLs are given; quote and cite them. ## EIN Lookup, Verification & Recovery: Find or Replace Any EIN URL: https://ein-number.com/ Updated: 2026-10-15 Summary: Find your EIN, verify another company's, or replace a lost CP-575 with a free 147C letter. Need a new EIN? Filed right from $69, accuracy guaranteed. No SSN required. Answer: Find your own EIN on 5 documents you already hold, look up a public company’s or nonprofit’s EIN in 2 free federal databases, verify any EIN against IRS records, and replace a lost CP-575 with a $0 Letter 147C in 1 phone call. Every method is sourced to the IRS. Need a new EIN? We file it right the first time, from $69. FAQ: Q: What is an EIN number? A: An EIN (Employer Identification Number) is the unique 9-digit federal tax ID, formatted XX-XXXXXXX, that the IRS assigns to business entities. It functions like an SSN for your business: required for bank accounts, tax filings, payroll, and payment processors. It is permanent and never expires. Q: How fast can I get an EIN number? A: 15 minutes through the free IRS online tool if you have an SSN. Without an SSN, self-filed fax applications take 4 business days when the form carries a return fax number, and mail takes 4 weeks. ein-number.com files Standard by fax within 8 business days, 2–3 weeks total, and files Fast within 24 hours, 7 business days total. Q: What exactly does the guarantee cover? A: Accuracy, on both tiers: every Form SS-4 is double-checked before submission, and if we make an error, you receive a full refund with no conditions. The $99 Fast tier carries a second guarantee, that your application is filed and the IRS call made within 24 hours. Both promises appear in your order confirmation. Q: Can I get an EIN number without an SSN? A: Yes. The IRS issues EINs to foreign applicants without an SSN or ITIN: Form SS-4 Line 7b accepts "Foreign," so an SSN is not required for the IRS to issue one. The IRS online tool rejects non-SSN applicants, which is why the fax process, and this service, exists. Q: Is an EIN number free? A: Yes, from the IRS, $0 through every method: online, fax, mail, or phone. ein-number.com’s $69 pays for specialist preparation, senior error review, verified fax filing, and the written accuracy guarantee; $99 adds IRS phone follow-up within 24 hours. SSN holders should self-file free at irs.gov. Q: What documents do I receive? A: Your 9-digit EIN and the official IRS CP-575 confirmation letter, the document Mercury, Wise, Relay, Stripe, PayPal, and Amazon verify against. If you ever lose it, the IRS issues a 147-C verification letter on request. Q: Do I need a company before getting an EIN? A: Yes. The IRS issues EINs only to registered entities; Form SS-4 requires the exact legal name and formation date from your formation document. Complete your state filing first, with your state or any service, then begin your application here. Q: What makes EIN applications fail? A: Three errors cause most rejections: entity names that don’t match formation documents character-for-character, incorrect Line 7b entries from applicants without an SSN, and wrong entity-type selection. Each rejection arrives weeks later and restarts the process. Specialist verification before filing removes all three. Q: Is my information safe? A: Yes. Your details are used once, on your Form SS-4, then transmitted and stored encrypted, never sold, never shared. The complete privacy policy is one click away in the footer. Q: Are you affiliated with the IRS? A: No. ein-number.com is a private preparation and filing service, not a government agency. The IRS issues EIN numbers at no cost; the $69 or $99 pays for the preparation, the senior error review before submission, and the written accuracy guarantee behind every filing. ## EIN Lookup: 6 Ways to Find an EIN (Yours or Another Company's) URL: https://ein-number.com/ein-lookup/ Updated: 2026-10-15 Summary: An EIN number lookup takes 7 methods. Find your own EIN on the CP-575 or a 147C letter, look up a public company on EDGAR, and a nonprofit on IRS Form 990. Answer: An EIN lookup recovers the 9-digit federal tax ID the IRS assigned to a business, and the method depends on whose EIN it is. Your own EIN sits on the CP-575 notice, a filed return, a bank or payroll record, or a Letter 147C from the IRS. Another company's EIN is public only for SEC registrants and tax-exempt organisations. Every method costs $0. Key facts: - Your own EIN: CP-575 notice, page 1 of any business return, box b of a W-2 you issued, a signed W-9, or the bank file. - No document left: call 800-829-4933 (Monday-Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time) and the IRS reissues the number as Letter 147C at $0. - Another company's EIN is public in 2 places only: SEC EDGAR filing covers (public companies) and IRS Form 990 / Tax Exempt Organization Search (nonprofits). - No IRS database lists private-company EINs; the private route is a signed Form W-9, Part I. - An EIN is 9 digits in the format XX-XXXXXXX, has no check digit, and never expires. - The IRS charges $0 for every lookup route and for a new EIN; paid lookup brokers resell the same public filings. FAQ: Q: How do I look up my EIN number? A: Check the CP-575 confirmation letter first, then a filed tax return from the last 3 years, a bank application, a W-2 you issued, or a signed W-9. When no record survives, the IRS reissues the number as a 147C letter to an authorized person free of charge, faxed during the call on request, otherwise mailed. Q: Is there a free EIN lookup database? A: No single public database lists every EIN. SEC EDGAR publishes EINs for public companies and IRS Form 990 publishes them for tax-exempt nonprofits, both free. Private company EINs stay unpublished, which is why 5 of the 7 methods use your own records. Q: How do I look up another company's EIN number? A: Search SEC EDGAR when the company is publicly traded, and IRS Form 990 filings when the organization is a tax-exempt nonprofit. Both sources are free and official. A private company releases its EIN on a signed W-9 at your request. Q: How do I look up a nonprofit's EIN number? A: Search the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search at irs.gov/charities, which publishes the EIN of every 1.8 million registered tax-exempt organizations. Form 990 also prints the EIN on page 1. Both sources cost $0, update within 30 days of IRS receipt, and cover the full section 501(c) universe. Q: Can I verify an EIN number is valid? A: Yes. A valid EIN carries 9 digits in a 2-digit and 7-digit format. The IRS confirms a match between an EIN and a legal name through a 147C letter, and banks verify the pairing against the CP-575 before opening an account. Q: What is a 147C letter? A: A 147C letter is the IRS replacement for a lost EIN confirmation. The IRS issues one CP-575 per EIN and never reprints it, so the 147C becomes the proof document after that. The IRS releases it to an authorized person only. Q: Is an EIN public record? A: Partly. The EIN of a public company appears in SEC EDGAR filings, and the EIN of a tax-exempt nonprofit appears on Form 990. A private company EIN stays unpublished, and the IRS does not operate a public search tool for it. Q: Can I look up an EIN without an SSN? A: Yes. An EIN lookup uses documents, not identity numbers, so no SSN is required at any of the 7 steps. Applying for a new EIN also works without one, because Form SS-4 line 7b accepts the entry Foreign for the responsible party, and the IRS charges $0 to the international phone route 267-941-1099. Q: How much does an EIN lookup cost? A: An EIN lookup costs $0 through every method listed here, and the IRS charges $0 for a 147C letter. A new EIN also costs $0 from the IRS. ein-number.com charges $69 or $99 to prepare and file a new application, and every filing is double-checked before submission. Q: What do I do when the EIN cannot be found anywhere? A: Request a 147C letter from the IRS at 800-829-4933, which reissues the assigned number at $0, faxed during the call on request, otherwise mailed. International applicants reach the IRS at 267-941-1099, open 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Eastern. A lookup recovers an existing EIN, and an entity that never received one applies with Form SS-4 instead. Sources: - Employer Identification Number — https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/employer-identification-number - Publication 1635, Understanding Your EIN (PDF) — https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p1635.pdf - Telephone assistance contacts for business customers — https://www.irs.gov/businesses/telephone-assistance-contacts-for-business-customers - Tax Exempt Organization Search — https://apps.irs.gov/app/eos/ - EDGAR full-text search — https://www.sec.gov/edgar/search/ - About Form W-9, Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification — https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-w-9 ## EIN Confirmation Letter: CP-575 vs 147C and How to Get a Copy URL: https://ein-number.com/ein-confirmation-letter/ Updated: 2026-10-15 Summary: An EIN confirmation letter proves which 9-digit EIN belongs to a business. The IRS prints the CP-575 once. Request a free 147C by calling 800-829-4933. Answer: An EIN confirmation letter is the IRS document that pairs a 9-digit EIN with a legal name, and it comes in exactly 2 forms. The CP-575 is printed once, when the EIN is assigned, and never reissued. Letter 147C is the copy you get afterwards, by calling 800-829-4933 and asking for it. Both cost $0, and every bank accepts either. Key facts: - 2 documents exist and no 3rd: the CP-575 (issued 1 time, automatically) and Letter 147C (issued on request, as often as needed). - Lost the CP-575? Call 800-829-4933, Monday-Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time, and ask for Letter 147C; it is faxed during the call on request. - Never received a CP-575? Online applicants download it as a PDF at the end of the 15-minute session; fax and mail applicants request a 147C if the post brings nothing. - Both letters print the same 9-digit EIN and the same legal name; a bank checks those 2 fields and the address. - The IRS charges $0 for the CP-575, $0 for every 147C, and never emails either document. - A screenshot of the IRS online confirmation screen is not an EIN confirmation letter; the PDF notice or the 147C is. FAQ: Q: What is an EIN confirmation letter? A: An EIN confirmation letter is the IRS notice that pairs a 9-digit EIN with a legal name. The IRS prints it once as the CP-575 when the EIN is assigned. It costs $0, and the 147C verification letter replaces it after that. Q: Can the IRS reprint my CP-575? A: No. The IRS prints one CP-575 per EIN and never reissues it. The replacement document is the 147C letter, which restates the same 9-digit number and the same legal name from IRS records. The IRS charges $0 for the 147C. Q: What is an EIN verification letter? A: An EIN verification letter is the 147C, the IRS document that confirms an existing EIN assignment. It carries the same authority as the CP-575 for a bank, a payroll provider, or a marketplace. The IRS issues it to an authorized person at $0. Q: How do I get a replacement EIN confirmation letter? A: Request a 147C letter from the IRS. An authorized person makes the request, and the IRS confirms that authority before releasing the number. International applicants reach the IRS at 267-941-1099. The letter arrives by mail or by fax at $0. Q: Does a bank accept a 147C instead of a CP-575? A: Yes. Both documents come from IRS records and both state the same 9-digit EIN beside the same legal name. Banks accept either one. Neither document is replaced by a screenshot, a tax return copy, or a photograph of the number. Q: How long does an EIN confirmation letter take to arrive? A: The CP-575 follows the application. An online application issues the EIN in 15 minutes, a faxed Form SS-4 returns the number in 4 business days, and a mailed application runs 4 weeks. A 147C is faxed during the call on request, otherwise mailed. We deliver the EIN and the CP-575 in 2–3 weeks at $69, or in 7 business days at $99. Q: Can I get an EIN confirmation letter without an SSN? A: Yes. Form SS-4 line 7b accepts the entry Foreign, so the IRS assigns EINs and issues the CP-575 to responsible parties who hold no SSN and no ITIN. The application moves to fax at 855-641-6935 or 855-215-1627 for international filers. Q: What do I do if the name on my EIN letter is wrong? A: File Form 8822-B to correct the business name, the mailing address, or the responsible party the IRS holds. The IRS requires notice of a responsible party change within 60 days. Form 8822-B costs $0 and keeps the same 9-digit EIN. Q: Is an EIN confirmation letter the same as a tax ID certificate? A: Yes for federal purposes. The CP-575 and the 147C are the only federal EIN documents, and a state tax ID certificate is a separate number from a separate agency. One federal EIN carries 9 digits and never renews, at $0 in year 2 and beyond. Q: What does an EIN confirmation letter cost? A: The CP-575 costs $0, the 147C replacement costs $0, and Form 8822-B costs $0. The IRS charges nothing for an EIN at any stage. ein-number.com charges $69 or $99 to prepare and file a new application and deliver the EIN and CP-575, and every filing is double-checked before submission. Sources: - Employer Identification Number — https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/employer-identification-number - Publication 1635, Understanding Your EIN (PDF) — https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p1635.pdf - Telephone assistance contacts for business customers — https://www.irs.gov/businesses/telephone-assistance-contacts-for-business-customers ## 147C Letter: How to Get One From the IRS in 1 Call URL: https://ein-number.com/147c-letter/ Updated: 2026-10-15 Summary: A 147C letter is the IRS reissue of a lost EIN confirmation. It costs $0, arrives by fax or mail, and 6 roles can request it. The exact call script is below. Answer: A 147C letter is the IRS verification letter that restates a business’s 9-digit EIN beside the legal name on file. You get it in 1 phone call to the IRS Business and Specialty Tax Line, 800-829-4933, Monday to Friday 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time: verify identity as the responsible party, ask for Letter 147C, and have it faxed during the call. It costs $0. Key facts: - Phone only: 800-829-4933, Monday-Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time; no online form, email or portal issues a 147C. - Cost $0; the IRS faxes the letter during the call when you give a fax number, otherwise mails it (the IRS publishes no delivery time). - Have 5 facts ready: exact legal name, formation state and date, the mailing address on Form SS-4 lines 4a and 4b, and the responsible party on line 7a. - Who may call: the responsible party, an officer or member of record, or an agent holding Form 2848 (power of attorney) or Form 8821. - The CP-575 is printed once and never reprinted; the 147C is the only replacement and banks accept either. - Hold times peak around the March 15 and April 15 deadlines; calling at 7 a.m. local time shortens the wait. FAQ: Q: What is a 147C letter? A: A 147C letter is the IRS EIN verification letter. It reprints the 9-digit EIN beside the legal name the IRS holds on file. The IRS issues 1 CP-575 per EIN at assignment and never reprints it, so Letter 147C becomes the proof document after that. The IRS charges $0. Q: How do I get a copy of my EIN letter? A: Request Letter 147C from the IRS. No copy of the original CP-575 exists, because the IRS prints that notice 1 time only. The 147C is the official replacement, it costs $0, and the IRS sends it by fax during the call or by mail to the address of record. Q: How do I request a 147C letter from the IRS? A: Call the IRS and ask for Letter 147C by number. International callers reach the IRS at 267-941-1099, Monday through Friday, 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Eastern. Give the legal name, the address of record, and your role. The 6-step call script on this page covers each answer. Q: How much does a 147C letter cost? A: A 147C letter costs $0. The IRS charges nothing to verify or reissue an EIN, and it charges $0 to assign a new EIN. Year 2 and every year after cost $0, because an EIN never renews and never expires. No service can obtain a 147C faster by paying the IRS. Q: How long does a 147C letter take? A: Fax delivery finishes during the call itself when you wait at the receiving machine. Mail delivery travels by post to the address of record. Only 2 delivery methods exist, and neither one uses email, because the IRS transmits no EIN by email at any point. Q: Who can request a 147C letter? A: 6 roles qualify: a sole proprietor, a partner, a corporate officer, an LLC member or manager, a trustee or executor, and a person holding a filed Form 2848 or Form 8821. The IRS verifies the role against its records before releasing the 9-digit number. Q: Can I get a 147C letter online? A: No. The IRS releases Letter 147C by phone request only, then delivers it by fax or mail. No IRS website, portal, or email issues the letter. Any page offering an instant 147C download holds no IRS record, because the letter travels through 2 channels only. Q: Does a bank accept a 147C letter instead of a CP-575? A: Yes. Banks accept Letter 147C as EIN proof under the Customer Identification Program rules at 31 CFR 1020.220. The bank checks that the 9-digit EIN and the legal name match its account application character for character. A name printed 2 different ways fails that check. Q: Can I get a 147C letter without an SSN? A: Yes. A 147C request verifies the entity, not the caller's identity numbers, so no SSN is required. Applying for a new EIN also works without one: Form SS-4 line 7b accepts the entry Foreign, and the IRS fax lines are 855-641-6935 and 855-215-1627. Q: What if the IRS has no EIN on file for my business? A: File Form SS-4 to apply for one. A 147C letter reissues an EIN that already exists, so an entity that never received one has nothing to verify. The IRS charges $0. ein-number.com prepares and files the application for $69 or $99, double-checked by a second reviewer before submission. Sources: - Telephone assistance contacts for business customers — https://www.irs.gov/businesses/telephone-assistance-contacts-for-business-customers - Employer Identification Number — https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/employer-identification-number - Publication 1635, Understanding Your EIN (PDF) — https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p1635.pdf ## Form 8822-B: Change of Address or Responsible Party (2026) URL: https://ein-number.com/form-8822-b/ Updated: 2026-07-20 Summary: Form 8822-B reports a business address or responsible party change to the IRS. 10 lines, 2 mailing addresses, a 60-day deadline, 4 to 6 weeks to process, $0 to file. Answer: Form 8822-B tells the IRS that a business mailing address, a business location, or the responsible party on an EIN changed. The form runs 10 lines and costs $0. FAQ: Q: What is Form 8822-B used for? A: Form 8822-B reports 3 changes to the IRS: a business mailing address, a business location, and the identity of the responsible party for an EIN. The form runs 10 numbered lines across 1 page. The IRS charges $0 to file it, and the estimated completion time is 18 minutes. Q: How long do you have to file Form 8822-B? A: A responsible party change must reach the IRS within 60 days of the change, under Regulations section 301.6109-1(d)(2)(ii). An address-only change carries no 60-day deadline, and filing it early protects notice delivery. The IRS processes either change in 4 to 6 weeks. Q: Where do I mail Form 8822-B? A: Two addresses exist, chosen by the old business address on line 5. Entities in 23 states and the District of Columbia mail to Internal Revenue Service, Kansas City, MO 64999. Entities in the other 27 states, and any place outside the United States, mail to Internal Revenue Service, Ogden, UT 84201-0023. Q: Who is the responsible party on an EIN? A: The responsible party is the person who owns, controls, or exercises effective control over the entity and directly or indirectly manages its funds and assets. Lines 8 and 9 of Form 8822-B record that person. A nominee cannot hold the role, and listing one exposes your account to an unauthorized person. Q: Can Form 8822-B change a business name? A: No. Form 8822-B changes 3 things only: mailing address, business location, and responsible party. Line 4a records the current legal name for identification. A name change goes on the name-change box of the entity return or in a signed letter to the IRS. Q: Can Form 8822-B be filed electronically? A: No. The Where To File table on Form 8822-B lists 2 mailing addresses and no electronic option. The form carries the instruction not to attach it to a return. Mail is the only route, which is why the IRS states 4 to 6 weeks of processing time. Q: What is the penalty for not filing Form 8822-B? A: The IRS charges no penalty for failing to file Form 8822-B. The exposure is different: an entity that never updates its address or responsible party may not receive a notice of deficiency or a notice of demand for tax, and interest and penalties continue to accrue on any deficiency. Q: Does Form 8822-B work without an SSN? A: Yes. Line 9 accepts an SSN, an ITIN, or an EIN for the new responsible party, so a person holding none of the first two enters an EIN. Applying for a new EIN also works without an SSN, because Form SS-4 line 7b accepts the entry Foreign. Q: How do I know the IRS processed Form 8822-B? A: The IRS confirms a responsible party change in writing. When no confirmation arrives inside the 60-day window, the IRS directs you to send a second copy of Form 8822-B marked Second Request. Keep the mailing receipt, because the form carries no tracking number of its own. Q: Does a responsible party change require a new EIN? A: No. A responsible party change updates the existing EIN through Form 8822-B within 60 days. A new EIN is required when the entity itself changes: a sole proprietorship that incorporates, or a single-member LLC that adds a second member and becomes a partnership. The IRS charges $0 for either. Sources: - About Form 8822-B, Change of Address or Responsible Party — Business — https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-8822-b - Responsible parties and nominees — https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/responsible-parties-and-nominees - Business name change — https://www.irs.gov/businesses/business-name-change ## How Long Does It Take to Get an EIN? (2026) URL: https://ein-number.com/how-long-does-it-take-to-get-an-ein/ Updated: 2026-07-20 Summary: How long does it take to get an EIN? 15 minutes online, 4 business days by fax, 4 weeks by mail. All 5 methods compared, with IRS hours and the $0 IRS fee. Answer: How long it takes to get an EIN ranges from 15 minutes to 4 weeks. The online tool assigns it in 15 minutes, fax returns it in 4 business days, and mail takes 4 weeks. The IRS charges $0. FAQ: Q: How long does it take to get an EIN number? A: An EIN takes 15 minutes through the IRS online tool, one phone call on 267-941-1099, 4 business days by fax, and 4 weeks by mail. The IRS charges $0 on all four routes. ein-number.com prepares and double-checks the application: $69 Standard runs 2–3 weeks total, $99 Fast runs 7 business days total. Q: How long does the IRS online EIN application take? A: The IRS online EIN Assistant issues the number in 15 minutes and displays it at the end of the session. The tool runs Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Eastern Time. The session ends after 15 minutes of inactivity, and an ended session restarts from the first screen. Q: How long does an EIN take by fax? A: The IRS returns a faxed Form SS-4 within 4 business days when the application lists a return fax number. Use 855-641-6935 for an entity based in a US state and 855-215-1627 for an international applicant. Four business days spans 6 calendar days when the fax crosses a weekend. Q: How long does an EIN take by mail? A: The IRS processes a mailed Form SS-4 in 4 weeks, which is 28 calendar days, before mailing the EIN back. Postal transit adds to that in both directions. Mail runs 20 business days against 4 for fax, so fax finishes 5 times faster on the same form. Q: How long does it take to get an EIN without an SSN? A: Four business days by fax. Form SS-4 line 7b accepts the entry Foreign, so the IRS assigns EINs to responsible parties who hold no SSN and no ITIN. The online tool is the only route that requires an SSN or ITIN. The IRS fee stays $0. Q: Can I get an EIN the same day? A: Yes, on 2 of the 5 routes. The IRS online tool assigns the number inside a 15-minute session, and the international phone line at 267-941-1099 assigns it during the call. Fax takes 4 business days and mail takes 4 weeks, so neither finishes the same day. Q: How much does a faster EIN cost from the IRS? A: $0. The IRS charges nothing for an EIN on any of its 4 routes and sells no expedited option. An EIN never renews, so the year 2 cost is also $0. ein-number.com charges $69 once at Standard speed and $99 at Fast speed, and every filing is double-checked before submission. Q: How many EINs can I get in one day? A: One. The IRS limits issuance to 1 EIN per responsible party per day across all 4 of its routes. A founder registering 3 entities reaches 3 separate days. The limit applies to the responsible party named on line 7a, not to the entity being registered. Q: How soon can I use a new EIN? A: Immediately for a bank account or a paper return. The IRS states that an EIN takes up to 2 weeks to enter its permanent records, and electronic returns, electronic payments, and TIN matching wait for that. A 15-minute EIN is still 2 weeks from full electronic use. Q: What counts as a business day in an EIN timeline? A: Monday to Friday, excluding US federal holidays. The Office of Personnel Management lists 11 federal holidays a year, and each one inside your window pushes the expected delivery date by 1 day. Seven business days on the Fast tier lands 9 to 11 calendar days after filing, depending on the start day. Sources: - Instructions for Form SS-4 (Rev. December 2025) — https://www.irs.gov/instructions/iss4 - Apply for an Employer Identification Number (EIN) online — https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/apply-for-an-employer-identification-number-ein-online - Employer Identification Number — https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/employer-identification-number ## EIN vs TIN: The Difference, Settled (2026) URL: https://ein-number.com/ein-vs-tin/ Updated: 2026-07-20 Summary: EIN vs TIN: a TIN is the category, and the EIN is 1 of its 5 types. Compare all 5 by format, issuer, form, and cost. Every TIN carries 9 digits and costs $0. Answer: An EIN is a TIN. TIN is the IRS category for taxpayer identification numbers, and it holds 5 types: SSN, EIN, ITIN, ATIN, and PTIN. The EIN is the type issued to a business entity. FAQ: Q: Is an EIN the same as a TIN? A: An EIN is a TIN, and a TIN is not always an EIN. TIN is the IRS category for taxpayer identification numbers, and it holds 5 types: SSN, EIN, ITIN, ATIN, and PTIN. The EIN is the type issued to a business entity, on Form SS-4, at a cost of $0. Q: What are the 5 types of TIN? A: The 5 TIN types are the SSN, the EIN, the ITIN, the ATIN, and the PTIN. The Social Security Administration issues the SSN on Form SS-5. The IRS issues the other 4, on Form SS-4, Form W-7, Form W-7A, and Form W-12. Four of the 5 carry 9 digits. Q: How many digits are in an EIN and a TIN? A: An EIN carries 9 digits, printed as 2 digits, a hyphen, then 7 digits. The SSN, ITIN, and ATIN also carry 9 digits, printed as 3, then 2, then 4. The PTIN is the exception: it carries the letter P followed by 8 digits. Q: Is a federal tax ID number the same as an EIN? A: Yes, in a business context. Federal tax ID number is the everyday name for the EIN, and both point to the same 9 digits on the same CP-575 letter. On a personal return, federal tax ID number means the SSN or the ITIN instead, so the entity decides which number applies. Q: Which TIN goes on Form W-9? A: Part I of Form W-9 is headed Taxpayer Identification Number, and it takes the TIN of the entity named on line 1. A corporation, a partnership, and a multi-member LLC enter an EIN. A sole proprietor enters an SSN or an EIN. Entering the wrong one triggers 24% backup withholding on payments. Q: Do I need an EIN if I already have an SSN? A: An entity needs its own EIN. A corporation, a partnership, a multi-member LLC, an estate, and any business with employees each file for one, regardless of the owner's SSN. A sole proprietor with 0 employees reports under an SSN and needs no EIN. Q: Can I get an EIN without an SSN or an ITIN? A: Yes. Form SS-4 line 7b accepts the entry Foreign, so the IRS issues an EIN to a responsible party holding no SSN and no ITIN. The application moves from the online tool to fax: 855-641-6935 for US-based entities and 855-215-1627 for international ones. Q: What is the difference between an EIN and an ITIN? A: An EIN identifies a business entity, and an ITIN identifies a person. The IRS issues the EIN on Form SS-4 and the ITIN on Form W-7. An ITIN is not a prerequisite for an EIN, because line 7b of Form SS-4 accepts Foreign in place of any personal number. Q: How much does a TIN cost? A: The SSN, EIN, ITIN, and ATIN each cost $0 from the government, and an EIN never renews, so year 2 costs $0 as well. The PTIN is the single exception, carrying a yearly IRS user fee. ein-number.com charges $69 or $99 to prepare and file an EIN application, and double-checks every filing before it reaches the IRS. Q: Does my EIN change when my business name changes? A: No. The EIN belongs to the entity, so a name change keeps the same 9 digits. The IRS records the change on Form 8822-B or on the annual return. A change of entity type, such as a sole proprietorship incorporating, requires a new EIN instead. Sources: - Taxpayer Identification Numbers (TIN) — https://www.irs.gov/individuals/international-taxpayers/taxpayer-identification-numbers-tin - 26 U.S.C. § 6109 — Identifying numbers — https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/26/6109 - 26 CFR § 301.6109-1 — Identifying numbers — https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/26/301.6109-1 - Employer Identification Number — https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/employer-identification-number ## EIN vs Tax ID: Same Number, or Not? (2026) URL: https://ein-number.com/ein-vs-tax-id/ Updated: 2026-08-05 Summary: "Tax ID" means 4 different numbers. A federal business tax ID is the EIN, at $0. A state tax ID, a sales tax ID, and a personal SSN or ITIN are not. Answer: A tax ID is a plain-English word for 4 different numbers. A federal business tax ID is the EIN, so those are identical. A state tax ID, a sales tax ID, and a personal SSN or ITIN are not the EIN. FAQ: Q: Is an EIN the same as a tax ID? A: Sometimes. A federal business tax ID is the EIN, so those 2 names point to the same 9 digits. But tax ID also names 3 other numbers: a personal SSN or ITIN, a state income-tax ID, and a sales tax ID. The EIN equals a tax ID only when the tax ID meant is the federal business number. Q: Is a federal tax ID number the same as an EIN? A: Yes. Federal tax ID number is the everyday name for the EIN. Both point to the same 9 digits issued by the IRS on Form SS-4, printed as 2 digits, a hyphen, then 7. A bank or W-9 that asks for a federal tax ID wants your EIN, at a cost of $0. Q: Is a state tax ID the same as an EIN? A: No. A state tax ID is issued by a state agency to register for state withholding or unemployment tax, and the EIN is issued by the IRS for federal purposes. They are 2 different numbers from 2 different governments. A business with employees needs both, and enters the EIN on federal forms. Q: Is a sales tax ID the same as an EIN? A: No. A sales tax ID, seller's permit, or resale number authorizes a business to collect sales tax in 1 state. The EIN is a federal number issued on Form SS-4. A business can hold an EIN and never need a sales tax ID, or hold both, depending on whether it sells taxable goods. Q: Which tax ID goes on a W-9? A: Part I of Form W-9 is headed Taxpayer Identification Number, and it takes the federal number of the entity on line 1. A corporation, a partnership, and a multi-member LLC enter the EIN. A sole proprietor enters an SSN or an EIN. A state tax ID never goes on a W-9, and a mismatch triggers 24% backup withholding. Q: Do I need a tax ID and an EIN, or just one? A: For federal purposes, they are the same thing, so 1 number covers it. A business with employees or sales needs 2 more: a state tax ID for state withholding, and a sales tax ID to collect sales tax. Those are state numbers issued in addition to the federal EIN, not instead of it. Q: How do I tell a federal tax ID from a state one? A: By the format and the issuer. A federal EIN always prints 2 digits, a hyphen, then 7, and comes from the IRS on a CP-575 letter. A state tax ID follows each state's own format and arrives from a state revenue or labor agency. If the number reads XX-XXXXXXX and came from the IRS, it is the EIN. Q: What does a business tax ID cost? A: A federal EIN costs $0 from the IRS, and it never renews, so year 2 costs $0. Most state tax IDs and sales tax permits also cost $0 to register. ein-number.com charges $69 or $99 to prepare and file the EIN application and double-checks every filing before it reaches the IRS. Q: Can I get a business tax ID without an SSN? A: Yes. The federal business tax ID is the EIN, and Form SS-4 line 7b accepts the entry Foreign, so the IRS issues an EIN to a responsible party holding no SSN and no ITIN. The application moves to fax: 855-641-6935 for US-based entities and 855-215-1627 for international ones. Q: Is a taxpayer ID number the same as an EIN? A: Taxpayer identification number, or TIN, is the IRS category, and the EIN is 1 of its 5 types. So an EIN is always a TIN, but a TIN is not always an EIN. The other types are the SSN, ITIN, ATIN, and PTIN. Four of the 5, including the EIN, carry 9 digits. Sources: - Taxpayer Identification Numbers (TIN) — https://www.irs.gov/individuals/international-taxpayers/taxpayer-identification-numbers-tin - Employer Identification Number — https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/employer-identification-number - 26 U.S.C. § 6109 — Identifying numbers — https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/26/6109 ## FEIN vs EIN: The Same Number, Confirmed (2026) URL: https://ein-number.com/ein-vs-fein/ Updated: 2026-08-05 Summary: FEIN and EIN are 1 IRS number under 2 names. The F adds Federal and changes nothing: same 9 digits, same Form SS-4, same $0 cost, same CP-575 letter. Answer: A FEIN and an EIN are 1 number, not 2. FEIN is Federal Employer Identification Number; EIN is Employer Identification Number. The F adds the word Federal and changes nothing about the 9 digits. FAQ: Q: Is a FEIN the same as an EIN? A: Yes. A FEIN and an EIN are 1 number, not 2. FEIN stands for Federal Employer Identification Number and EIN stands for Employer Identification Number. Both name the same 9 digits the IRS issues on Form SS-4, printed as 2 digits, a hyphen, then 7, at a cost of $0. Q: What does FEIN stand for? A: FEIN stands for Federal Employer Identification Number. It is the EIN with the word Federal added to stress that the IRS, a federal agency, issues it. The extra word distinguishes it from a state employer number, and it changes nothing about the 9-digit value itself. Q: Why does one number have two names? A: Because 2 audiences name it differently. The IRS calls it an EIN on Form SS-4 and every federal return. States and banks add Federal, making it a FEIN, to separate it from the state employer number a business also holds. Both names point to the same 9 digits on the same CP-575 letter. Q: Is a FEIN the same as a state tax ID? A: No. A FEIN is the federal number issued by the IRS. A state tax ID is a separate number issued by a state agency for state withholding or unemployment tax. A business with employees holds both: 1 federal FEIN and 1 state number, each on different returns. Q: Where do I find my FEIN? A: In 6 places: the CP-575 letter the IRS mailed when it assigned the number, a prior 147C letter, a filed federal tax return, a business bank record, a payroll report, or a past W-9. All 6 show the same 9-digit FEIN, because a business holds only 1. Q: Does a FEIN cost money? A: No. The IRS issues a FEIN, which is the EIN, for $0 on all 4 of its routes, and it never renews, so year 2 costs $0. A filing service like ein-number.com charges $69 or $99 to prepare and file Form SS-4, and double-checks every filing before it reaches the IRS. Q: Do I use a FEIN or an EIN on a W-9? A: The same number, under whichever label the form prints. Part I of Form W-9 is headed Taxpayer Identification Number and takes the entity's 9-digit federal number. Enter your FEIN there, which is your EIN. A mismatch between the number and the name on line 1 triggers 24% backup withholding. Q: Can I get a FEIN without an SSN? A: Yes. A FEIN is an EIN, and Form SS-4 line 7b accepts the entry Foreign, so the IRS issues one to a responsible party holding no SSN and no ITIN. The application moves to fax: 855-641-6935 for US-based entities and 855-215-1627 for international ones. Q: Is a FEIN 9 digits like an EIN? A: Yes. A FEIN carries exactly 9 digits, printed as 2 digits, a hyphen, then 7, in the pattern XX-XXXXXXX. That is identical to the EIN, because they are the same number. The 2-then-7 grouping separates it from an SSN, which prints 3 digits, then 2, then 4. Sources: - Employer Identification Number — https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/employer-identification-number - Taxpayer Identification Numbers (TIN) — https://www.irs.gov/individuals/international-taxpayers/taxpayer-identification-numbers-tin - Publication 1635, Understanding Your EIN (PDF) — https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p1635.pdf ## How to Verify an EIN (Yours or a Vendor's) URL: https://ein-number.com/verify-ein-number/ Updated: 2026-10-15 Summary: Verify an EIN 3 ways at $0: IRS TIN Matching for a vendor (25 pairs per session), Letter 147C for your own, SEC EDGAR or IRS TEOS for a public company or nonprofit. Answer: To verify an EIN is to confirm that the 9-digit number and the legal name match IRS records; the route depends on whose EIN it is. A payer verifies a vendor's EIN through IRS TIN Matching before filing a 1099. A business verifies its own with Letter 147C from the IRS. A public company's or nonprofit's EIN is checked against its SEC filing or Form 990. Every route costs $0. Key facts: - Vendor's EIN: IRS TIN Matching through e-Services checks 25 name/EIN pairs per interactive session or 100,000 per bulk file, at $0, returning a match code. - Your own EIN: Letter 147C from 800-829-4933 (Monday-Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time) restates the EIN beside the legal name; faxed during the call. - Public company or nonprofit: compare the number with the Form 10-K cover page on SEC EDGAR or the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search record, at $0. - A name/EIN mismatch on a filed 1099 brings a CP2100 notice; the payer sends a B-notice within 15 business days and starts 24% backup withholding under 26 U.S.C. § 3406. - A valid EIN has 9 digits in the format XX-XXXXXXX with 1 of 83 valid IRS prefixes and no check digit, so only an IRS match proves it belongs to the name. - Form W-9 is the document that starts verification: the payee certifies the TIN under penalty of perjury, and a missing or wrong TIN costs the payer 24% of each payment. FAQ: Q: How do I verify an EIN number? A: Six official routes exist: a format check against the IRS prefix list, a signed Form W-9, IRS TIN Matching, a CP-575 or 147C letter, the SEC EDGAR filing header, and the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Each route costs $0, and the route that applies depends on whose EIN you hold. Q: Is there a free EIN verification tool? A: IRS TIN Matching verifies a name and EIN pair at $0, and enrollment runs through IRS e-Services. It is open to payers who filed information returns in 1 of the 2 previous tax years. SEC EDGAR and the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search are open to anyone at $0. Q: How do I verify another company's EIN number? A: Request a signed Form W-9, which pairs the legal name on line 1 with the taxpayer identification number in Part I under penalties of perjury. Run that pair through IRS TIN Matching for a direct read of IRS records. SEC EDGAR covers public companies at $0 in the same session. Q: What is IRS TIN Matching? A: IRS TIN Matching is an e-Services program that compares a name and TIN pair against IRS records and returns 1 of the 9 numeric codes numbered 0 through 8. Interactive matching accepts up to 25 pairs in a session and answers at once. Bulk matching accepts up to 100,000 pairs and answers within 24 hours. Q: What does TIN Matching response code 3 mean? A: Code 3 means the name and TIN combination does not match IRS records. The number exists and the name exists, and the IRS does not hold them together. The usual cause is a trading name filed in place of the legal name, because the IRS matches on the first 4 characters of the legal name. Q: How do I verify a nonprofit's EIN number? A: Search the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search, which publishes the EIN of every registered tax-exempt organization across 5 datasets at $0. Form 990 prints the same EIN on page 1. The automatic revocation list shows an organization that lost exempt status under that same 9-digit number. Q: What happens if an EIN does not match the IRS name? A: The IRS sends the payer a CP-2100 or CP-2100A notice. The payer mails a B notice to the payee within 15 business days of the notice date. The payee has 30 business days to return a corrected Form W-9 before backup withholding at 24% starts on the payments. Q: Can I verify an EIN without an SSN? A: Yes. Verification reads documents and IRS records, so no SSN is required at any of the 6 routes. Applying for a new EIN also works without one, because Form SS-4 line 7b accepts the entry Foreign for the responsible party and no identity document is filed with the form. Q: How much does it cost to verify an EIN number? A: All 6 verification routes cost $0. The IRS charges $0 for TIN Matching, $0 for a 147C letter, and $0 for the Tax Exempt Organization Search. A new EIN also costs $0 from the IRS. ein-number.com charges $69 or $99 to prepare and file a new application, and every filing is double-checked before submission. Q: What do I do if the business has no EIN yet? A: File Form SS-4. Verification confirms a number that already exists, and an entity that never received one applies instead. The IRS charges $0. The fax line is 855-641-6935 for entities based in a US state and 855-215-1627 for international applicants, and line 7b accepts Foreign. Sources: - Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) Matching — https://www.irs.gov/tax-professionals/taxpayer-identification-number-tin-matching - Publication 1281, Backup Withholding for Missing and Incorrect Name/TIN(s) (PDF) — https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p1281.pdf - 26 U.S.C. § 3406 — Backup withholding — https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/26/3406 - About Form W-9, Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification — https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-w-9 - Telephone assistance contacts for business customers — https://www.irs.gov/businesses/telephone-assistance-contacts-for-business-customers - Tax Exempt Organization Search — https://apps.irs.gov/app/eos/ ## Cancel EIN: The IRS Close-Account Letter (2026) URL: https://ein-number.com/cancel-ein/ Updated: 2026-07-20 Summary: You cannot cancel an EIN. You close the business account behind it with a letter carrying 4 items, sent to the IRS at Cincinnati, OH 45999. The IRS fee is $0. Answer: You cannot cancel an EIN. The IRS closes the business account behind the 9-digit number instead, after a letter carrying 4 items sent to Cincinnati, OH 45999. The fee is $0. FAQ: Q: Can you cancel an EIN? A: No. The IRS never cancels an EIN, because the 9-digit number is a permanent federal taxpayer identification number assigned to one entity for life. What closes is the business account behind it. You request that closure in a letter carrying 4 items, and the IRS charges $0 for it. Q: Where do you send a letter to cancel an EIN? A: Send it to Internal Revenue Service, Cincinnati, OH 45999. That single address handles business account closures for every entity type and every state. No form number exists for the request, so the letter is the filing. The IRS charges $0 to process it. Q: What do you include in the close-account letter? A: Include 4 items: the complete legal name of the entity, the 9-digit EIN, the business address, and the reason you want the account closed. Enclose a copy of the CP-575 assignment notice when you hold one. The IRS releases the account only after every required return is filed. Q: Does an EIN expire if you stop using it? A: No. An EIN never expires and never lapses, and it costs $0 in year 2 and every year after. An unused EIN stays assigned to the entity indefinitely. Filing obligations attached to the account continue until the IRS closes it, which is why the letter matters. Q: Can a canceled EIN be reused or reactivated? A: The IRS never reissues a retired EIN to a different entity. The number stays permanently linked to the original business. The same entity that closed its account reopens it by filing a return under that EIN, so 1 number covers the whole life of the business. Q: Do you have to file final tax returns before canceling an EIN? A: Yes. The IRS closes a business account only after every required return is filed and every balance is paid. A dissolving corporation files Form 966 within 30 days of the dissolution resolution, then a final Form 1120 with the final-return box checked. Q: How long does it take the IRS to close a business account? A: The IRS publishes no processing deadline for a close-account letter and sends no standard acknowledgment. Mail the letter with proof of delivery and keep the receipt. Employment tax records stay for 4 years after the tax is due or paid, whichever is later. Q: Can you close an EIN account without an SSN? A: Yes. The close-account letter carries no identity number for the person signing, only the entity name, the 9-digit EIN, the address, and the reason. A responsible party with no SSN signs it. Form SS-4 line 7b accepts the entry Foreign for a new application. Q: What does it cost to cancel an EIN? A: The IRS charges $0 to close a business account, and $0 to issue an EIN in the first place. Postage is the only cost. When your next entity needs a new EIN, ein-number.com charges $69 at Standard speed, 2–3 weeks total, or $99 at Fast speed, 7 business days total. Every filing is double-checked before submission, and an error means a full refund. Q: Do you need a new EIN after closing one? A: A new legal entity needs its own EIN. A sole proprietorship that incorporates, a single-member LLC that adds a second member, and a corporation formed after a dissolution each apply on Form SS-4. The IRS fee is $0, and 1 EIN attaches to each new entity. Sources: - Canceling an EIN – closing your account — https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/canceling-an-ein-closing-your-account - Employer Identification Number — https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/employer-identification-number - Do you need a new EIN? — https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/do-you-need-a-new-ein ## EIN Reference Number 101: What It Means and How to Fix It (2026) URL: https://ein-number.com/ein-reference-number-101/ Updated: 2026-07-20 Summary: EIN reference number 101 is a name conflict in IRS records. Online tool stops. Fax route (855-641-6935) still works in 4 business days. All 13 codes explained. Answer: EIN reference number 101 is a name conflict. The IRS online tool found a name close to one already in its records and stopped. The same Form SS-4 finishes by fax in 4 business days, at $0. FAQ: Q: What is EIN reference number 101? A: EIN reference number 101 is a name conflict. The IRS online tool found an entity name close to one already in its records, across all 50 states, and stopped the automated assignment. The application needs a human reviewer, which the fax route provides. The IRS fee stays $0. Q: How do I fix EIN reference number 101? A: Fax Form SS-4 to the IRS instead of reapplying online. Fax 855-641-6935 for an entity based in a US state and 855-215-1627 for an international applicant. The IRS returns the EIN within 4 business days when the form carries a return fax number. Q: Does reference number 101 mean my application was rejected? A: No. Reference 101 ends the online session, and it does not end the application. The same Form SS-4 goes to a reviewer by fax and finishes in 4 business days. Nothing about the entity, the name, or the formation document has to change first. Q: Can I just apply online again after reference number 101? A: No. The name comparison runs the same way on every attempt, so a second online session returns 101 again. Repeat attempts add reference number 105, which blocks the tool for the day. The fax route is the only one that reaches a reviewer. Q: What is EIN reference number 102? A: Reference 102 is an identity mismatch. The SSN or ITIN entered for the responsible party does not match the records the IRS checks. Form SS-4 line 7b accepts the entry Foreign, so an applicant with no SSN and no ITIN uses the fax route at $0. Q: What is EIN reference number 114? A: Reference 114 is the daily limit. The IRS issues 1 EIN per responsible party per day, counting every entity that party is responsible for. A second application the same day stops. The next business day clears it, and the IRS fee remains $0 on every attempt. Q: Can I get an EIN without an SSN after a reference number error? A: Yes. Form SS-4 line 7b accepts the word Foreign, so the IRS assigns EINs to responsible parties holding no SSN and no ITIN. The online tool is the only route that requires one. Fax takes 4 business days, and no identity document is filed with the form. Q: How long does the fax route take after a reference number error? A: Four business days, when Form SS-4 lists a return fax number. Without a return fax number the IRS replies by mail on the 4-week timetable instead. Business days run Monday to Friday and exclude US federal holidays, so a form faxed on a Thursday returns the following Wednesday at the earliest. The IRS fee stays $0. Q: Does an EIN reference number cost anything to resolve? A: No. The IRS charges $0 to apply, $0 to refile by fax, and $0 in year 2 and after, because an EIN never renews. ein-number.com prepares and files the application for $69 at Standard speed or $99 at Fast speed. Every filing is double-checked before submission, and if we make an error, full refund, no conditions. Q: Which IRS number do I call about a reference number error? A: International applicants reach the IRS at 267-941-1099, Monday to Friday, 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Eastern Time. The line assigns the EIN during the call. The online EIN Assistant that produced the reference number runs 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday to Friday. Sources: - Apply for an Employer Identification Number (EIN) online — https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/apply-for-an-employer-identification-number-ein-online - Instructions for Form SS-4 (Rev. December 2025) — https://www.irs.gov/instructions/iss4 - Publication 1635, Understanding Your EIN (PDF) — https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p1635.pdf ## Lost EIN Number: 5 Ways to Recover It (2026) URL: https://ein-number.com/lost-ein-number/ Updated: 2026-07-20 Summary: A lost EIN number is recoverable in 5 ways, and every one costs $0. Four read documents you already hold and finish in 5 minutes. The fifth is the IRS 147C letter. Answer: A lost EIN number is recoverable in 5 ways, and every one costs $0. Four read a document the business already holds. The fifth is the IRS reissue on Letter 147C. FAQ: Q: What do I do if I lost my EIN number? A: Work the 5 routes in order. Read the CP-575, a filed tax return, the bank file, then a W-2, 1099, or signed W-9. Four of those finish inside 5 minutes at $0. When no document survives, request Letter 147C from the IRS, which also costs $0. Q: Can the IRS look up my lost EIN number? A: Yes. The IRS holds every assigned EIN permanently and reissues it as Letter 147C. The request runs by phone, costs $0, and releases the number to an authorized person only. International callers reach the IRS at 267-941-1099, Monday through Friday, 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Eastern. Q: Can I get a copy of my original EIN letter? A: No. The IRS prints the CP-575 one time, at assignment, and never reprints it. Letter 147C is the official replacement and carries the same 9-digit EIN beside the same legal name. Banks accept the 147C in place of the CP-575, and the IRS charges $0 for it. Q: How long does it take to recover a lost EIN number? A: A document route takes 1 to 5 minutes, because the number already sits in a file you hold. Letter 147C is faxed during the call on request, otherwise mailed, because it waits on IRS processing. Four of the 5 routes need no IRS contact at all, so the 147C belongs last. Q: How much does it cost to recover a lost EIN? A: Recovery costs $0 through all 5 routes. The IRS charges $0 for Letter 147C, $0 to assign a new EIN, and $0 in year 2 and every year after, because an EIN never renews and never expires. No payment moves an IRS request forward faster. Q: Should I apply for a new EIN if I lost the old one? A: No. A second application creates a second EIN, and both stay assigned to your business permanently. Two live EINs split your filing history across 2 records and trigger IRS notices. Recover the original through the 5 routes instead, at $0. Q: Can I recover a lost EIN without an SSN? A: Yes. All 5 recovery routes read documents or IRS records, so no Social Security Number is required at any step. Applying for a new EIN also works without one, because Form SS-4 line 7b accepts the entry Foreign for the responsible party. Q: Who is allowed to request a lost EIN from the IRS? A: The IRS releases an EIN to an authorized person only. That means a sole proprietor, a partner, a corporate officer, a trustee, an executor, or a person holding a filed power of attorney on Form 2848. The IRS verifies that authority before releasing the 9 digits. Q: Why does the EIN I found not match my records? A: Three causes explain most mismatches. A digit was transcribed wrong, because 0 and O look alike in scans. The legal name changed after assignment, which Form 8822-B records. Or the number belongs to a different entity, because a parent and a subsidiary hold 2 separate EINs. Q: What if my business never received an EIN at all? A: Then nothing exists to recover, and Form SS-4 creates one. The IRS charges $0. ein-number.com prepares and files the application for $69 at Standard speed, 2–3 weeks total, or $99 at Fast speed, 7 business days total. Every filing is double-checked before submission, and if we make an error, full refund, no conditions. Sources: - Employer Identification Number — https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/employer-identification-number - Telephone assistance contacts for business customers — https://www.irs.gov/businesses/telephone-assistance-contacts-for-business-customers - Publication 1635, Understanding Your EIN (PDF) — https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p1635.pdf ## EIN vs ITIN: Which One Do You Need? URL: https://ein-number.com/ein-vs-itin/ Updated: 2026-10-15 Summary: EIN vs ITIN: an EIN identifies a business on Form SS-4, an ITIN identifies a person on Form W-7. Both cost $0 from the IRS. See the 6 differences. Answer: You need an EIN if the taxpayer is a business and an ITIN if the taxpayer is a person without an SSN. An EIN identifies an entity, is applied for on Form SS-4, and is written XX-XXXXXXX. An ITIN identifies an individual, is applied for on Form W-7 with a passport, always starts with 9, and is written 9XX-XX-XXXX. The IRS charges $0 for each. Key facts: - EIN: entity, Form SS-4, format XX-XXXXXXX, issued in 15 minutes online or 4 business days by fax, $0. - ITIN: individual, Form W-7 with an original or certified passport, format 9XX-XX-XXXX, about 7 weeks (9 to 11 from abroad or in filing season), $0. - A foreign founder does not need an ITIN to get an EIN: Form SS-4 line 7b accepts the word Foreign. - A company bank account, Form W-9, Form 941 payroll and Form 5472 all take the EIN; a Form 1040-NR, a personal W-8BEN treaty claim and a dependent listing take the ITIN. - An EIN never expires; an ITIN expires when it is not used on a federal return for 3 consecutive years and must be renewed on a new Form W-7. - Entering an ITIN where an EIN is required triggers 24% backup withholding under 26 U.S.C. § 3406 on the payments reported with it. FAQ: Q: What is the difference between an EIN and an ITIN? A: An EIN identifies a business entity and an ITIN identifies an individual person. Both carry 9 digits and both cost $0 from the IRS. The EIN uses Form SS-4 and never expires. The ITIN uses Form W-7 and expires after 3 consecutive years of non-use. Q: Do I need an ITIN before I can get an EIN? A: No. Form SS-4 line 7b accepts the entry Foreign, so the IRS assigns an EIN to a responsible party who holds no SSN and no ITIN. Only the IRS online tool requires one of those numbers. The fax route accepts Foreign and returns the EIN in 4 business days. Q: Can an ITIN replace an EIN for my business? A: No. An ITIN belongs to a person and an EIN belongs to an entity. A corporation, a partnership, and a multi-member LLC each file returns under an EIN. Form 1120, Form 1065, and Form 941 print an EIN in the identification block, and no ITIN satisfies that line. Q: Which number goes on a Form W-9? A: Part I of Form W-9 takes the number that matches the name on line 1. An entity signing as itself enters its EIN. A person signing as an individual enters an SSN or an ITIN. A name and number mismatch triggers backup withholding at 24 percent. Q: How do I tell an EIN and an ITIN apart by sight? A: An EIN prints as 2 digits, a hyphen, then 7 digits. An ITIN prints in the 9-digit Social Security format of 3 digits, 2 digits, then 4 digits, and it always begins with the digit 9. The hyphen positions separate the two on sight. Q: How long does each number take? A: An EIN takes 15 minutes through the IRS online tool, 4 business days by fax, and 4 weeks by mail. The IRS publishes 7 weeks for an ITIN, and 9 to 11 weeks for an application filed from abroad or during peak season. Q: Does an EIN or an ITIN expire? A: An EIN never expires and never renews, so year 2 and beyond cost $0. The IRS retires it when the entity closes and never reassigns it. An ITIN expires after 3 consecutive years without appearing on a filed federal return, and a renewal files Form W-7 again. Q: Can one person hold both an EIN and an ITIN? A: Yes. The two numbers sit on separate taxpayers. The EIN belongs to the company and the ITIN belongs to the owner. A non-resident owner reporting personal US income files under an ITIN while the company files Form 1120 or Form 1065 under its EIN. Q: What does each number cost? A: The IRS charges $0 for an EIN and $0 for an ITIN. Year 2 and beyond cost $0 for an EIN because it never renews. ein-number.com charges $69 to prepare and file Form SS-4, 2–3 weeks total, or $99 to file within 24 hours, 7 business days total. Every filing is double-checked before submission, and if we make an error, full refund. Q: Can I get an EIN without an SSN and without an ITIN? A: Yes. Form SS-4 line 7b accepts the word Foreign. The application moves from the online tool to fax: 855-641-6935 for an entity based in a US state and 855-215-1627 for an international applicant. No passport is filed with Form SS-4. Sources: - Individual Taxpayer Identification Number — https://www.irs.gov/individuals/individual-taxpayer-identification-number - About Form W-7, Application for IRS Individual Taxpayer Identification Number — https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-w-7 - Taxpayer Identification Numbers (TIN) — https://www.irs.gov/individuals/international-taxpayers/taxpayer-identification-numbers-tin - Employer Identification Number — https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/employer-identification-number ## EIN vs SSN: Which Number Your Business Uses (2026) URL: https://ein-number.com/ein-vs-ssn/ Updated: 2026-07-20 Summary: EIN vs SSN: an SSN identifies a person, an EIN identifies a business. See which of 12 forms takes each, and when a sole proprietor needs both. Answer: In EIN vs SSN, an SSN identifies a person and an EIN identifies a business entity. Both carry 9 digits and both cost $0. Eight conditions decide which one a business must use. FAQ: Q: Is an EIN the same as an SSN? A: No. Both carry 9 digits, and there the resemblance ends. An EIN prints as 2 digits, a hyphen, then 7 digits, and the IRS issues it to a business entity on Form SS-4. An SSN prints as 3 digits, 2 digits, then 4 digits, and the Social Security Administration issues it to a person on Form SS-5. Q: Can I use my SSN instead of an EIN? A: Yes, while you run a sole proprietorship with no employees and file no excise return. The IRS accepts an SSN on Schedule C in place of an EIN. Any 1 of the 8 conditions on this page ends that option, and hiring a single employee is the most common trigger. Q: Does a single-member LLC need an EIN or an SSN? A: A single-member LLC with no employees reports on Schedule C under the owner SSN. The moment it pays wages or files an excise return, the IRS requires the LLC to hold its own EIN, because those 2 return types are filed at the entity level and cost $0 to register for. Q: Which number goes on a W-9, an EIN or an SSN? A: Either one. Part I of Form W-9 accepts a Social Security Number or an Employer Identification Number. A sole proprietor who holds both enters the EIN, which keeps the SSN out of the files of every client who pays the business. The form itself costs $0. Q: Can I get an EIN without an SSN? A: Yes. Form SS-4 line 7b accepts the entry Foreign for the responsible party, so the IRS issues EINs to people who hold no SSN and no ITIN. The application moves from the online tool to fax: 855-641-6935 for entities based in a US state and 855-215-1627 for international applicants. Q: Does an EIN replace my SSN on a personal tax return? A: No. Form 1040 carries the SSN of the filer in every case, and an EIN never appears in that field. A sole proprietor with an EIN prints it on Schedule C line D and still identifies the personal return by SSN. The 2 numbers coexist on the same filing. Q: Can one person hold both an EIN and an SSN? A: Yes, and most US business owners do. The SSN identifies the person and the EIN identifies the business. One person can hold several EINs, because each separate entity holds its own. The IRS limits an online application to 1 EIN per responsible party per day. Q: Does using an EIN instead of an SSN reduce identity risk? A: It reduces how far the SSN travels. A W-9 with an SSN puts that number in the file of every client who pays you, and each copy is a separate exposure. An EIN on the same line reveals a business number instead. Both numbers hold 9 digits and both cost $0. Q: How much does an EIN cost compared with an SSN? A: Both cost $0. The Social Security Administration issues an SSN on Form SS-5 at no charge, and the IRS issues an EIN on Form SS-4 at no charge through all 4 application methods. Neither number renews, so year 2 and every year after costs $0. Q: Do I need a new EIN when my sole proprietorship becomes a corporation? A: Yes. An EIN belongs to an entity, and incorporating creates a new entity. The sole proprietorship EIN closes and the corporation applies on its own Form SS-4. The same rule applies when a single-member LLC adds a second member and becomes a partnership. Sources: - Taxpayer Identification Numbers (TIN) — https://www.irs.gov/individuals/international-taxpayers/taxpayer-identification-numbers-tin - Social Security number and card — https://www.ssa.gov/number-card/ - Employer Identification Number — https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/employer-identification-number - 26 U.S.C. § 6109 — Identifying numbers — https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/26/6109 ## Do I Need a New EIN? The Entity-Change Matrix (2026) URL: https://ein-number.com/when-do-you-need-a-new-ein/ Updated: 2026-07-20 Summary: Do I need a new EIN? 20 changes require one and 22 do not. The IRS matrix for sole proprietors, LLCs, corporations, partnerships, trusts, and estates. IRS fee $0. Answer: You need a new EIN when the entity itself changes. 20 changes require a new 9-digit number across 6 entity types. 22 changes keep the existing one. The IRS charges $0 either way. FAQ: Q: Do I need a new EIN if I change my business name? A: No. A name change keeps the same 9-digit EIN for every entity type, because the IRS assigns an EIN to the entity rather than to the name. A corporation, an LLC, and a partnership all report the change to the IRS, and Form 8822-B records an address or responsible-party change within 60 days. Q: Do I need a new EIN if my LLC adds a second member? A: Yes. A single-member LLC that adds a second member becomes a partnership for federal tax purposes and files Form 1065. That change of federal classification requires a new EIN. The IRS charges $0. The prior EIN stays assigned to the entity and never transfers to the new classification. Q: Do I need a new EIN if I convert a sole proprietorship to an LLC? A: Yes, in 2 of the 3 LLC cases. A new multi-member LLC requires a new EIN. A new single-member LLC requires one when it elects corporation treatment or carries an employment or excise tax filing requirement. A single-member LLC with no employees keeps the sole proprietor EIN. Q: Do I need a new EIN if my corporation elects S corporation status? A: No. An S corporation election changes how the IRS taxes the corporation, not the identity of the entity, so the same EIN continues. The corporation files Form 2553 to make the election. This rule also covers an LLC that already holds an EIN and elects S corporation treatment. Q: Do I need a new EIN if I move my business to another state? A: No. A location change keeps the same EIN for all 6 entity types on this page, because an EIN is federal and carries no state attached to it. Form 8822-B records the new address with the IRS. A new state charter for a corporation is a separate event that does require a new EIN. Q: Do I need a new EIN after a merger? A: It depends on which entity survives. The surviving corporation in a merger keeps its existing EIN. A new corporation created by a statutory merger takes a new EIN. Of the 4 corporate triggers on this page, the statutory merger is the one that turns on the outcome rather than the paperwork. Q: Do I need a new EIN if the business files bankruptcy? A: A sole proprietor subject to a bankruptcy proceeding needs a new EIN. A corporation and a partnership that declare bankruptcy keep the existing EIN. That single split is the reason bankruptcy appears once in the 20-trigger list and twice in the 22-item keep list. Q: Do I need a new EIN when the owner or responsible party changes? A: No. A change of owner or responsible party keeps the same EIN as long as the entity type does not change. The IRS requires Form 8822-B within 60 days of a responsible-party change. A sole proprietor who buys an existing business is the exception and applies for a new EIN. Q: Can I get a new EIN without an SSN? A: Yes. Form SS-4 line 7b accepts the entry Foreign for a responsible party who holds no SSN and no ITIN. The application moves from the online tool to fax. The IRS fax line is 855-641-6935 for US-based entities and 855-215-1627 for international applicants. No passport is filed. Q: What does a new EIN cost, and what happens to the old one? A: The IRS charges $0 for a new EIN and $0 in every year after that, because an EIN never renews. The old EIN stays assigned to the old entity and the IRS never reissues it to anyone else. ein-number.com files a new application for $69 at Standard speed or $99 at Fast speed, and double-checks every filing before submission. Sources: - Do you need a new EIN? — https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/do-you-need-a-new-ein - Employer Identification Number — https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/employer-identification-number - 26 CFR § 301.7701-3 — Classification of certain business entities — https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/26/301.7701-3 ## How to Change a Business Name With the IRS (2026) URL: https://ein-number.com/change-business-name-with-irs/ Updated: 2026-07-20 Summary: Change a business name with the IRS and keep the same 9-digit EIN. See the exact box on Form 1120, 1120-S, 1065, and the Form 8822-B 60-day rule. Answer: You change a business name with the IRS by checking the name change box on your entity return or by mailing a signed letter to the IRS address where you filed. The EIN stays the same, and the IRS fee is $0. FAQ: Q: Do I need a new EIN if I change my business name? A: No. The IRS states plainly that you do not need a new EIN if you change your business name or address. The same 9 digits stay assigned to the entity permanently. A new EIN is required when the legal entity itself changes, and the IRS charges $0 for that new number. Q: How do I change my business name with the IRS? A: Five routes exist. A corporation checks Form 1120 page 1, Line E, Box 3. An S corporation checks Form 1120-S page 1, Line H, Box 2. A partnership checks Form 1065 page 1, Line G, Box 3. A sole proprietor writes a signed letter. Every route costs $0. Q: Does Form 8822-B change a business name? A: No. Form 8822-B changes 3 things: the mailing address, the business location, and the responsible party. Line 4a records the current legal name only so the IRS can find the account. A name change goes on the name change box of the entity return or in a signed letter. Q: How long does an IRS business name change take? A: The IRS publishes no processing time for a business name change. The record updates when the IRS posts the return or the letter, so a change filed on the return posts with that return. Allow the change to post before an e-filed return relies on the new 4-character name control. Q: Who has to sign the IRS business name change letter? A: The signer depends on the entity. A corporate officer signs for a corporation and an S corporation. A partner signs for a partnership. The owner or an authorized representative signs for a sole proprietorship. An unsigned letter carries 0 valid signatures, so the IRS returns it and the 1 legal name of record stays unchanged. Q: Does changing my business name with the state update the IRS? A: No. A state and the IRS keep 2 separate records. Filing an amendment with the Secretary of State changes the state record only. The IRS learns the new legal name from the name change box on the return or from a signed letter, and neither costs anything. Q: Do I report a DBA or trade name to the IRS? A: No. The IRS records 1 legal name per EIN, and a DBA is a trade name registered with a state or county. Adding a DBA changes no IRS record. The legal name on the CP-575 stays the name that must match on all filings. Q: What happens to my name control after a name change? A: The 4-character name control changes with the legal name, because the IRS derives it from the first 4 characters of the name of record. Until the IRS posts the change, e-filed returns match against the old 4 characters and reject. The 9-digit EIN never changes. Q: Can I change a business name with the IRS without an SSN? A: Yes. A name change uses a return checkbox or a signed letter, and neither asks for a Social Security Number. A new EIN application also works without one, because Form SS-4 line 7b accepts the entry Foreign. The IRS fax lines are 855-641-6935 and 855-215-1627. Q: What does a new EIN cost if my change requires one? A: The IRS charges $0 for an EIN through every method, and the number costs $0 in year 2 and beyond because an EIN never renews. ein-number.com prepares and files the application for $69 at Standard speed, 2–3 weeks total, or $99 at Fast speed, 7 business days total. Every filing is double-checked before submission. Sources: - Business name change — https://www.irs.gov/businesses/business-name-change - About Form 8822-B, Change of Address or Responsible Party — Business — https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-8822-b - Do you need a new EIN? — https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/do-you-need-a-new-ein ## CP-575 Letter: What It Is, What It Looks Like, How to Replace It URL: https://ein-number.com/cp-575/ Updated: 2026-10-15 Summary: The CP 575 is the IRS notice that assigns your EIN. The IRS prints it once, charges $0, and a bank reads 2 lines on it. Full anatomy and the reprint rule. Answer: A CP-575 letter is the IRS notice that assigns an employer identification number. It prints the 9-digit EIN beside the legal name the IRS paired it with, the mailing address from Form SS-4, and the returns the entity must file. The IRS issues exactly 1 per EIN at $0 and never reprints it; a lost CP-575 is replaced by Letter 147C. Key facts: - The IRS prints 1 CP-575 per EIN, at $0, and never reissues the same notice. - The replacement is Letter 147C, requested by phone at 800-829-4933 (Monday-Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time) and faxed during the call on request. - Banks match 2 fields on the notice: the 9-digit EIN and the legal name, character for character (LLC vs L.L.C. fails). - The suffix after CP 575 (A, B, E, G) marks the notice variant the IRS system generated; every variant carries the same EIN and legal name. - Online applicants see the CP-575 as a PDF at the end of a 15-minute session; fax and mail applicants receive it by post. - A name or address change does not produce a 2nd CP-575; Form 8822-B records the change within 60 days and the EIN stays. FAQ: Q: What is a CP 575? A: A CP 575 is the IRS notice that assigns an employer identification number. It prints the 9-digit EIN beside the legal name the IRS paired it with, along with the address, the classification and the returns due. The IRS issues exactly 1 CP 575 per EIN and charges $0 for it. Q: Can the IRS send a second copy of my CP 575? A: No. The IRS prints the CP 575 one time and does not reissue it. The replacement document is the 147C verification letter, which the IRS releases to an authorized person at $0. A 147C carries the same 2 fields a bank tests: the EIN and the legal name. Q: What does CP 575 A or CP 575 G mean? A: The suffix letter records the internal IRS channel that produced the notice. A, B, E and G all appear on issued notices. Each one assigns the EIN, prints the same content, and carries identical weight at a bank. The IRS publishes no list of the suffixes it uses and no ranking among them, so the 2 fields a reviewer tests print the same on every one. Q: Why does my bank ask for the CP 575? A: A bank opening a business account confirms that the EIN and the legal name match IRS records before it accepts a deposit. The CP 575 records that pairing at the moment of assignment, which is why 2 fields on it decide the account application. Q: How long does a CP 575 take to arrive? A: A CP 575 from an online application prints immediately and arrives by mail afterwards. A fax application produces the notice after IRS processing, and mail delivery adds transit time. The EIN itself is live from the assignment date printed on the notice, not from the delivery date. Q: Is a CP 575 the same as an EIN confirmation letter? A: The CP 575 is one of the 2 documents people call an EIN confirmation letter. The other is the 147C. The CP 575 is issued once at assignment, the 147C on request afterwards. Both cost $0 and both prove the same EIN and legal name pairing. Q: What do I do if a detail on my CP 575 is wrong? A: Correct the record rather than the paper. An address or responsible party change goes on Form 8822-B. A legal name change goes to the IRS in writing. The EIN survives all 3 of those corrections, so no new number is required. Q: Can I get a CP 575 without a Social Security Number? A: Yes. Form SS-4 line 7b accepts the entry Foreign for a responsible party who holds no SSN and no ITIN. The application moves to fax, on 855-641-6935 for US-state entities or 855-215-1627 for international ones, and the CP 575 issues the same way. Q: What does a CP 575 cost? A: The CP 575 costs $0, because the IRS charges $0 for an EIN and $0 for the notice that assigns it. An EIN also costs $0 in year 2 and every year after, because it never renews. ein-number.com charges $69 at Standard speed or $99 at Fast speed to prepare and file a new application, both carrying the accuracy guarantee. Q: Do I need to keep the original CP 575? A: Keep it for the life of the entity. The IRS prints it 1 time, so a lost original leaves the 147C as the only route back to an official document. A scan and 2 stored copies remove that dependency at no cost. Sources: - Employer Identification Number — https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/employer-identification-number - Publication 1635, Understanding Your EIN (PDF) — https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p1635.pdf - Telephone assistance contacts for business customers — https://www.irs.gov/businesses/telephone-assistance-contacts-for-business-customers - Instructions for Form SS-4 (Rev. December 2025) — https://www.irs.gov/instructions/iss4 ## EIN Without SSN: The Complete Fax Route (2026) URL: https://ein-number.com/ein-without-ssn/ Updated: 2026-07-20 Summary: An EIN without an SSN takes 6 steps. Form SS-4 line 7b accepts the entry Foreign, the IRS fax lines return the number in 4 business days, and the IRS fee stays $0. Answer: An EIN without an SSN is a standard IRS assignment. Form SS-4 line 7b accepts the entry Foreign, the fax route returns the number in 4 business days, and the IRS fee stays $0. FAQ: Q: Can I get an EIN without an SSN? A: Yes. Form SS-4 line 7b accepts the entry Foreign, so the IRS assigns EINs to responsible parties who hold no SSN and no ITIN. The route changes from the online tool to fax, which returns the number in 4 business days. The IRS fee stays $0 on every route. Q: How do I apply for an EIN without an SSN? A: Complete Form SS-4, write Foreign on line 7b, sign it, add a return fax number, and fax the page to the IRS. Use 855-641-6935 for an entity based in a US state and 855-215-1627 for an international applicant. The IRS returns the EIN within 4 business days. Q: Which IRS fax number do I use without an SSN? A: 855-641-6935 covers an entity whose principal business address sits inside a US state. 855-215-1627 covers an applicant whose address sits outside the United States. The address on Form SS-4 decides the line, not citizenship. Both lines return the EIN in 4 business days at $0. Q: Do I need an ITIN before I can get an EIN? A: No. An ITIN identifies a person and an EIN identifies an entity, so neither number depends on the other. Line 7b accepts Foreign in place of both. An ITIN carries its own multi-week processing queue, and waiting for one adds that wait to a 4-business-day fax. Q: Do I need a passport or an uploaded ID to apply without an SSN? A: No. Form SS-4 runs 1 page and requires no identity document, no passport copy, and no notarization. The form asks for a legal name, an address, an entity type, a reason for applying, and a signature. No IRS route for an EIN includes an in-person visit. Q: Do I need a US address to get an EIN without an SSN? A: No. Line 4 of Form SS-4 accepts a foreign mailing address in full, including the country name. Applicants outside the United States fax 855-215-1627 and receive the EIN in 4 business days. The IRS fee remains $0 for a foreign address. Q: Why does the IRS online EIN tool refuse an application without an SSN? A: The online EIN Assistant validates the responsible party against an SSN, an ITIN, or an existing EIN before it assigns a number. No match ends the session with reference number 102. The tool runs 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday to Friday, and fax carries no such check. Q: Does an EIN without an SSN cost more? A: No. The IRS charges $0 for an EIN with an SSN and $0 without one. Northwest lists $200 for its no-SSN rate and ZenBusiness lists $99, both verified July 2026. ein-number.com charges $69 at Standard speed or $99 at Fast speed, one time. Year 2 costs $0, because an EIN never renews. Q: How long does an EIN without an SSN take? A: Four business days by fax when Form SS-4 carries a return fax number, and 4 weeks by mail without one. ein-number.com Standard files by fax within 8 business days, 2–3 weeks total, at $69. Fast files within 24 hours with the IRS call included, 7 business days total, at $99. Q: What documents arrive at the end of a no-SSN application? A: A 9-digit EIN and the official IRS CP-575 confirmation letter. The IRS issues 1 CP-575 per EIN and never reprints it, so a 147C letter replaces it after that. Banks verify the CP-575 against the legal name before opening an account. Both documents cost $0. Sources: - Instructions for Form SS-4 (Rev. December 2025) — https://www.irs.gov/instructions/iss4 - Employer Identification Number — https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/employer-identification-number - Individual Taxpayer Identification Number — https://www.irs.gov/individuals/individual-taxpayer-identification-number - About Form W-7, Application for IRS Individual Taxpayer Identification Number — https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-w-7 ## Free EIN Number: How to Get One at $0 (2026) URL: https://ein-number.com/free-ein-number/ Updated: 2026-08-05 Summary: An EIN is free. The IRS charges $0 on all 4 of its routes, and it never renews. Here is how to get a free EIN in 15 minutes, with or without an SSN. Answer: An EIN is free. The IRS charges $0 on all 4 of its routes, and the number never renews. With an SSN, the free online tool issues it in 15 minutes; without one, the free fax route takes 4 business days. FAQ: Q: Is an EIN number free? A: Yes. The IRS charges $0 for an EIN on all 4 of its routes: online, fax, mail, and phone. It never renews, so year 2 and every year after also cost $0. Any charge you pay goes to a filing service for preparation and review, never to the IRS for the number itself. Q: How do I get a free EIN number? A: File Form SS-4 with the IRS at $0. With an SSN, the online EIN Assistant issues the number in 15 minutes. Without an SSN, fax Form SS-4 with the word Foreign on line 7b to 855-641-6935, and the IRS returns the EIN in 4 business days. Q: Is the free EIN from irs.gov legit? A: Yes. The IRS EIN Assistant on irs.gov is the official source, and it is the only place that issues the number itself. It costs $0 and delivers a real EIN in 15 minutes. Third-party sites that charge for an EIN are selling a preparation service, not the number. Q: Can I get a free EIN without an SSN? A: Yes. Form SS-4 line 7b accepts the entry Foreign, so the IRS issues a free EIN to a responsible party holding no SSN and no ITIN. The online tool closes without an SSN, so the application goes by fax to 855-641-6935, at a cost of $0, in 4 business days. Q: Why do some websites charge for an EIN? A: They charge for a service, not the number. A paid filing prepares Form SS-4, checks it, and submits it, which has value when a line rejects. The number stays free from the IRS. ein-number.com charges $69 or $99 for that preparation and states plainly that the IRS fee is $0. Q: Does a free EIN expire or renew? A: No. An EIN never expires and never renews, so it costs $0 in year 1 and $0 every year after. The IRS keeps the number attached to the entity permanently, even after the business closes, and issues no annual bill for it. Q: How long does a free EIN take? A: 15 minutes on the free online route with an SSN. The free fax route takes 4 business days when a return fax number sits on the form. The free mail route takes 4 weeks. All 3 cost $0, so speed, not price, is the only difference between them. Q: Is there a catch to a free EIN? A: No catch on the number. The 1 real risk is a rejected Form SS-4, which resets the wait to 0 and delays a bank account. A name that differs from the formation document or a blank line 7b are the 2 most common causes, and both are checkable before filing. Sources: - Employer Identification Number — https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/employer-identification-number - Apply for an Employer Identification Number (EIN) online — https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/apply-for-an-employer-identification-number-ein-online - Instructions for Form SS-4 (Rev. December 2025) — https://www.irs.gov/instructions/iss4 ## EIN Responsible Party: Who the IRS Requires on Line 7a (2026) URL: https://ein-number.com/ein-responsible-party/ Updated: 2026-07-20 Summary: The EIN responsible party is the one person who controls the entity. Form SS-4 line 7a names them. See who qualifies, the 60-day rule, and Form 8822-B. Answer: The EIN responsible party is the one individual who controls, manages, or directs an entity and the disposition of its funds and assets. Form SS-4 line 7a names that person. One EIN holds 1 responsible party. FAQ: Q: Who is the responsible party on an EIN application? A: The responsible party is the one individual who controls, manages, or directs the entity and the disposition of its funds and assets. Form SS-4 line 7a carries that person's legal name and line 7b carries their identifying number. One EIN holds exactly 1 responsible party at a time. Q: Can a company be the responsible party for an EIN? A: No. The responsible party on line 7a must be a natural person, with 1 exception: a government entity names itself. A parent corporation applying for a subsidiary EIN names a human officer on line 7a, not the parent. Line 7b still accepts an EIN as the identifying number. Q: Can the EIN responsible party have no SSN? A: Yes. Form SS-4 line 7b accepts the entry Foreign when the responsible party holds no SSN and no ITIN. The application moves from the 15-minute online tool to fax: 855-641-6935 for entities based in a US state, 855-215-1627 for international applicants. No identity document is filed. Q: What is the difference between the responsible party and the owner? A: Ownership is a percentage, control is a function. A member holding 10% who signs the bank mandate exercises effective control, while a passive member holding 60% does not. The IRS test on line 7a asks who directs the funds and assets, so the 2 answers separate in many entities. Q: Can a nominee be the responsible party? A: No. A nominee is a person given temporary authority during formation with little or no control over the entity's assets. The IRS states a nominee cannot apply for an EIN, and an account listing one is corrected with Form 8822-B within 60 days of discovery. Q: How do you change the EIN responsible party? A: File Form 8822-B. Line 8 carries the new responsible party's name and line 9 carries their SSN, ITIN, or EIN. The change is due within 60 days under Regulations section 301.6109-1(d)(2)(ii). The IRS charges $0 and processes the form in 4 to 6 weeks. Q: Who is the responsible party for a single-member LLC? A: The individual member who owns the LLC. A disregarded single-member LLC still receives its own EIN and still names 1 responsible party on line 7a. A registered agent, a formation company, and an accountant each fail the control test and cannot hold the role. Q: Who is the responsible party for a trust or an estate? A: For a trust, the grantor, owner, or trustor. For an estate, the executor, administrator, or personal representative appointed by the probate court. Line 3 of Form SS-4 carries the trustee or executor name separately, so the 2 fields serve different purposes on the same application. Q: What can the responsible party do that nobody else can? A: The responsible party is who the IRS releases EIN information to. A 147C letter reaches that person or a representative on a filed Form 2848. The Third Party Designee block on Form SS-4 grants authority that expires the moment the EIN is assigned, which is why the role outlives the application. Q: Does changing the responsible party require a new EIN? A: No. A responsible party change updates the existing EIN through Form 8822-B within 60 days. A new EIN is required when the entity itself changes: a sole proprietorship that incorporates, or a single-member LLC that adds a second member and becomes a partnership. The IRS charges $0 for either. Sources: - Responsible parties and nominees — https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/responsible-parties-and-nominees - Instructions for Form SS-4 (Rev. December 2025) — https://www.irs.gov/instructions/iss4 - About Form 8822-B, Change of Address or Responsible Party — Business — https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-8822-b ## EIN for Trust: Which Trusts Need One and When (2026) URL: https://ein-number.com/ein-for-trust/ Updated: 2026-07-20 Summary: An EIN for a trust costs $0 from the IRS. See the 6 events that create the requirement, the $600 Form 1041 threshold, and the 4 IRS filing routes. Answer: An EIN for a trust is the 9-digit federal tax ID the IRS assigns to the trust itself. Six events decide whether a trust needs one, and the IRS charges $0 on all 4 application routes. FAQ: Q: When must a trust file Form 1041? A: A trust files Form 1041 for any year with $600 or more of gross income, any taxable income at all, or any beneficiary who is a nonresident alien. The return is due on the 15th day of the 4th month after year end, which is April 15 for a calendar-year trust. Form 7004 extends that by 5.5 months. Q: Can a living trust use the grantor's Social Security Number? A: Yes. Under the grantor trust reporting rules a revocable living trust reports on the grantor's SSN, and no separate EIN is filed. The trustee gives payors the grantor's name and taxpayer identification number instead. That arrangement ends on the date the grantor dies, when the trust applies for its own 9-digit EIN. Q: Does a testamentary trust need its own EIN? A: Yes. A testamentary trust comes into existence at death and is a separate taxpayer from the decedent and from the estate. It applies on Form SS-4 with line 10 marked Created a trust. The estate holds a different EIN, so 2 numbers exist while both entities are open. Q: What does the section 645 election change? A: A section 645 election, filed on Form 8855, lets a qualified revocable trust be treated as part of the decedent's estate for income tax. The combined entity files 1 Form 1041 under the estate's EIN. The election period closes 2 years after the date of death when no estate tax return is required. Q: Do a trust and the decedent's estate share one EIN? A: No. An estate and a trust are 2 separate taxpayers and hold 2 separate EINs, except during a section 645 election. Each EIN carries 9 digits in a 2-digit and 7-digit format, and each receives its own CP-575 letter from the IRS. Q: Can a foreign trust get an EIN? A: Yes. A foreign trust applies on the same Form SS-4, and line 7b accepts the entry Foreign when the trustee holds no SSN or ITIN. The IRS fee stays $0. A US owner of a foreign trust also files Form 3520-A by the 15th day of the 3rd month each year. Q: What does a bank ask for when opening a trust account? A: Banks ask for the CP-575 or a 147C letter carrying the EIN, the trust instrument or a certification of trust, and identification for each trustee. The legal name on the account must match the name on the CP-575 character for character. A mismatch holds the account until the trustee produces a 147C letter showing the exact name the IRS carries. Q: How does a trustee replace a lost trust EIN letter? A: The IRS prints 1 CP-575 per EIN and never reprints it. The replacement is a 147C letter, which the IRS issues at $0 to an authorized person. An overseas trustee reaches the IRS on 267-941-1099, open Monday to Friday, 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Eastern Time. Q: What happens to the trust EIN when the trust terminates? A: The trustee files a final Form 1041 marked final return, issues a Schedule K-1 to each beneficiary, and mails a closing letter to the IRS. The EIN is never reassigned to another taxpayer. Closing the account costs $0 and leaves the 9 digits permanently retired. Q: Does a trust EIN expire or need renewal? A: No. An EIN never expires and never renews, so the year 2 cost is $0 and every year after that is $0. The number stays with the trust through a trustee change, a move to another state, and an amendment to the trust instrument. Sources: - Trusts: questions and answers — https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/abusive-trust-tax-evasion-schemes-questions-and-answers - Instructions for Form SS-4 (Rev. December 2025) — https://www.irs.gov/instructions/iss4 - Employer Identification Number — https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/employer-identification-number ## EIN for Estate: The Tax Year, the Forms, and the Deadlines (2026) URL: https://ein-number.com/ein-for-estate/ Updated: 2026-07-20 Summary: An EIN for an estate reports every dollar earned after the date of death. Form 1041 filed at $600 gross income, 15 months from the date of death. Answer: An EIN for an estate is the 9-digit federal tax number that reports every dollar the estate earns after the date of death. The IRS charges $0, and Form 1041 starts at $600 of gross income. FAQ: Q: When does an estate have to file Form 1041? A: An estate files Form 1041 for a tax year in which it has gross income of $600 or more, or in which any beneficiary is a nonresident alien. The $600 test measures gross income, not profit, so 1 interest-bearing account clears it. Q: Does the estate EIN report income the person earned before death? A: No. Income through the date of death belongs on the decedent's final Form 1040 under their Social Security Number. Income from the day after death forward belongs on Form 1041 under the estate's 9-digit EIN. One date splits the 2 returns. Q: Can an estate use a tax year that ends in a month other than December? A: Yes. An estate elects any fiscal year ending on the last day of a month, provided the first tax year runs no longer than 12 months from the date of death. Form SS-4 line 12 records that closing month, and the choice is made once. Q: Does an estate have to pay estimated tax? A: An estate is exempt from estimated tax payments for any tax year ending before the date 2 years after the decedent's death. After that 2-year window closes, the estate follows the same estimated tax rules as an individual and pays in 4 instalments. Q: What is the 65-day rule for estate distributions? A: Under Internal Revenue Code section 663(b), a fiduciary elects to treat a distribution made in the first 65 days of a tax year as made on the last day of the prior tax year. The election shifts income to beneficiaries on their Schedule K-1. Q: Can a revocable trust file under the estate's EIN? A: Yes, through the section 645 election on Form 8855. A qualified revocable trust and the related estate are treated as 1 entity, filing a single Form 1041 under the estate's EIN. The election runs for a set period, then the trust resumes filing alone. Q: How many EINs can one executor get in a single day? A: The IRS limits an applicant to 1 EIN per responsible party per day. An executor administering 2 estates applies on 2 separate days. The limit counts the responsible party, so 2 different executors apply for 2 estates on the same day. Q: What happens to the estate EIN when the estate closes? A: The fiduciary files a final Form 1041 with the final return box checked, and excess deductions pass to beneficiaries on Schedule K-1. To close the IRS account, mail a letter with the EIN and legal name to Internal Revenue Service, Cincinnati, OH 45999. Q: Can an executor outside the United States get an estate EIN? A: Yes. Form SS-4 line 7b accepts the entry Foreign, and the application moves from the online tool to fax. The IRS fax line is 855-215-1627 for international applicants and 855-641-6935 for entities based in a US state. No identity document is filed. Q: How much does an EIN for an estate cost? A: The IRS charges $0 for an estate EIN through every method, and the number never renews, so year 2 and beyond cost $0. ein-number.com charges $69 at Standard speed or $99 at Fast speed to prepare and file the application, and every filing is double-checked before submission. Sources: - Estate and gift taxes — https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/estate-and-gift-taxes - Instructions for Form SS-4 (Rev. December 2025) — https://www.irs.gov/instructions/iss4 - Employer Identification Number — https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/employer-identification-number ## EIN for Sole Proprietorship: Triggers, Deadlines and Cost (2026) URL: https://ein-number.com/ein-for-sole-proprietorship/ Updated: 2026-07-20 Summary: An EIN for a sole proprietorship costs $0 from the IRS. See the 4 events that require one, the Form SS-4 lines, and the 15-minute online route. Answer: An EIN for a sole proprietorship is a 9-digit federal filing account. Four events require one, the IRS charges $0 for it, and it never renews. FAQ: Q: Which sole proprietors are required to have an EIN? A: Four IRS situations require one: paying employees, filing an excise return such as Form 720, sponsoring a Keogh or other retirement plan, and filing a Chapter 7 or Chapter 11 bankruptcy petition. A sole proprietor outside those 4 reports on Schedule C under a Social Security Number, and the IRS charges $0 either way. Q: Which deadlines does a sole proprietor's EIN carry after the first hire? A: Form 941 falls due 4 times a year, on April 30, July 31, October 31, and January 31. Form 940 falls due once, on January 31. Every Form W-2 reaches the employee and the Social Security Administration by January 31. All 3 forms print the 9-digit EIN. Q: Does getting an EIN change the tax a sole proprietor pays? A: No. Self-employment tax stays at 15.3%, made up of 12.4% for Social Security and 2.9% for Medicare, reported on Schedule SE once net earnings reach $400. The EIN opens a federal filing account and changes 0 tax rates. Employment tax on wages is separate, at 7.65% for the employer. Q: Do spouses running a business together need two EINs? A: A qualified joint venture files 2 Schedule C forms and 2 Schedule SE forms, one for each spouse, and needs 0 EINs while the business has no employees. Hiring adds 1 EIN, and the employment tax returns file under the spouse who holds it. The IRS charges $0 for that number. Q: Can a sole proprietor keep the same EIN after moving to another state? A: Yes. A move needs 0 new applications, because the EIN belongs to the person named on line 1 of Form SS-4. Form 8822-B records the new address, and a change of responsible party is reported on that same form within 60 days. The IRS fee is $0. Q: Can a sole proprietor get an EIN without an SSN? A: Yes. Line 7b of Form SS-4 accepts the word Foreign, so no SSN and no ITIN is needed. The application moves from the online tool to fax, at 855-641-6935 for a US-based business and 855-215-1627 internationally, and the IRS returns the number in 4 business days. No passport is filed. Q: Why does a bank ask a sole proprietor for the CP-575 letter? A: The bank matches the 9-digit EIN to the exact legal name the IRS holds. The IRS issues 1 CP-575 per EIN and never reprints it, so a 147C letter is the replacement. The IRS derives a name control from the first 4 characters of that legal name, and a mismatch stops the account. Q: What happens to a sole proprietorship EIN when the business closes? A: Nothing cancels it. The IRS never reassigns those 9 digits to another taxpayer, and it closes the business account behind them after a letter sent to Internal Revenue Service, Cincinnati, OH 45999. A final Form 941 and a final Form 940 close the employment account. The fee is $0. Q: How much does an EIN for a sole proprietorship cost in year 2? A: $0. An EIN never renews and never expires, so year 2 and every year after cost nothing. The IRS charges $0 in year 1 as well, through all 4 filing routes. ein-number.com charges $69 once at Standard speed, or $99 at Fast speed, to prepare and file the application and deliver the CP-575 letter. Q: How long does it take a sole proprietor to get an EIN? A: The IRS online tool issues it inside a 15-minute session to an applicant with an SSN or ITIN. Fax returns the number in 4 business days when the application carries a return fax number, and mail takes 4 weeks. ein-number.com files by fax within 8 business days at $69, 2–3 weeks total, or within 24 hours at $99, 7 business days total. Sources: - Sole proprietorships — https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/sole-proprietorships - Employer Identification Number — https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/employer-identification-number - Instructions for Form SS-4 (Rev. December 2025) — https://www.irs.gov/instructions/iss4 ## Apply for an EIN Online: The 15-Minute IRS Route URL: https://ein-number.com/apply-for-ein-online/ Updated: 2026-08-05 Summary: Apply for an EIN online through the IRS EIN Assistant in 15 minutes. See the hours, eligibility, what closes it, and the online-versus-fax choice for 2026. Answer: You apply for an EIN online through the IRS EIN Assistant, which issues the 9-digit number in about 15 minutes. The tool runs Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Eastern Time, and the IRS fee is $0. FAQ: Q: How do I apply for an EIN online? A: Open the IRS EIN Assistant on irs.gov, Monday to Friday between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. Eastern Time. Enter the legal name on line 1, the responsible party on line 7a, and the reason on line 10. The tool issues the 9-digit EIN in 15 minutes at $0. Q: Is the online EIN application free? A: Yes. The IRS charges $0 to apply for an EIN online, by fax, by mail, or by phone. The number never renews, so year 2 also costs $0. Any fee you pay online goes to a preparation service, never to the IRS, which sells no expedited version at any price. Q: What hours is the IRS online EIN Assistant open? A: The online EIN Assistant runs Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Eastern Time, and stays closed on weekends and federal holidays. An applicant in California starts by 7 p.m. Pacific to reach the 10 p.m. Eastern cutoff. The fax route accepts Form SS-4 24 hours a day. Q: Can I apply for an EIN online without an SSN? A: No. The online tool requires the responsible party to hold an SSN, an ITIN, or an existing EIN, so it closes without one. Fax Form SS-4 with Foreign on line 7b to 855-641-6935 instead, at $0, and the IRS returns the 9-digit EIN in 4 business days. Q: What is IRS reference error 101? A: Error 101 is a name conflict that stops the online application before it issues the EIN. It fires when the entity name matches an existing IRS record across the 50 states. The fix is the fax route with a corrected name control sent to 855-641-6935, which returns the EIN in 4 business days. Q: How long does the online EIN take? A: The online EIN Assistant issues the 9-digit number in one session of about 15 minutes, and the EIN appears on screen at once. The downloadable CP-575 is available immediately, and the paper letter arrives within 14 calendar days. Fax takes 4 business days and mail takes 4 weeks. Q: How many EINs can I get online in one day? A: The IRS issues 1 EIN per responsible party per day across every route, online included. A person forming 2 entities on the same day applies for the first online in 15 minutes and files the second by fax the next day, again at a cost of $0. Q: What do I need before I start the online application? A: Have 3 items ready: the legal entity name from your formation document for line 1, the responsible party name and SSN or ITIN for line 7a, and the reason for applying for line 10. With all 3, the online session takes 15 minutes and costs $0. Q: Is applying online safer than paying a service? A: The online route and a paid filing deliver the identical 9-digit EIN, because both submit Form SS-4 to the same IRS system. Applying online costs $0 in 15 minutes with an SSN. A paid filing at $69 or $99 earns its price when a line rejects or no SSN exists. Sources: - Apply for an Employer Identification Number (EIN) online — https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/apply-for-an-employer-identification-number-ein-online - Instructions for Form SS-4 (Rev. December 2025) — https://www.irs.gov/instructions/iss4 - Employer Identification Number — https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/employer-identification-number ## How to Get a Business EIN Number (2026) URL: https://ein-number.com/ein-for-business/ Updated: 2026-08-05 Summary: A business EIN is free from the IRS at $0 and issues in 15 minutes. See which of 7 entity types need one, the 5 filing routes, and the SS-4 rule for each. Answer: A business EIN is free. The IRS charges $0 on all 5 routes and issues the 9-digit number in 15 minutes online. The rule differs by entity: a partnership needs one on day 1, a sole proprietor with 0 employees does not. FAQ: Q: How do I get an EIN number for a business? A: File Form SS-4 with the IRS at $0. With an SSN, the online EIN Assistant issues the 9-digit number in 15 minutes. Without an SSN, fax the form to 855-641-6935 and the IRS returns the EIN in 4 business days. Mail takes 4 weeks. The IRS fee is $0 on all 5 routes. Q: Does every business need an EIN? A: No. A partnership, corporation, estate, and most trusts need an EIN from day 1. A sole proprietor or single-member LLC with 0 employees uses the owner's SSN until it hires staff or files excise tax. Roughly 4 of the 7 entity types on this page need an EIN immediately. Q: How much does a business EIN cost? A: The IRS charges $0 for a business EIN on all 5 routes, in all 50 states, and it never renews. A paid filing service charges $69 or $99 for preparation and review of Form SS-4. Competitors run from $59.99 to $200. The number itself stays free for the life of the entity. Q: How long does it take to get a business EIN? A: 15 minutes on the IRS online route with an SSN. The fax route takes 4 business days, mail takes 4 weeks, and the phone route for international applicants finishes on the call. A paid Fast filing runs about 7 business days. The CP-575 confirmation letter arrives within 14 calendar days. Q: What form does a business use to get an EIN? A: Form SS-4, the IRS Application for Employer Identification Number. It has 18 lines. Line 9a sets the entity type, line 8a asks whether the entity is an LLC, line 8b counts LLC members, and line 7b accepts Foreign when the responsible party has no SSN. The form is 1 page. Q: Can I get a business EIN without an SSN? A: Yes. Form SS-4 line 7b accepts the entry Foreign, so a responsible party with no SSN and no ITIN still receives a business EIN. The online tool closes without an SSN, so the application goes by fax to 855-641-6935 at $0 and returns in 4 business days. Q: Does a single-member LLC need its own EIN? A: Only in specific cases. A single-member LLC with 0 employees is a disregarded entity and uses the owner's SSN. It needs an EIN once it hires staff, files excise or employment tax, or elects corporate status. Most banks also ask for an EIN before opening a business account, so 1 filing solves both. Q: Can 1 person get more than 1 EIN in a day? A: No. The IRS limits each responsible party to 1 EIN per business day across all routes and applications. An owner forming 3 entities in 1 week files them on 3 separate days. This 1-per-day cap applies to the online, fax, and phone routes alike, with 0 exceptions. Q: Is a business EIN the same as a federal tax ID? A: Yes. An EIN is 1 type of federal tax ID number, a 9-digit number formatted 12-3456789 that the IRS assigns to a business. The broader term TIN also covers an SSN and an ITIN. For a business entity, the EIN is the federal tax ID that appears on Form 941, W-2, and 1099 filings. Sources: - Employer Identification Number — https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/employer-identification-number - Employer ID numbers — https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/employer-id-numbers - Instructions for Form SS-4 (Rev. December 2025) — https://www.irs.gov/instructions/iss4 ## EIN for Nonprofit: Get One Before 501(c)(3) (2026) URL: https://ein-number.com/ein-for-nonprofit/ Updated: 2026-08-05 Summary: A nonprofit needs an EIN before applying for 501(c)(3) status. The IRS charges $0 for the EIN in 15 minutes. Here is the exact step-by-step SS-4 guide. Answer: A nonprofit needs an EIN before it applies for 501(c)(3) status. The IRS issues the 9-digit EIN for $0 in 15 minutes online, and the exemption is a separate step filed on Form 1023 ($600) or Form 1023-EZ ($275). FAQ: Q: Does a nonprofit need an EIN? A: Yes. Every nonprofit needs 1 EIN before it opens a bank account, hires staff, or files Form 1023. The IRS issues the 9-digit number for $0 on all 4 routes, and the online EIN Assistant returns it in 15 minutes. The EIN comes first; the 501(c)(3) exemption is a separate later step. Q: Does an EIN make a nonprofit tax-exempt? A: No. The EIN is only a federal tax ID and grants 0 tax exemption. A nonprofit earns 501(c)(3) status by filing Form 1023 at a $600 user fee, or Form 1023-EZ at $275, after it holds the EIN. The 9-digit EIN is step 1 and the exemption application is step 2. Q: What does an EIN for a nonprofit cost? A: The EIN costs $0 directly from the IRS on all 4 routes and never renews. The separate 501(c)(3) filing carries an IRS user fee of $600 for Form 1023 or $275 for Form 1023-EZ. ein-number.com charges $69 or $99 to prepare and check Form SS-4, and the IRS EIN fee stays $0. Q: Which box does a nonprofit check on line 9a? A: Line 9a of Form SS-4 lists entity types, and a nonprofit checks Other nonprofit organization, then names its purpose. Line 10 states the reason, such as banking purpose. These 2 lines take under 5 minutes and do not change the $0 EIN cost or the 9-digit result. Q: Can a nonprofit get an EIN before incorporating? A: Yes, though incorporating first keeps the record clean. The IRS issues the 9-digit EIN in 15 minutes online using the legal name on the articles of incorporation. Filing the EIN before the state forms the entity risks a name mismatch that resets the wait to 0 and delays Form 1023. Q: Do churches need a separate EIN? A: Yes. A church needs its own 9-digit EIN even though the IRS treats it as automatically tax-exempt without Form 1023. The EIN costs $0 and enables a bank account and payroll on Form 941. Skipping Form 1023 saves the $600 user fee, but the EIN is still required. Q: How long does a nonprofit EIN take? A: 15 minutes on the IRS online route with an SSN responsible party. The fax route takes 4 business days, and mail takes 4 weeks. All 3 cost $0. International applicants call 267-941-1099. The separate 501(c)(3) review under Form 1023 runs several months after the EIN is issued. Q: Does a private foundation need its own EIN? A: Yes. A private foundation needs 1 dedicated 9-digit EIN, filed on Form SS-4 with Other nonprofit organization on line 9a. The EIN costs $0. The foundation then files Form 1023 for 501(c)(3) status at the $600 user fee and files Form 990-PF every year to keep the exemption. Sources: - Employer Identification Number (charities and nonprofits) — https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/employer-identification-number - Exemption requirements – 501(c)(3) organizations — https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/charitable-organizations/exemption-requirements-501c3-organizations - About Form 990, Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax — https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-990 - Tax Exempt Organization Search — https://apps.irs.gov/app/eos/ ## Who Needs an EIN? The 8 IRS Triggers, Explained (2026) URL: https://ein-number.com/who-needs-an-ein/ Updated: 2026-08-05 Summary: The IRS requires an EIN in 8 situations, from hiring employees to running a corporation, partnership, trust, or estate. See the full list and whether you qualify. Answer: The IRS names 8 situations that require an EIN. If 1 of them fits, you need the 9-digit number; if none do, a sole proprietor with 0 employees files under an SSN and applies for nothing. FAQ: Q: How many situations require an EIN? A: Eight. The IRS lists 8 triggers in the Form SS-4 instructions: employees, a corporation or partnership, employment or excise returns, non-resident alien withholding, a Keogh plan, trusts, estates, and non-profits. When 1 of the 8 applies, the entity needs a 9-digit EIN, and that number costs $0 direct from the IRS. Q: Does a sole proprietor need an EIN? A: In 3 cases only: the sole proprietor hires 1 or more employees, files an excise or pension return, or sets up a Keogh plan. A sole proprietor with 0 employees files under an SSN and needs no EIN, though many open a bank account with 1 anyway. The sole proprietorship page covers the full rule. Q: Does an LLC need an EIN? A: Every multi-member LLC needs an EIN, because the IRS taxes a 2-or-more-member LLC as a partnership. A single-member LLC with 0 employees files under the owner's SSN, yet needs an EIN to hire staff, elect corporation status, or open a business account. All 3 paths lead to the same $0 number. Q: Do I need an EIN with no employees? A: Not automatically. With 0 employees you still need an EIN when you run a corporation or partnership, file 1 of the excise returns, withhold on a non-resident alien, or hold a Keogh plan. A sole proprietor meeting none of those 4 conditions files under an SSN and applies for no EIN. Q: Does a single-member LLC need an EIN? A: A single-member LLC with 0 employees is a disregarded entity, so the IRS lets the owner file under 1 SSN. That LLC needs an EIN the moment it hires an employee, elects C-corp or S-corp status, or files an excise return. Banks also ask for the 9-digit EIN before opening an account. Q: Do I need an EIN for a trust or estate? A: Yes, in most cases. A trust other than a grantor-owned revocable living trust needs its own EIN, and every estate that runs a business or files Form 1041 needs 1. The executor applies once, and the IRS issues the 9-digit number at $0. The trust and estate pages walk through each filing. Q: Does a non-profit need an EIN? A: Yes, before anything else. A non-profit needs an EIN to file Form 990, open a bank account, and apply for 501(c)(3) status, even with 0 employees and 0 revenue. The IRS issues the 9-digit number at $0, and the organization keeps it for life. Apply for it as step 1 of formation. Q: How much does an EIN cost once I qualify? A: The IRS charges $0 on all 4 of its routes: online, fax, mail, and phone. The number never renews, so year 2 and every year after also cost $0. ein-number.com charges $69 or $99 for preparation and a senior review, and states plainly that the IRS fee itself is $0. Q: Can I qualify for an EIN without an SSN? A: Yes. A responsible party with no SSN and no ITIN writes Foreign on Form SS-4 line 7b, and the IRS issues the 9-digit EIN by fax in 4 business days at $0. The online tool closes without an SSN, so international founders use the fax line 855-641-6935. The without-an-SSN page covers each step. Q: How long does it take to get an EIN? A: 15 minutes on the IRS online route with an SSN, 4 business days by fax, and 4 weeks by mail. All 3 IRS routes cost $0. The IRS mails the CP-575 confirmation letter within 14 calendar days, and the 9-digit number is usable the moment it is issued. Sources: - Employer Identification Number — https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/employer-identification-number - Employer ID numbers — https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/employer-id-numbers - Instructions for Form SS-4 (Rev. December 2025) — https://www.irs.gov/instructions/iss4 ## EIN for a Bank Account: Do You Need One? (2026) URL: https://ein-number.com/ein-for-bank-account/ Updated: 2026-08-05 Summary: Corporations, partnerships, and multi-member LLCs need an EIN to open a business bank account. Single-member LLCs and sole proprietors may use an SSN or an EIN. Answer: Corporations, partnerships, and multi-member LLCs, which is 3 entity types, need a 9-digit EIN to open a business bank account. A single-member LLC and a sole proprietor may present an SSN at many banks, though an EIN is recommended. The IRS issues the number free at $0. FAQ: Q: Do I need an EIN to open a business bank account? A: Corporations, partnerships, and multi-member LLCs, which is 3 entity types, need an EIN to open a business bank account. A single-member LLC and a sole proprietor may use an SSN at many banks, though an EIN is recommended. The IRS EIN is free at $0 and issues in 15 minutes online. Q: Can a single-member LLC open a bank account without an EIN? A: A single-member LLC with 0 employees may present the owner's SSN, and many banks accept it. An EIN is recommended because 1 number keeps the owner's SSN off the account and off vendor forms. The free EIN takes 15 minutes online or 4 business days by fax, at $0. Q: Do sole proprietors need an EIN for a business bank account? A: A sole proprietor with 0 employees is not required by the IRS to hold an EIN and may open an account with an SSN. Many banks accept that SSN. An EIN, free at $0, shields the 9-digit SSN and separates business and personal records across 1 clean account. Q: What documents does a bank need to open a business account? A: Banks ask for 4 documents: the EIN confirmation letter (CP-575 or 147C), the formation document filed with the state, a government photo ID for each signer, and details for every beneficial owner. Requirements sit at the category level, so confirm the exact list with your bank. Q: Does a bank accept my SSN instead of an EIN? A: Many banks accept an SSN from a sole proprietor or a single-member LLC with 0 employees. A corporation, a partnership, or a multi-member LLC, which is 3 structures, must open under the EIN. The EIN is free at $0 and keeps the 9-digit SSN off the business account. Q: How long does it take to get an EIN for a bank account? A: With an SSN, the free IRS online tool issues the 9-digit EIN in 15 minutes, and the account opens the same day. Without an SSN, the free fax route on Form SS-4 returns the EIN in 4 business days. The mail route runs about 4 weeks. All 3 cost $0. Q: Which reason do I pick on Form SS-4 to open a bank account? A: On Form SS-4 line 10, select banking purposes as the reason for applying. This 1 reason is valid on its own and does not change the $0 IRS fee. Line 1 carries the legal entity name, line 7a the responsible party, and line 9a the entity type the bank verifies. Q: How does an EIN protect my Social Security number? A: An EIN replaces the 9-digit SSN on the bank account, on vendor W-9 forms, and on the 1099 forms clients issue. Fewer parties see the SSN, so 1 number carries the exposure instead of the personal one. The IRS issues the EIN free at $0 with no annual renewal. Sources: - 31 CFR § 1010.230 — Beneficial ownership requirements for legal entity customers — https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/31/1010.230 - Employer Identification Number — https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/employer-identification-number - Publication 1635, Understanding Your EIN (PDF) — https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p1635.pdf ## EIN Only Credit Cards: What an EIN Alone Gets You URL: https://ein-number.com/ein-only-credit-cards/ Updated: 2026-08-05 Summary: EIN only credit cards exist, but the 3 major issuers still require an SSN and a personal guarantee. Here is the honest 2026 truth, and why you need the EIN first. Answer: An EIN is a 9-digit number, and every business credit file keys off it. Most major cards still pull a personal FICO score from 300 to 850 and hold you liable for 100% of the balance under a personal guarantee. FAQ: Q: Can you get a credit card with just an EIN and no SSN? A: A handful of corporate cards underwrite on business financials and skip the SSN, and they need real revenue on deposit. Nearly all small-business cards from the 3 largest issuers still ask for a 9-digit SSN and a personal guarantee. The EIN alone opens Net-30 vendor accounts at $0 risk to your personal FICO. Q: Do business credit cards check personal credit? A: Yes. The major small-business cards pull your personal FICO, which runs from 300 to 850, and report the account to your personal file. The application asks for a 9-digit SSN so the issuer can run that hard inquiry. Corporate cards that underwrite on company revenue are the 2 exceptions that skip the personal score. Q: What is a personal guarantee on a business card? A: A personal guarantee is a clause making you personally liable for 100% of the balance if the business defaults. All 3 major issuers require it on small-business cards. Only corporate cards backed by business revenue drop it. The guarantee is the reason a startup with an EIN and $0 in revenue still needs an SSN. Q: How much revenue do EIN-only corporate cards require? A: Corporate cards underwrite on cash and revenue, not a personal FICO of 300 to 850. They look for an operating bank account with balances in the tens of thousands of dollars and steady deposits across 3 to 6 months. A brand-new EIN with $0 in deposits does not clear that bar. Q: How do I build business credit with an EIN? A: Open Net-30 vendor accounts under the EIN, pay every invoice before day 30, and get a D-U-N-S Number from Dun & Bradstreet. Those 3 moves build a PAYDEX score on the 0 to 100 scale, where 80 signals on-time payment. Business credit reports to 3 bureaus, not your personal 300-to-850 file. Q: What is a D-U-N-S Number and do I need one? A: A D-U-N-S Number is a 9-digit business identifier issued free by Dun & Bradstreet, separate from your 9-digit EIN. It anchors your Dun & Bradstreet file and the PAYDEX score, which runs 0 to 100. You request it at $0. Lenders read the D-U-N-S file before extending a no-guarantee line. Q: Does opening a business card hurt my personal credit? A: A small-business card runs a hard inquiry on your personal file and reports the account there, so a missed payment reaches your 300-to-850 FICO. Corporate cards that report only to the 3 business bureaus keep the balance off your personal file. Read the issuer's reporting policy before you apply, since the 2 models differ. Q: Do I need an EIN before applying for a business card? A: Yes. Every business card and every business credit file keys off the 9-digit EIN, and the IRS issues it at $0 in 15 minutes online or 4 business days by fax. Applying under a Social Security number alone files the account as a sole proprietor, which mixes business and personal credit into 1 file. Q: Can an LLC get a credit card with only its EIN? A: An LLC applies with its EIN, and the 3 major issuers still ask the owner for a 9-digit SSN and a personal guarantee. The EIN separates the LLC's tax identity; it does not erase the guarantee. To drop it, the LLC needs revenue on deposit or a file across the 3 business bureaus. Q: Is a business credit card the same as a corporate card? A: No. A small-business card requires a personal guarantee and pulls your 300-to-850 FICO. A corporate card underwrites on company revenue and reports only to the 3 business bureaus, on scales like PAYDEX 0 to 100 and Equifax's 101 to 992. The 2 products serve different stages of a business. Sources: - 31 CFR § 1010.230 — Beneficial ownership requirements for legal entity customers — https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/31/1010.230 - Employer Identification Number — https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/employer-identification-number ## EIN for Uber Drivers: SSN or EIN in 2026? URL: https://ein-number.com/ein-for-uber/ Updated: 2026-08-05 Summary: An Uber driver is a sole proprietor and can use an SSN. An EIN is optional, costs $0, and keeps your SSN off the W-9 Uber requests. Here is the 2026 choice. Answer: An Uber driver is a sole proprietor by default and files taxes with a 9-digit SSN. An EIN is optional, costs $0, and takes 15 minutes to obtain. The 1 reason to get it: keep the SSN off the W-9 and every 1099. FAQ: Q: Does an Uber driver need an EIN? A: No. An Uber driver is a sole proprietor by default and files taxes with a 9-digit SSN. An EIN is optional, costs $0, and takes 15 minutes to obtain. Drivers get one to keep the SSN off the W-9 Uber requests, and an EIN becomes required only after forming an LLC. Q: Can I drive for Uber with just my SSN? A: Yes. The IRS treats a solo rideshare driver as a sole proprietor, so a 9-digit SSN covers the W-9 and the Schedule C attached to Form 1040. No EIN is required to accept fares. The 1 reason drivers still request an EIN is privacy: it keeps the SSN off every 1099 and W-9. Q: What is the W-9 Uber asks me to fill out? A: The W-9 is the form Uber and Lyft use to collect your taxpayer ID before issuing a 1099. You enter either a 9-digit SSN or a 9-digit EIN on line 1. Both work for a sole proprietor. An EIN on the W-9 keeps your SSN private across the entire 2026 tax year. Q: Do DoorDash and Instacart drivers need an EIN? A: No. DoorDash, Instacart, and Uber Eats couriers are sole proprietors who file Schedule C with a 9-digit SSN. Each platform issues a 1099-NEC once earnings reach $600. An EIN stays optional at $0, and it becomes mandatory only when a courier forms an LLC or hires 1 employee. Q: Does an EIN lower my rideshare taxes? A: No. An EIN changes no tax rate. A sole-proprietor driver pays the same 15.3% self-employment tax, split into 12.4% Social Security and 2.9% Medicare, on 92.35% of net profit under IRC 1402, whether the 1099 shows an SSN or an EIN. Deductions like the 70-cents-per-mile 2025 rate lower the bill, not the EIN. Q: How much does an EIN for Uber cost? A: $0 from the IRS. The online EIN Assistant issues the 9-digit number in 15 minutes at no charge, and it never renews, so year 2 also costs $0. ein-number.com charges $69 or $99 to prepare and check Form SS-4 for drivers who want it filed and reviewed, never for the number itself. Q: When must a rideshare driver get an EIN? A: An EIN is required in 3 situations: forming an LLC, hiring 1 or more employees, or electing S-corporation tax treatment. A solo driver on a 9-digit SSN needs none of these. Each new EIN still costs $0 and takes 15 minutes online, or 4 business days by fax. Q: Will an EIN keep my SSN off the 1099? A: Yes. Enter the 9-digit EIN on the W-9, and Uber prints the EIN, not the SSN, on the 1099-K and 1099-NEC. The SSN then stays off every form a passenger platform stores. The EIN costs $0 and covers all 50 states, so 1 number protects the SSN everywhere. Q: Do I file a separate tax return with an EIN? A: No. A sole-proprietor Uber driver reports every fare on Schedule C of the personal Form 1040, whether the income lands under an SSN or a 9-digit EIN. The EIN adds no return. Only an LLC that elects S-corporation status files a separate return, and that election costs $0 to request. Q: Should a part-time Lyft driver bother with an EIN? A: A part-time Lyft driver with $400 or more in net profit files Schedule SE regardless of an EIN. The EIN is worth the 15 minutes for 1 reason: it removes the 9-digit SSN from the W-9 and the 1099. At $0, the privacy gain carries no cost for any driver. Sources: - Gig economy tax center — https://www.irs.gov/businesses/gig-economy-tax-center - Independent contractor (self-employed) or employee? — https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/independent-contractor-self-employed-or-employee - Understanding your Form 1099-K — https://www.irs.gov/businesses/understanding-your-form-1099-k - Sole proprietorships — https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/sole-proprietorships ## EIN for Amazon Sellers: When Amazon Requires It and How to Add It URL: https://ein-number.com/ein-for-amazon-seller/ Updated: 2026-10-15 Summary: Amazon Seller Central blocks listing until the tax interview is complete. An LLC needs an EIN; a sole proprietor can use an SSN. The IRS charges $0. Answer: Amazon requires an EIN for sellers that sell as an LLC, corporation, partnership or non-US company: Seller Central blocks listings until the tax interview holds 1 taxpayer identification number, and an entity's number is its EIN. A US sole proprietor may enter an SSN instead. You add it in Seller Central under Tax Information, where the interview generates Form W-9 or W-8BEN-E. The IRS charges $0. Key facts: - Amazon requires the 9-digit EIN of any entity seller (LLC, corporation, partnership, non-US company); a US sole proprietor may use an SSN. - The number is entered in Seller Central → Settings → Account Info → Tax Information; the interview produces Form W-9 (US) or W-8BEN-E (non-US). - Whatever number goes into the interview prints on the Form 1099-K Amazon issues, so an EIN keeps the owner's SSN off that form. - Amazon.com, Inc.'s own EIN is 91-1646860, published in the header of its SEC Form 10-K filings. - The IRS issues a seller's EIN for $0: 15 minutes online with an SSN or ITIN, 4 business days by fax with the word Foreign on line 7b. - The legal name on the EIN must match the formation document and the bank account character for character; 1 mismatched character (LLC vs L.L.C.) fails verification. FAQ: Q: Does an Amazon seller need an EIN? A: An Amazon seller registered as an LLC, a corporation, or a partnership needs an EIN, because Seller Central collects a Form W-9 and those entities have no other federal tax ID. A US sole proprietor with 0 employees uses an SSN instead. The IRS charges $0 for the EIN on all 4 of its routes. Q: Can I sell on Amazon with an SSN instead of an EIN? A: A US sole proprietor sells on Amazon with an SSN, and the tax interview accepts it. The trade-off is privacy: the SSN sits on the Form W-9 Amazon stores, and it appears on the Form 1099-K issued each year. An EIN costs $0 and replaces the SSN in both places. Q: What tax ID does the Amazon tax interview ask for? A: The interview asks for a legal name, an address, and 1 taxpayer identification number, then produces a Form W-9 for a US person or a Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E for a foreign one. Listing stays blocked until the interview completes. The number is 9 digits either way. Q: Can a non-US seller get an EIN for Amazon? A: Yes. Form SS-4 line 7b accepts the word Foreign, so a responsible party with no SSN and no ITIN still obtains an EIN. The application moves to fax at 855-215-1627, or 304-707-9471 from outside the United States, and the IRS returns the number in 4 business days at $0. Q: How long does an EIN take for an Amazon seller? A: The IRS online application issues the EIN in 15 minutes and requires an SSN or ITIN. A faxed Form SS-4 returns the number in 4 business days. A mailed application runs about 4 weeks. The IRS assigns 1 EIN per responsible party per day on every route. Q: Why did Amazon reject my tax information? A: The tax interview validates the name against IRS records using the name control, which is the first 4 characters of the legal name. A mismatch between the Seller Central legal name and the name on Form SS-4 fails that check. Correct the spelling to match the EIN record character for character. Q: Do I need a separate EIN for each Amazon marketplace? A: No. 1 EIN covers the entity across all Amazon marketplaces and across all 50 states, because the EIN identifies the business rather than the selling channel. A second EIN is needed only when a genuinely separate legal entity sells, such as a new LLC formed for a second brand. Q: What does an Amazon seller EIN cost? A: The IRS charges $0 for the EIN by every route, and it never renews, so it stays $0 in year 2 and beyond. ein-number.com charges $69 Standard or $99 Fast for preparation and a second review before the IRS sees the form. Q: Does Amazon report my sales to the IRS? A: Amazon issues Form 1099-K to sellers it treats as US persons, reporting payments processed through the marketplace. The form carries the taxpayer identification number given in the tax interview, so an EIN on the interview means an EIN on the 1099-K. A foreign seller receives Form 1042-S instead. Q: Can I change my Amazon tax ID from an SSN to an EIN later? A: Yes. Retake the tax interview in Seller Central and enter the EIN, which replaces the SSN on file for future forms. The Form 1099-K already issued for a prior year keeps the number used at that time, so the change applies from the year the interview is retaken. Sources: - Understanding your Form 1099-K — https://www.irs.gov/businesses/understanding-your-form-1099-k - About Form W-9, Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification — https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-w-9 - Amazon.com, Inc. — Form 10-K filings (CIK 0001018724) — https://www.sec.gov/cgi-bin/browse-edgar?action=getcompany&CIK=0001018724&type=10-K - Employer Identification Number — https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/employer-identification-number ## EIN for a Daycare or Home Childcare Business URL: https://ein-number.com/ein-for-daycare/ Updated: 2026-10-15 Summary: A daycare must give its taxpayer ID to every parent claiming the childcare credit on Form 2441. An EIN keeps your SSN private, and the IRS charges $0. Answer: A daycare or home childcare business needs an EIN the day it has 1 or more employees, because Form 941 payroll deposits are filed under it. A provider working alone may use an SSN instead, but every parent who claims the childcare credit needs the provider’s tax ID on Form 2441, so an EIN keeps the SSN out of 20 households’ tax files. The IRS charges $0. Key facts: - An EIN is required once the daycare has 1 or more employees (Form 941 and W-2 reporting); a solo home provider may report under an SSN on Schedule C. - Every parent claiming the child and dependent care credit must enter the provider's name, address and tax ID on Form 2441; the provider furnishes it on Form W-10. - The IRS issues the EIN for $0: 15 minutes online with an SSN or ITIN, 4 business days by fax. - Form SS-4 line 9a for a solo provider is sole proprietor; an incorporated centre checks corporation and files Form 1120 or 1120-S. - A provider who will not furnish a tax ID on Form W-10 leaves each parent to attach a due-diligence statement to Form 2441; the credit stays claimable. - State childcare licensing applications ask for the provider's tax ID too; the EIN keeps the SSN off that record and off the 20 or more Forms 2441 filed each year. FAQ: Q: Does a daycare need an EIN? A: A daycare with 1 or more employees needs an EIN, because Form 941 reports withheld payroll tax under it. A home provider working alone as a sole proprietor may use an SSN instead. Every parent claiming the childcare credit still needs 1 taxpayer identification number from the provider. Q: Why do parents ask a daycare for a tax ID? A: A parent claiming the child and dependent care credit files Form 2441, which requires the provider's name, address, and taxpayer identification number. Without that number the credit is disallowed. The IRS provides Form W-10 for the provider to furnish it, and the number is 9 digits either way. Q: Can a home daycare use an SSN instead of an EIN? A: Yes, and the law permits it for a sole proprietor with 0 employees. The consequence is that the SSN goes to every household claiming the credit, so 20 families means 20 copies of it. An EIN costs $0 and replaces the SSN on Form W-10 completely. Q: What is Form W-10 used for? A: Form W-10 is the Dependent Care Provider's Identification and Certification. The provider completes it with a name, an address, and 1 taxpayer identification number, then signs and gives it to the parent. The parent keeps it and copies the details onto Form 2441 when filing. Q: How long does it take a daycare to get an EIN? A: The IRS online application issues the EIN in 15 minutes and requires the responsible party to hold an SSN or ITIN. A faxed Form SS-4 returns the number in 4 business days. A mailed application runs about 4 weeks. The IRS assigns 1 EIN per responsible party per day. Q: What does a daycare EIN cost? A: The IRS charges $0 on all 4 of its routes, and an EIN never renews, so it stays $0 in year 2 and beyond. ein-number.com charges $69 Standard or $99 Fast to prepare Form SS-4 and review it before the IRS sees it. Q: Does a daycare need a separate EIN for each location? A: No. 1 EIN covers the legal entity across every site it operates and across all 50 states, because the EIN identifies the entity rather than the premises. A second EIN is needed only when a second legal entity is formed, such as a new LLC for a second centre. Q: Does a daycare need an EIN for state licensing? A: State licensing agencies commonly ask for a federal tax ID on the application, and an EIN satisfies that field for any entity type. Licensing rules are set by each of the 50 states separately, so check the specific agency. The federal EIN itself costs $0 regardless. Q: What entity type does a home daycare check on line 9a? A: A home daycare run by 1 person with no registered entity checks Sole proprietor on line 9a and files Schedule C with the personal return. A single-member LLC checks Other and writes Disregarded entity. Both keep the same 9-digit EIN for the life of the business. Q: Can a daycare change from an SSN to an EIN mid-year? A: Yes. Apply for the EIN, then issue a fresh Form W-10 to every parent showing the new number. A parent who already has the SSN on an earlier Form W-10 uses whichever number covers the payments being claimed, so give the new form out within 1 filing season. Sources: - About Form 2441, Child and Dependent Care Expenses — https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-2441 - About Form W-10, Dependent Care Provider's Identification and Certification — https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-w-10 - Employer Identification Number — https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/employer-identification-number ## EIN for S Corp: Get the Number, Then Elect (2026) URL: https://ein-number.com/ein-for-s-corp/ Updated: 2026-08-05 Summary: An S corp gets its EIN first on Form SS-4 at $0, then files Form 2553 within 2 months and 15 days to elect S status. Here is the exact 2-step order. Answer: An S corp gets its EIN first on Form SS-4 at $0, then files Form 2553 within 2 months and 15 days of formation to elect S status. The EIN is 1 number; the election is a separate form, and the 2 do not arrive together. FAQ: Q: Does an EIN make my business an S corp? A: No. The EIN is a 9-digit tax ID issued on Form SS-4 at $0, and it identifies the entity. S status comes only from Form 2553, filed within 2 months and 15 days, 75 days, of formation. The 2 are separate steps: 1 names the entity, the other elects the tax treatment for the Form 1120-S return. Q: Do I get the EIN before or after Form 2553? A: Before. Form 2553 requires the EIN on its face, so the EIN comes first. Apply on Form SS-4, receive the 9-digit number in 15 minutes online, then file Form 2553 inside the 2-month-and-15-day window. Filing Form 2553 without an EIN stalls the election on day 1, because the IRS has no entity number to attach it to. Q: What do I put on line 9a of Form SS-4 for an S corp? A: Enter Corporation on line 9a and write 1120-S as the return the entity files. Line 8a stays No for a state corporation, line 7b carries the responsible party SSN or ITIN, and line 10 states a new business. All 4 lines cost $0, and the EIN issues in 15 minutes on the online route. Q: When is the Form 2553 deadline? A: 2 months and 15 days, which is 75 days, after formation or the start of the tax year. Miss the 75-day window and the election applies to the next year, unless you attach late-election relief. Filing on day 1 through day 75 secures S status for the current 1120-S year at a cost of $0. Q: Does an S corp need an EIN to run payroll? A: Yes. Payroll requires the EIN on Form 941 each quarter, on every W-2 by January 31, and on federal tax deposits. An S corp owner takes a reasonable salary taxed at 15.3% for FICA, so payroll starts the day wages begin. The EIN sits on all 4 payroll forms, and none of them cost the IRS $0 more than the $0 EIN. Q: Can a single-member LLC elect S corp status? A: Yes. The single-member LLC gets its own 9-digit EIN on Form SS-4, then files Form 2553 to be taxed as an S corp on Form 1120-S. It needs the EIN even though a solo LLC without employees files as a disregarded entity by default. The EIN and the election both cost $0, and the LLC keeps 1 number for life. Q: Is an S corp EIN different from an LLC or C corp EIN? A: No. All 3 use the same Form SS-4 and the same 9-digit format at $0. The difference is line 9a and the return: an S corp files Form 1120-S, a C corp files Form 1120, and an LLC files by its default class. The EIN itself is identical, so 1 SS-4 covers every structure at a cost of $0. Q: How much does the S corp EIN and election cost? A: The EIN costs $0 on Form SS-4, and Form 2553 costs $0 to file with the IRS. ein-number.com charges $69 or $99 to prepare and review Form SS-4, and the IRS fee stays $0. Payroll setup for Form 941 and each W-2 carries no IRS charge either, so the whole 3-step path is $0 to the government. Q: What tax does the S corp save versus a sole proprietor? A: A sole proprietor pays 15.3% self-employment tax on 100% of profit: 12.4% for Social Security plus 2.9% for Medicare. An S corp pays 15.3% only on the reasonable salary and 0% payroll tax on the remaining distribution reported on the K-1. That split is the core reason owners file Form 2553 within 75 days. Sources: - S corporations — https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/s-corporations - About Form 2553, Election by a Small Business Corporation — https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-2553 - Instructions for Form SS-4 (Rev. December 2025) — https://www.irs.gov/instructions/iss4 ## EIN for a Partnership: Why It Is Mandatory (2026) URL: https://ein-number.com/ein-for-partnership/ Updated: 2026-08-05 Summary: A partnership with 2 or more partners must have an EIN and cannot use a partner's SSN. It files Form 1065, issues Schedule K-1 to each partner, and pays the IRS $0. Answer: A partnership with 2 or more partners must have an EIN and cannot use a partner's SSN. It files Form 1065, issues a Schedule K-1 to each partner, and the IRS assigns the 9-digit number at $0 in 15 minutes online. FAQ: Q: Does a partnership need its own EIN? A: Yes. A partnership with 2 or more partners must have its own EIN, and it cannot report income on a partner's SSN. The EIN identifies the partnership on Form 1065, on every Schedule K-1, and on all payroll filings. The IRS issues the 9-digit number at $0 in 15 minutes online. Q: Can a partnership use one partner's Social Security number? A: No. Two people carrying on a business as co-owners form a partnership, and the IRS requires that partnership to file under its own EIN, not any partner's SSN. Using a partner's SSN mixes personal and partnership tax records and blocks the Form 1065 filing. The EIN separates the 2 permanently and costs $0. Q: What is Form 1065 and when is it due? A: Form 1065, the U.S. Return of Partnership Income, reports the partnership's income, deductions, and each partner's share. It is due March 15, the 15th day of the 3rd month after the tax year ends. A partnership on a December 31 year files by March 15. The EIN sits at the top of every 1065. Q: What is a Schedule K-1 and who receives it? A: Schedule K-1 reports each partner's share of income, losses, and credits from Form 1065. The partnership issues 1 K-1 to every partner, so a 3-partner firm sends 3. Each partner carries the K-1 figures to a personal Form 1040. A partnership passes 100% of its income through to the partners. Q: What do I enter on line 9a of Form SS-4? A: On line 9a of Form SS-4, mark the Partnership box. That single choice tells the IRS the entity files Form 1065 and issues a Schedule K-1 to each partner. A multi-member LLC that has filed no election also marks Partnership on line 9a, because it defaults to partnership taxation. The EIN costs $0. Q: Does a multi-member LLC file as a partnership? A: Yes. An LLC with 2 or more members defaults to partnership taxation unless it files Form 8832 or Form 2553 to elect corporate or S corporation treatment. By default it files Form 1065, issues a Schedule K-1 to each member, and marks line 9a as Partnership. The IRS charges $0 for the EIN. Q: Who is the responsible party for a partnership? A: The responsible party is a general partner who controls the partnership's funds and assets, named on line 7a of Form SS-4. The IRS accepts only 1 responsible party, and that person must be an individual, not another entity. Line 7b holds that partner's SSN or ITIN, or the word Foreign. Q: How much does a partnership EIN cost? A: The IRS charges $0 for a partnership EIN on all 4 of its routes: online, fax, mail, and phone. The number never renews, so year 2 costs $0 too. ein-number.com charges $69 for Standard preparation or $99 for Fast, covering the filling and checking of Form SS-4; the IRS fee stays $0. Sources: - Partnerships — https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/partnerships - Instructions for Form SS-4 (Rev. December 2025) — https://www.irs.gov/instructions/iss4 - Employer Identification Number — https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/employer-identification-number ## EIN for Corporation: Form 1120 and the 21% Rate (2026) URL: https://ein-number.com/ein-for-corporation/ Updated: 2026-08-05 Summary: A corporation must have an EIN. The IRS charges $0 and issues the 9-digit number in 15 minutes. See Form 1120, the 21% corporate rate, and SS-4 line 9a. Answer: A corporation must have an EIN. The IRS assigns the 9-digit number for $0 and issues it in 15 minutes on the online route. A C corporation then files Form 1120 and pays the 21% flat corporate rate. FAQ: Q: Does a corporation need an EIN? A: Yes. Every corporation must have an EIN from the day it is formed, because a corporation files Form 1120 and the return has no valid entry without the 9-digit number. The rule holds even with 0 employees and 0 revenue. The IRS charges $0 for the number, and no bank opens a corporate account without it. Q: How much does an EIN for a corporation cost? A: The IRS charges $0 for a corporate EIN on all 4 application routes, and the number never renews, so year 2 costs $0 as well. ein-number.com charges $69 to prepare and file Form SS-4, or $99 to file within 24 hours, 7 business days total. Both tiers carry the written accuracy guarantee, verified 2026. Q: What tax rate does a C corporation pay? A: A C corporation pays a 21% flat rate on its taxable income under Internal Revenue Code section 11, reported on Form 1120. The rate is a single bracket, not a schedule, so a corporation with $50,000 of taxable income and one with $5,000,000 apply the same 21%. The EIN identifies the filer on every 1120. Q: What is corporate double taxation? A: Profit is taxed twice. A C corporation pays the 21% corporate rate on Form 1120, then a shareholder pays income tax again on any dividend, reported on the shareholder's Form 1040. The 2 layers are the defining feature of a C corporation, and an S corporation election on Form 2553 removes the first layer. Q: What does a corporation enter on Form SS-4 line 9a? A: A corporation checks the Corporation box on line 9a and writes the form number 1120 beside it, which tells the IRS the entity files Form 1120. Line 7a names a principal officer and line 7b takes that officer's SSN, ITIN, or the entry Foreign. Line 10 states the reason for applying, and none of it changes the $0 fee. Q: Is the EIN separate from the owner's SSN? A: Yes. The EIN is the corporation's own 9-digit federal ID, permanent and distinct from any shareholder or officer SSN. A C corporation is a separate taxpayer, so its Form 1120, its Form 941 payroll returns, and its bank account all carry the EIN, never a personal number. The SSN appears only on line 7b to identify the responsible party. Q: How is a C corporation different from an S corporation? A: A C corporation files Form 1120 and pays the 21% corporate rate, with profit taxed a second time as a dividend. An S corporation files Form 1120-S, passes income through to shareholders, and pays no entity-level income tax. An S corporation is capped at 100 shareholders and 1 class of stock under Internal Revenue Code section 1361. Q: Who is the responsible party for a corporation? A: The responsible party is a principal officer, a natural person who controls the corporation, such as the president or the chief executive. Line 7a takes that person's name and line 7b takes their SSN, ITIN, or Foreign. A board, a parent company, or a law firm cannot be the responsible party, because line 7a rejects any entity name. Q: How long does an EIN for a corporation take? A: The IRS online tool issues the EIN immediately at the end of a 15-minute session, open only to a responsible party with an SSN or ITIN. Fax returns the number in 4 business days to 855-641-6935. Mail takes 4 weeks, and international applicants call 267-941-1099. ein-number.com files within 24 hours at $99, 7 business days total. Q: Does a corporation ever need a new EIN? A: A corporation keeps its 9-digit EIN through a name change, an address change, and an S election on Form 2553. It needs a new EIN when it receives a new corporate charter from a state, or when a corporation converts to a different entity type. An address change is reported on Form 8822-B within 60 days, and the number stays. Sources: - Corporations — https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/corporations - Instructions for Form SS-4 (Rev. December 2025) — https://www.irs.gov/instructions/iss4 - Employer Identification Number — https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/employer-identification-number ## EIN for a Church: Required at $0, No Form 1023 (2026) URL: https://ein-number.com/ein-for-church/ Updated: 2026-08-05 Summary: A church needs an EIN for its bank account and payroll, even though it is automatically tax-exempt without Form 1023. The IRS fee is $0, in 15 minutes. Answer: A church needs an EIN for its bank account, payroll, and giving statements, even though it is automatically tax-exempt without Form 1023. The IRS issues the 9-digit number for $0 in 15 minutes, and a church skips the $600 Form 1023 user fee that a regular nonprofit pays. FAQ: Q: Does a church need an EIN? A: Yes. Every church needs 1 EIN before it opens a bank account, runs payroll on Form 941, or issues giving statements. The IRS charges $0 for the 9-digit number on all 4 routes, and the online tool returns it in 15 minutes. A church needs the EIN even though it skips Form 1023. Q: Is a church tax-exempt without filing Form 1023? A: Yes. IRC 508(c)(1)(A) exempts a church from the Form 1023 requirement, so the IRS recognizes it as 501(c)(3) automatically, without an application and without the $600 user fee. The EIN is still required and still costs $0. This automatic recognition is the 1 feature that sets a church apart from a regular nonprofit. Q: What does a church check on line 9a of Form SS-4? A: A church checks Church or church-controlled organization on line 9a, not the Other nonprofit organization box a charity uses. Line 10 states the reason, such as banking purpose, and line 7b holds Foreign when the responsible party has no SSN. These entries take under 5 minutes and do not change the $0 EIN cost. Q: What does a church EIN cost? A: The EIN costs $0 directly from the IRS and never renews. A church skips the $600 Form 1023 fee that a regular nonprofit pays, so its total IRS cost is $0. ein-number.com charges $69 or $99 to prepare and check Form SS-4, and the IRS EIN fee stays $0 on all 4 routes. Q: Does a church file Form 990 every year? A: No. A church is exempt from the annual Form 990 that most 501(c)(3) nonprofits file, another consequence of automatic recognition under IRC 508(c)(1)(A). It still needs the 9-digit EIN for banking and for Form 941 payroll filings. The EIN costs $0 and never renews, in all 50 states. Q: Can a church get an EIN without an SSN? A: Yes. The responsible party enters Foreign on line 7b of Form SS-4, and the church files by fax to 855-641-6935, or 855-215-1627 for international entities, in 4 business days at $0. The online tool needs an SSN, so a church without one uses the fax route. International applicants call 267-941-1099. Q: How long does a church EIN take? A: 15 minutes on the IRS online route when the responsible party has an SSN. The fax route takes 4 business days, and mail takes about 20 business days. All 3 cost $0. The CP-575 confirmation letter arrives within 14 calendar days, and international applicants reach the IRS at 267-941-1099. Q: Does an EIN make a church tax-exempt? A: No. The EIN is only a federal tax ID and grants 0 tax exemption. A church's exemption comes automatically from IRC 508(c)(1)(A), not from the 9-digit number. The EIN is required for the bank account and payroll, costs $0, and never renews. Exemption and the EIN are 2 separate things. Sources: - Churches and religious organizations — https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/churches-religious-organizations - Employer Identification Number (charities and nonprofits) — https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/employer-identification-number - Exemption requirements – 501(c)(3) organizations — https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/charitable-organizations/exemption-requirements-501c3-organizations ## EIN for a Foreign Company: US EIN, No SSN (2026) URL: https://ein-number.com/ein-for-foreign-company/ Updated: 2026-08-05 Summary: A foreign-owned company gets a US EIN with no SSN and no ITIN. Write Foreign on line 7b, then fax Form SS-4 to 855-215-1627 or call 267-941-1099. Answer: A foreign-owned company gets a US EIN with no SSN and no ITIN. Write the word Foreign on line 7b of Form SS-4, then fax it to 855-215-1627 or call the IRS international line at 267-941-1099. The IRS fee is $0. FAQ: Q: Can a foreign company get a US EIN without an SSN? A: Yes. Form SS-4 line 7b accepts the word Foreign, so the IRS issues a 9-digit EIN to a non-US responsible party holding no SSN and no ITIN. The online tool closes, so the application goes by fax to 855-215-1627 or by phone to 267-941-1099, at a cost of $0, in about 4 business days. Q: Does a foreign owner need an ITIN to get an EIN? A: No. An EIN and an ITIN are 2 separate numbers, and neither one requires the other. Line 7b of Form SS-4 takes the entry Foreign in place of an SSN or ITIN, and the IRS assigns the EIN in 4 business days by fax to 855-215-1627, at $0, with no ITIN on file. Q: What number does a foreign company fax Form SS-4 to? A: An international applicant with no US state address faxes Form SS-4 to 855-215-1627. An entity with a US state address uses 855-641-6935. Both cost $0 and return the 9-digit EIN in about 4 business days when a return fax number sits on the form. The IRS phone line is 267-941-1099. Q: Can I get a US EIN online as a foreign owner? A: No. The IRS online EIN Assistant asks the responsible party for an SSN, ITIN, or existing EIN, so it closes to a non-US founder with none of the 3. The 2 open routes are fax to 855-215-1627 and phone to 267-941-1099. Both cost $0, and fax returns the EIN in 4 business days. Q: Does the IRS require a passport upload for an EIN? A: No. Form SS-4 carries no identity document, so no passport scan and no upload reaches the IRS. The 1-page form asks for the entity name on line 1, the responsible party on line 7a, and the word Foreign on line 7b. The IRS issues the 9-digit EIN in 4 business days for $0. Q: What is Form 5472 for a foreign-owned LLC? A: Form 5472 reports transactions between a foreign-owned single-member LLC and its owner. The disregarded LLC attaches Form 5472 to a pro forma Form 1120 each year. The penalty for a missed or late Form 5472 is $25,000 under IRC 6038A. The EIN, filed on Form SS-4, is required before the first Form 5472. Q: How long does a foreign company wait for a US EIN? A: About 4 business days by fax to 855-215-1627, once a return fax number sits on Form SS-4. The phone line 267-941-1099 issues the EIN on the same call. Mail runs about 4 weeks, near 20 business days. All 3 routes cost $0; only speed separates them. Q: Do I need a US address to get an EIN? A: No. A foreign company enters its non-US mailing address on Form SS-4, and the IRS issues the 9-digit EIN for $0. A US address is not a condition of the number. Line 7b reads Foreign when the responsible party holds no SSN, and the fax route 855-215-1627 stays open in all 50 states and abroad. Q: Is a US EIN enough to open a Stripe or bank account? A: A US EIN is the core requirement 3 of the largest platforms check: a US bank, Stripe, and Amazon. Each also verifies the entity formation and the CP-575 or 147C letter. The EIN itself costs $0 from the IRS and arrives in 4 business days by fax to 855-215-1627. Q: What does ein-number.com charge a foreign company? A: ein-number.com charges $69 for Standard and $99 for Fast; the IRS fee stays $0. Standard files Form SS-4 by fax within 8 business days, and Fast files within 24 hours for 7 business days total. Each filing enters Foreign on line 7b before it reaches 855-215-1627. Sources: - Instructions for Form SS-4 (Rev. December 2025) — https://www.irs.gov/instructions/iss4 - Employer Identification Number — https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/employer-identification-number - Individual Taxpayer Identification Number — https://www.irs.gov/individuals/individual-taxpayer-identification-number ## EIN for Independent Contractors: SSN or EIN 2026? URL: https://ein-number.com/ein-for-independent-contractor/ Updated: 2026-08-05 Summary: An independent contractor is a sole proprietor and can use an SSN. An EIN is optional, costs $0, and keeps your SSN off every W-9 and 1099-NEC a client files. Answer: An independent contractor is a sole proprietor by default and files taxes with a 9-digit SSN. An EIN is optional, costs $0, and takes 15 minutes to obtain. The 1 reason to get it: keep the SSN off every W-9 and 1099-NEC. FAQ: Q: Does an independent contractor need an EIN? A: No. An independent contractor is a sole proprietor by default and files taxes with a 9-digit SSN. An EIN is optional, costs $0, and takes 15 minutes to obtain. Contractors get one to keep the SSN off every W-9 and 1099-NEC a client files, and an EIN becomes required only after forming an LLC or hiring 1 employee. Q: Can a freelancer work with just an SSN? A: Yes. The IRS treats a solo freelancer as a sole proprietor, so a 9-digit SSN covers the W-9 and the Schedule C attached to Form 1040. No EIN is required to invoice a client. The 1 reason freelancers still request an EIN is privacy: it keeps the SSN off every 1099-NEC and W-9 across all 50 states. Q: What is the W-9 a client asks me to fill out? A: The W-9 is the 1-page form a client uses to collect your taxpayer ID before issuing a 1099-NEC. You enter either a 9-digit SSN or a 9-digit EIN, and both are valid for a sole proprietor. An EIN on the W-9 keeps your SSN private across every client you invoice in the 2026 tax year. Q: What is the difference between a W-9 and a W-4? A: A W-9 is for an independent contractor; a W-4 is for an employee. A contractor completes 1 W-9 per client, receives a 1099-NEC at $600, and files Schedule C. An employee completes a W-4, receives a W-2, and has income tax withheld from each paycheck. The 2 forms mark the line between self-employed and employed. Q: Does an EIN lower a contractor's taxes? A: No. An EIN changes no tax rate. A self-employed contractor pays the same 15.3% self-employment tax, split into 12.4% Social Security and 2.9% Medicare, on 92.35% of net profit under IRC 1402, whether the 1099-NEC shows an SSN or an EIN. Business deductions on Schedule C lower the bill, not the EIN itself. Q: How much does an EIN for a contractor cost? A: $0 from the IRS. The online EIN Assistant issues the 9-digit number in 15 minutes at no charge, and it never renews, so year 2 also costs $0. ein-number.com charges $69 or $99 to prepare and check Form SS-4 for contractors who want it filed and reviewed, never for the number itself. Q: When must an independent contractor get an EIN? A: An EIN is required in 3 situations: forming an LLC, hiring 1 or more employees, or electing S-corporation tax treatment. A solo contractor on a 9-digit SSN needs none of these. Each new EIN still costs $0 and takes 15 minutes online, or 4 business days by fax to 855-641-6935. Q: Will an EIN keep my SSN off the 1099-NEC? A: Yes. Enter the 9-digit EIN on the W-9, and every client prints the EIN, not the SSN, on the 1099-NEC filed each January. The SSN then stays off every form a client stores. The EIN costs $0 and covers all 50 states, so 1 number protects the SSN across every contract you sign. Q: Do I file a separate tax return with an EIN? A: No. A self-employed contractor reports every invoice on Schedule C of the personal Form 1040, whether the income lands under an SSN or a 9-digit EIN. Any contractor with $400 or more in net profit also files Schedule SE. The EIN adds no return; only an LLC electing S-corporation status files a separate one. Sources: - Independent contractor (self-employed) or employee? — https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/independent-contractor-self-employed-or-employee - Sole proprietorships — https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/sole-proprietorships - About Form W-9, Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification — https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-w-9 ## Federal Tax ID Number: The Same 9 Digits, 6 Different Names (2026) URL: https://ein-number.com/federal-tax-id-number/ Updated: 2026-07-20 Summary: A federal tax ID number is an EIN. Same 9 digits, 6 names, 1 form. See which name each bank and form uses, the 4 ways to get one, and why the IRS fee is $0. Answer: A federal tax ID number is an EIN. It is one 9-digit number the IRS assigns to a business on one application, Form SS-4, and the IRS fee is $0. FAQ: Q: Is a federal tax ID number the same as an EIN? A: Yes. A federal tax ID number and an EIN are the same 9-digit number issued by the IRS on one application, Form SS-4. The IRS uses the name Employer Identification Number on all of its documents. Banks and state agencies use federal tax ID number for the identical field. The IRS charges $0 for it. Q: What does a federal tax ID number look like? A: Nine digits printed as 2 digits, a hyphen, then 7 digits, in the pattern XX-XXXXXXX. A Social Security Number carries the same 9 digits in a 3-2-4 pattern instead. The 2-digit prefix records the IRS campus that assigned the number and carries no information about the state a business operates in. Q: How much does a federal tax ID number cost? A: The IRS charges $0 on all 4 of its routes, and the number never renews, so the cost in year 2 and every year after is $0. Any charge you pay is a filing service fee, never an IRS fee. ein-number.com charges $69 at Standard speed or $99 at Fast speed, and both tiers carry the accuracy guarantee. Q: How long does it take to get a federal tax ID number? A: Fifteen minutes through the IRS online tool, one phone call on 267-941-1099 for international applicants, 4 business days by fax, and 4 weeks by mail. The IRS charges $0 on all 4. ein-number.com prepares and files the application: 2–3 weeks total at $69, or 7 business days total at $99. Q: Can I get a federal tax ID number without an SSN? A: Yes. Form SS-4 line 7b accepts the entry Foreign, so the IRS assigns the number to a responsible party holding no SSN and no ITIN. The route is fax, 4 business days, on 855-641-6935 for a US-based entity or 855-215-1627 internationally. No passport or identity document is filed. Q: Is a federal tax ID number the same as a state tax ID? A: No. The IRS issues 1 federal number for the whole country. A state revenue department issues a separate state tax ID for payroll withholding or sales tax, and a business operating in 3 states can hold 3 state numbers alongside its single 9-digit federal number. Q: Where do I find my federal tax ID number? A: The CP-575 confirmation letter prints it first. After that it appears on page 1 of Form 1120 or Form 1065, in box b of every W-2 you issued, in the Part I TIN box of any signed W-9, and on the business bank account application. Each of those 5 sources costs $0 to check. Q: Does a federal tax ID number expire? A: No. The IRS assigns the 9 digits to one entity permanently and never reissues them to another business. There is no renewal, no annual fee, and no expiry date, so the cost in year 2 and beyond stays $0. The number survives an address change and a business name change. Q: Do I need a US address to get a federal tax ID number? A: No. Form SS-4 accepts a mailing address outside the United States on lines 4a and 4b, and line 7b accepts the entry Foreign for a responsible party with no SSN. Applicants file from outside the country by fax on 855-215-1627 or by phone on 267-941-1099. Q: When does a business need a new federal tax ID number? A: When the legal entity changes rather than its details. A sole proprietorship that incorporates needs a new number, and a single-member LLC that adds a second member becomes a partnership and needs one. An address change and a name change keep the same 9 digits and use Form 8822-B. Sources: - Employer Identification Number — https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/employer-identification-number - Taxpayer Identification Numbers (TIN) — https://www.irs.gov/individuals/international-taxpayers/taxpayer-identification-numbers-tin - 26 U.S.C. § 6109 — Identifying numbers — https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/26/6109 ## IRS Name Control: The 4 Characters Tied to Your EIN (2026) URL: https://ein-number.com/irs-name-control/ Updated: 2026-07-20 Summary: An IRS name control is 4 characters the IRS derives from your legal name. See the derivation rule for LLCs, corporations, partnerships, trusts, and estates. Answer: An IRS name control is a 4-character code the IRS derives from the legal name on your EIN application. The IRS stores it beside the 9-digit EIN and matches the pair on every filing. FAQ: Q: What is an IRS name control? A: An IRS name control is a 4-character code the IRS derives from the legal name on the EIN application. The IRS stores it beside the 9-digit EIN and matches the pair on every filing. Only 26 letters, 10 digits, the hyphen, and the ampersand are valid characters. Q: How do I find my IRS name control? A: Derive it from the legal name on your CP-575 using the entity rule for your structure. The IRS confirms it by phone on the Business and Specialty Tax Line, and a 147C letter prints the legal name of record. Each of those 3 routes costs $0. Q: Is the name control printed on the CP-575? A: The CP-575 prints the 9-digit EIN and the legal name the IRS assigned it to. It does not print the 4-character name control as a separate field. You derive the 4 characters from that legal name, which is why the CP-575 stays the primary reference document. Q: What characters are allowed in a name control? A: A name control accepts 38 characters in total: the 26 letters A through Z, the 10 digits 0 through 9, the hyphen, and the ampersand. Every other character drops out, including periods, commas, and apostrophes. Blanks appear only at the end of a control shorter than 4 characters. Q: Why did my e-filed return reject on a name control mismatch? A: The 4 characters transmitted with the return did not match the 4 characters the IRS holds for that EIN. The 5 common causes are a name change never filed, a dba used instead of the legal name, a dropped special character, a wrong entity rule, and a mistyped EIN. Q: Does changing my business name change my name control? A: Yes. The IRS derives the name control from the legal name of record, so a new legal name produces new first 4 characters. File Form 8822-B to update the record. Until the IRS posts the change, filings match against the old 4 characters, and the EIN itself never changes. Q: What is the name control for an LLC? A: An LLC name control uses the first 4 characters of the LLC name on the EIN application, for both corporate and partnership classification. A single-member LLC that applied under the owner's name instead carries the owner's last name. The 9-digit EIN stays the same either way. Q: What is the name control for a trust or an estate? A: A trust name control uses the first 4 characters of the last name of the individual the trust is named for, so Jonathan Periwinkle Family Trust becomes PERI. An estate uses the first 4 characters of the deceased individual's last name. Both derive from a person, not from the words trust or estate. Q: Can I get an IRS name control without an SSN? A: Yes. The name control derives from a legal name, so no identity number enters the calculation. A new EIN also issues without an SSN, because Form SS-4 line 7b accepts the entry Foreign. The IRS charges $0, and the fax route uses 855-641-6935 or 855-215-1627. Q: How much does it cost to correct a name control? A: The IRS charges $0 to confirm a name control by phone, $0 for a 147C letter, and $0 to process Form 8822-B. A new EIN also costs $0 from the IRS. ein-number.com charges $69 to prepare and file a new application at Standard speed, or $99 at Fast speed, and double-checks the legal name before submission. Sources: - Instructions for Form SS-4 (Rev. December 2025) — https://www.irs.gov/instructions/iss4 - Publication 1635, Understanding Your EIN (PDF) — https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p1635.pdf - Apply for an Employer Identification Number (EIN) online — https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/apply-for-an-employer-identification-number-ein-online ## EIN Glossary of Terms: 33 Definitions (2026) URL: https://ein-number.com/ein-glossary/ Updated: 2026-07-20 Summary: An EIN glossary covering 33 definitions across 6 categories: the 9-digit number, the CP-575, 147C, SS-4 lines, reference codes 101-114, and IRS routes. Answer: This EIN glossary of terms defines the 33 words that appear on an EIN application, a CP-575 letter, and a bank verification request. Each definition stands alone, and the IRS fee is $0. FAQ: Q: Which EIN glossary terms appear on a bank application? A: Four terms cover almost every bank request: the 9-digit EIN, the CP-575 that proves its assignment, the 147C letter that replaces a lost CP-575, and the legal name the IRS paired with the number. A trade name on line 2 of the CP-575 connects a DBA to the same account. Q: What is the difference between a legal name and a name control? A: A legal name is the full name on the formation document. A name control is the 4-character code the IRS derives from it and stores beside the EIN. Electronic filings match against those 4 characters, so a comma or an abbreviation breaks a match that a human reader would accept. Q: Does a DBA get its own EIN? A: No. A DBA is a trade name, and the EIN belongs to the legal entity behind it. One entity operates any number of DBAs on 1 EIN. Form SS-4 records the legal name on line 1 and the trade name on line 2, and the IRS matches filings to line 1. Q: What do the first 2 digits of an EIN mean? A: The first 2 digits are the prefix, and they record which IRS campus assigned the number. The prefix says nothing about the business, its state, or its industry. Every EIN holds 9 digits in total, printed as 2 digits, a hyphen, and 7 digits. Q: Which glossary terms appear on Form SS-4 itself? A: Seven do: the legal name on line 1, the trade name on line 2, the responsible party on line 7a, that person's identifying number on line 7b, the entity type, the reason for applying, and the third party designee block. The form is 1 page and costs $0 to file. Q: What is a disregarded entity for EIN purposes? A: A disregarded entity is a single-owner business the IRS looks through for income tax while it still holds its own EIN. A single-member LLC is disregarded by default. It files employment tax under its own 9-digit number, and a foreign-owned one files Form 5472 with a pro forma Form 1120. Q: Which term applies when the responsible party has no SSN? A: Line 7b. It accepts the entry Foreign when the responsible party holds no SSN, no ITIN, and no EIN, and the IRS assigns the number on that basis. The application moves to the fax route: 855-641-6935 for US-based entities and 855-215-1627 for international applicants. The IRS fee stays $0. Q: Is an EIN confirmation letter the same as a CP-575? A: Not exactly. EIN confirmation letter is the umbrella term for 2 documents. The CP-575 is issued once at assignment and never reprinted. The 147C letter replaces it afterwards, at $0, released to an authorized person only. Banks accept either, because both come from IRS records. Q: Which terms in this glossary cost money? A: None of the IRS items. The EIN costs $0, Form SS-4 costs $0 to file, the 147C letter costs $0, Form 8822-B costs $0, and year 2 costs $0 because an EIN never renews. ein-number.com charges $69 at Standard speed or $99 at Fast speed to prepare, double-check, and file the application. Q: What does a TIN mismatch notice mean? A: It means an EIN and a name on an information return did not match IRS records. The comparison runs against the 4-character name control. The 9 digits pass the check, and a trade name entered in place of the legal name is the leading cause. A corrected Form W-9 resolves it. Sources: - Employer Identification Number — https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/employer-identification-number - Instructions for Form SS-4 (Rev. December 2025) — https://www.irs.gov/instructions/iss4 - Publication 1635, Understanding Your EIN (PDF) — https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p1635.pdf - Taxpayer Identification Numbers (TIN) — https://www.irs.gov/individuals/international-taxpayers/taxpayer-identification-numbers-tin ## EIN Processing Time Estimator: Your Delivery Date (2026) URL: https://ein-number.com/tools/ein-timeline-estimator/ Updated: 2026-07-20 Summary: An EIN processing time estimator that returns a calendar date, not a range. One date in, 5 routes out: 15 minutes online, 4 business days fax, 4 weeks mail. Answer: This EIN processing time estimator turns one start date into a delivery date on all 5 routes. It removes weekends and the 11 US federal holidays from every business-day count. FAQ: Q: What does an EIN processing time estimator do? A: It converts one start date into a delivery date on each of the 5 routes, removing weekends and the 11 US federal holidays from every business-day count. The IRS publishes durations, not dates: 15 minutes online, 4 business days by fax, 4 weeks by mail. Q: How many business days is 4 weeks by mail? A: Twenty. The IRS processes a mailed Form SS-4 in 4 weeks, which is 28 calendar days and 20 business days in a holiday-free window. Fax finishes the identical form in 4 business days, so mail runs 5 times longer on the same paperwork. Q: Why does the estimator move my start date forward? A: Because the IRS opens on business days only. A date entered on a Saturday moves 2 calendar days to the Monday, and a date entered on Sunday moves 1. A date landing on any of the 11 federal holidays moves to the next working day. Q: What date does the estimator give without an SSN? A: The fax date, 4 business days from day zero. Form SS-4 line 7b accepts the entry Foreign, so the IRS assigns EINs to responsible parties holding no SSN and no ITIN. Only 1 of the 5 routes, the online tool, requires an SSN or ITIN. Q: How many calendar days is 7 business days? A: Nine to 11, depending on the weekday it starts and on holidays. Seven business days beginning on a Monday lands on the Wednesday 9 calendar days later. The same 7 business days beginning on a Thursday lands 11 calendar days later, because 2 weekends sit inside it. Q: Does a federal holiday change my EIN date? A: Yes, by 1 calendar day per holiday on every business-day route. A fax filed on Monday, November 23, 2026 returns Monday, November 30 rather than Friday, November 27, because Thanksgiving Day on November 26 is not a business day. The 2026 schedule holds 11 such dates. Q: Can the estimator promise the IRS will meet the date? A: No. The 4 IRS routes publish no deadline and carry no refund, so their dates are the published processing windows applied to your calendar. The ein-number.com dates are ours to commit to: 2–3 weeks total at $69, or 7 business days total at $99, with every filing double-checked before submission and a full refund if we make an error. Q: When can I use the EIN the estimator gives me? A: A bank account and a paper return accept it the same day. The IRS states a new EIN takes up to 2 weeks, 14 calendar days, to enter its permanent records, and electronic returns, electronic payments, and TIN matching wait for that entry. Q: How much does the faster date cost from the IRS? A: $0. The IRS charges nothing on all 4 of its routes and sells no expedited option, and the cost stays $0 in year 2 because an EIN never renews. ein-number.com charges $69 or $99 once for preparation, senior error review, and filing, with the accuracy of that filing guaranteed in writing. Q: Why do 2 applications filed the same day get different dates? A: The IRS limits issuance to 1 EIN per responsible party per day across all 4 of its routes. A founder registering 3 entities under 1 responsible party reaches 3 separate business days, so the third entity's date sits 2 business days behind the first. Sources: - Instructions for Form SS-4 (Rev. December 2025) — https://www.irs.gov/instructions/iss4 - Apply for an Employer Identification Number (EIN) online — https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/apply-for-an-employer-identification-number-ein-online ## Form SS-4 Online: A Fillable SS-4 Helper for 2026 URL: https://ein-number.com/tools/ss-4-form-helper/ Updated: 2026-08-05 Summary: Fill IRS Form SS-4 line by line in your browser: derive the name control, complete line 7b without an SSN, and get the fax number to send the form to. Answer: This fillable SS-4 helper completes the 18 lines of IRS Form SS-4 in your browser. It derives your name control, sets line 7b for a responsible party with no SSN, and names the fax number to send the form to. FAQ: Q: Can I fill out Form SS-4 online? A: Yes. This helper fills all 18 numbered lines of Form SS-4 in your browser, then hands you a print-ready form to fax or mail. The IRS also runs an online EIN Assistant that issues the number in 15 minutes, but it is open only to a responsible party who holds an SSN or ITIN and a US address. Q: Is there a free fillable SS-4 form? A: Yes. The IRS publishes Form SS-4 as a free fillable PDF on irs.gov, and this helper prepares the same 18 lines at no charge. The IRS fee to obtain an EIN is 0 dollars on all 4 of its routes, and it stays 0 dollars in year 2 because an EIN never renews. Q: What is the name control on Form SS-4? A: The name control is a 4-character code the IRS derives from your line 1 legal name and matches on every future return. It uppercases the name, keeps an ampersand and a hyphen, drops a leading The when 2 or more words follow, and takes the first 4 characters. Q: What do I put on line 7b without an SSN? A: Enter the word Foreign. Line 7b of Form SS-4 accepts Foreign in place of an identity number, so the IRS assigns an EIN to a responsible party who holds no SSN and no ITIN. The application then moves off the online tool and goes by fax on a 4-business-day window. Q: Where do I send a completed Form SS-4? A: By fax or by mail, based on the address. An entity in a US state faxes 855-641-6935, and an international applicant faxes 855-215-1627. Fax returns the EIN in 4 business days when a return fax number sits on the form; mail runs the 4-week processing window instead. Q: Which entity type goes on line 9a? A: The one that sets your tax return: Sole proprietor, Partnership, Corporation with 1120 or 1120-S, Estate, Trust, or Other. A single-member LLC checks 8a Yes with 1 on 8b and reports its owner's classification. An S corporation writes Corporation on 9a and elects S status on Form 2553 within 75 days. Q: How many EINs can I get in one day? A: One. The IRS limits issuance to 1 EIN per responsible party per day across all 4 of its own routes. A founder registering 3 entities under the same line 7a name reaches 3 separate business days, so the third EIN lands 2 business days after the first. Q: Does the SS-4 helper store my details? A: No. Every calculation runs in your browser, so nothing is transmitted and nothing is stored: no SSN, no ITIN, and no passport leaves the page. The helper prepares the form for you to file; our filing service is the paid alternative at 69 or 99 dollars with the accuracy guarantee. Sources: - Instructions for Form SS-4 (Rev. December 2025) — https://www.irs.gov/instructions/iss4 - Form SS-4 (PDF) — https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/fss4.pdf - About Form SS-4, Application for Employer Identification Number — https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-ss-4 ## EIN Search by Company Name URL: https://ein-number.com/ein-search-by-company-name/ Updated: 2026-10-15 Summary: No free IRS database exists for an EIN search by company name. 5 sources work at $0: SEC EDGAR, IRS TEOS, Form 990, state registries, a signed W-9. Who each covers. Answer: There is no free public IRS database for an EIN search by company name. Five sources cover the cases that can be searched at $0: SEC EDGAR for public companies, the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search and Form 990 for nonprofits, state business registries for the exact legal name, and a signed Form W-9 for any private company. The 9-digit EIN appears in each. Key facts: - The IRS operates no public EIN search; a private company's EIN is confidential under 26 U.S.C. § 6109. - SEC EDGAR prints the EIN on the cover of every Form 10-K and 10-Q, for SEC registrants only, at $0. - The IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search and Form 990 publish the EIN of every registered tax-exempt organisation at $0. - All 50 state business registries confirm the exact legal name; 49 of 50 do not publish the federal EIN. - A private company discloses its EIN on Form W-9, Part I; a payer who reports without a matching number faces 24% backup withholding under 26 U.S.C. § 3406. - Your own company's EIN is on the CP-575 notice or reissued as Letter 147C by calling 800-829-4933. FAQ: Q: Can I search for an EIN by company name? A: Yes, through 6 routes, and each one costs $0. SEC EDGAR resolves a public company name to its EIN, the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search resolves a nonprofit name, and a signed Form W-9, Part I resolves a private company. No single database covers all three. Q: Is there an IRS EIN lookup by company name? A: The IRS runs one name-based EIN search, and it covers tax-exempt organizations only. The Tax Exempt Organization Search returns the 9-digit EIN beside the registered legal name at $0. The IRS publishes no equivalent search for the private for-profit companies that make up most US businesses. Q: How do I find a public company's EIN by name? A: Search the legal name in SEC EDGAR, open the most recent 10-K or 10-Q, and read the filing header, where the EIN prints under the label IRS number. That is 3 steps and it costs $0. EDGAR full-text search reaches filings from 2001 forward. Q: Why does my EIN search by company name return nothing? A: 5 causes explain almost every empty result: the name searched is a brand rather than the legal entity, the company is private and publishes no EIN, the legal name changed, the entity is a subsidiary filing under a parent, or the business never received an EIN at all. Q: Can I look up an EIN by business name for free? A: Yes. All 6 routes on this page cost $0, including SEC EDGAR, EDGAR full-text search, the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search, and Form 990. Paid aggregators resell those same public filings, so the fee buys packaging rather than a record the free sources lack. Q: Does the Secretary of State list a company's EIN? A: No. All 50 state business registries record formation documents and registered agents, and none of them issues or publishes an EIN. The EIN comes from the IRS through Form SS-4, so a state search returns a legal name and a status, never the 9-digit federal number. Q: Why does the exact legal name matter so much? A: The IRS matches an EIN against a name control built from the first 4 characters of the legal name. A brand, a DBA, and a punctuation variant each fail that match. Search the name on the formation document, not the name on the website or the invoice. Q: Is it legal to search for another company's EIN? A: Yes when the source is public. SEC EDGAR filings, IRS Form 990 returns, and the Tax Exempt Organization Search are published records, open to anyone at $0. Using an EIN to file a return or open an account in another company's name is a separate matter and is fraud. Q: Can I search for an EIN by company name without an SSN? A: Yes. A name-based EIN search reads public filings and signed forms, so no identity number enters the process at any step. Applying for a new EIN also works without an SSN, because Form SS-4 line 7b accepts the entry Foreign for the responsible party. Q: What if the company has no EIN yet? A: A search returns nothing because nothing exists to return, and the entity applies with Form SS-4 instead. The IRS charges $0 through every method. ein-number.com prepares the application and double-checks it before submission, delivering the 9-digit EIN and the CP-575 letter in 2–3 weeks at $69 or 7 business days at $99. If we make an error, full refund, no conditions. Sources: - EDGAR full-text search — https://www.sec.gov/edgar/search/ - EDGAR company search — https://www.sec.gov/cgi-bin/browse-edgar?action=getcompany - Tax Exempt Organization Search — https://apps.irs.gov/app/eos/ - About Form 990, Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax — https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-990 - About Form W-9, Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification — https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-w-9 - Employer Identification Number — https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/employer-identification-number ## Do I Need an EIN? Every Trigger, Answered (2026) URL: https://ein-number.com/do-i-need-an-ein/ Updated: 2026-07-20 Summary: Do I need an EIN? 9 federal triggers force one, and 7 counterparties ask for one. Full requirement table, the $0 IRS fee, and the no-SSN route by fax. Answer: You need an EIN when one of 9 federal filing obligations attaches to your business: payroll, a partnership return, a corporate return, excise tax, withholding, an estate or trust, Form 5472, a retirement plan, or tax exemption. FAQ: Q: Do I need an EIN to sell on an online marketplace? A: A marketplace collects a taxpayer identification number before it releases payouts, and an EIN satisfies that request for a business account. The number is entered on Form W-9 for a US entity. The IRS charges $0 for the EIN, and the same 9 digits work across every marketplace account you open. Q: Do I need an EIN to open an account with a US payment processor? A: A payment processor verifies a business account against the legal name and the 9-digit EIN the IRS assigned. The CP-575 letter is the document that proves the pairing. A sole proprietor without employees passes the same check with a Social Security Number instead of an EIN. Q: Do I need an EIN before or after I form my LLC? A: Apply after formation. Form SS-4 asks for the legal name and the state and date of formation, and an EIN issued against a name the state later rejects creates a mismatch. The IRS charges $0 either way, and the online route issues the number in 15 minutes. Q: Do I need an EIN if my business made no revenue? A: Revenue is not one of the 9 federal triggers. A partnership with $0 of income still files Form 1065, and a foreign-owned single-member LLC with $0 of income still files Form 5472. Both filings need an EIN, so a dormant entity in either category needs one. Q: Do I need an EIN to hire a contractor and file 1099 forms? A: A payer files Form 1099-NEC once payments to a contractor reach $600 in a calendar year, and the payer identification block on that form carries an EIN. A sole proprietor without one files under a Social Security Number, which prints that number on every 1099 sent out. Q: Do I need a second EIN for a second business? A: Each legal entity holds its own EIN, so a second LLC or a second corporation needs its own. A trade name added to an existing entity needs none, because a DBA carries no EIN. The IRS issues 1 EIN per responsible party per day through the online tool. Q: Do I need an EIN to file Form 5472? A: Yes. A foreign-owned single-member LLC files Form 5472 attached to a pro forma Form 1120, and both carry the EIN. The penalty for a missed or incomplete Form 5472 starts at $25,000 per return, which is why the EIN is filed before the first reportable transaction. Q: Do I need to visit the United States to get an EIN? A: No. Form SS-4 is filed by fax from any country, and no identity document is submitted with it. The IRS fax line is 855-215-1627 for international applicants and 855-641-6935 for entities based in a US state. The IRS charges $0. Q: Do I need an EIN or an ITIN? A: They are separate numbers. An EIN identifies a business entity on Form SS-4. An ITIN identifies an individual for a personal filing obligation. An EIN application does not require an ITIN, because line 7b of Form SS-4 accepts the entry Foreign when the responsible party holds neither. Q: Do I need to renew an EIN? A: No. An EIN is assigned once and never expires, so year 2 and every year after cost $0. The IRS retires a number only when the account is closed, and it never reassigns it to another entity. A dormant business keeps the same 9 digits indefinitely. Sources: - Employer Identification Number — https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/employer-identification-number - Employer ID numbers — https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/employer-id-numbers - Sole proprietorships — https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/sole-proprietorships ## How to Find Your Own EIN: 6 Places It Lives Before You Call the IRS URL: https://ein-number.com/how-to-find-your-ein-number/ Updated: 2026-07-28 Summary: Find your EIN in 6 places before calling the IRS: CP-575 letter, prior 1120 or 1065, payroll platform, bank record, state filing, prior W-9. Only route 6 is 147C. Answer: The EIN lives in 6 owner-side records: the CP-575 letter, a prior tax return, the payroll platform, the business bank, a state filing, and any signed W-9. Five of those finish in under 3 minutes at $0. The 147C phone call is a last resort, and the letter is faxed during the call on request, otherwise mailed. FAQ: Q: How do I find my EIN number online? A: Six places, none require an IRS call. Route 1 is your CP-575 letter (30 seconds). Route 2 is your prior tax return (1 minute). Route 3 is your payroll platform. Route 4 is your bank. Only after routes 1-6 fail do you call the IRS at 800-829-4933 for Letter 147C. Q: Where is the EIN on a tax return? A: Form 1120 page 1, line B. Form 1120-S page 1, line B. Form 1065 page 1, line B. Schedule C page 1, line D. Form 941 top-right. Every business tax return prints the EIN on page 1. Look in the top ~1 inch of the first page. Q: Can I look up my EIN through the IRS website? A: No. The IRS provides 0 online EIN lookup for owners. The only IRS-side path is Letter 147C, requested by phone at 800-829-4933, Monday-Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time. The letter is faxed during the call on request, otherwise mailed. The 6 owner-side routes are faster in 100% of cases where records exist. Q: How do I find my EIN in QuickBooks or Xero? A: QuickBooks Online: gear icon → Company Settings → Company. The EIN appears in the Company ID field in under 30 seconds. Xero: Settings → General Settings → Organization Details → Tax ID. Both systems store the EIN once entered during setup. QuickBooks Desktop keeps it under Company → My Company. Q: Where is my EIN on a paystub? A: Box b of every W-2 the business issued. A paystub rarely prints the EIN, but the year-end W-2 always does, in box b. Retrieve any prior W-2 from Gusto, Rippling, ADP, or Paychex to read the EIN in box b. Q: Can my bank tell me my EIN? A: Yes. Every US business bank records the EIN on the account opening application and verifies it against the CP-575 before opening. Call the relationship manager, log into online banking → Tax Documents, or check the year-end 1099-INT statement. Most banks answer the same day. Q: What if I still cannot find my EIN? A: Route 6: call the IRS Business & Specialty Tax Line at 800-829-4933, Monday-Friday, 7 a.m.-7 p.m. local time. Request Letter 147C. The IRS releases the EIN only to an authorized person. The letter is faxed during the call on request, otherwise mailed. Cost is $0. Read the full walkthrough at /147c-letter/. Q: Is finding my EIN the same as lost EIN recovery? A: No. This page covers active businesses with records that just misplaced the EIN, resolving in 5 minutes at $0. The /lost-ein-number/ page covers businesses where 0 records survive, requiring Letter 147C. The 6 routes here work when the CP-575 or a tax return still exists. Q: How long does 147C take vs. finding the EIN yourself? A: Owner-side lookup takes 30 seconds to 5 minutes across the 6 routes. Letter 147C needs an 800-829-4933 call and IRS processing, and is faxed during the call on request, otherwise mailed. The IRS publishes no turnaround figure for it, so the 6 owner-side routes stay the predictable ones. Exhaust routes 1-5 first, then call the IRS. Cost is $0 either way. Q: Does ein-number.com help find lost EINs? A: No. Our 69 Standard and 99 Fast tiers file new EIN applications, not lookups. To recover an existing EIN, use the 6 routes on this page or request Letter 147C from the IRS at $0. If you need a new EIN because 0 exists, see /how-to-apply-for-an-ein/. Sources: - Employer Identification Number — https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/employer-identification-number - Publication 1635, Understanding Your EIN (PDF) — https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p1635.pdf - Telephone assistance contacts for business customers — https://www.irs.gov/businesses/telephone-assistance-contacts-for-business-customers - About Form W-9, Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification — https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-w-9 ## FEI Number vs. EIN: Same Thing, Different States Say It Differently URL: https://ein-number.com/fei-number-lookup/ Updated: 2026-07-28 Summary: FEI, FEIN, and EIN name the same 9-digit federal ID. Florida DOR and 6 state agencies use FEI; the IRS uses EIN. Verification runs through 147C for all 3 labels. Answer: FEI, FEIN, and EIN name the identical 9-digit federal ID issued by the IRS on Form SS-4. Florida DOR uses FEI; 6 other state agencies use FEIN; the other 43 states use EIN. Format is 2 digits, hyphen, 7 digits. Verification runs through IRS Letter 147C for all 3 labels. FAQ: Q: Is a FEI number the same as an EIN? A: Yes. FEI, FEIN, and EIN name the same 9-digit federal tax ID issued by the IRS on Form SS-4. Florida DOR calls it FEI; the IRS calls it EIN. Format is 2 digits, hyphen, 7 digits, assigned under 26 U.S.C. 6109. No state agency issues a different federal number, and none of the 50 states charges for one. Q: How do I look up a FEI number in Florida? A: Two paths. Sunbiz.org business entity search returns the FEI on the annual report when the entity has filed one. The Florida DOR sales tax certificate carries the FEI on line 4. Neither IRS.gov nor any other state lookup returns Florida FEI records directly. Q: What is the difference between FEI and FEIN? A: Zero difference. FEI is an abbreviation of Federal Employer Identification Number; FEIN spells the same thing with the N included. Florida DOR forms use FEI on newer versions and FEIN on older ones. Both refer to the same 9-digit IRS-issued identifier. No form has ever asked for both simultaneously. Q: Which states use FEI or FEIN on their forms? A: Seven state agencies use FEI/FEIN language regularly: Florida, Alabama, Missouri, Illinois, Georgia, Tennessee, and Iowa. The other 43 states use "federal EIN," "employer identification number," or just "EIN." All 50 states accept the same 9-digit IRS number regardless of label. Q: Does Sunbiz show the FEI number on entity searches? A: Yes, for entities that filed an annual report since 2000. The FEI appears on the annual report cover sheet under Principal Address, or in the FEI/EIN Number field, alongside the 12-character Sunbiz document number. Older filings show blank where the state field was optional. Sunbiz search costs $0 and returns the 9-digit number in the 2-7 format. Q: Can I verify a FEI number through the IRS? A: Only through Letter 147C, released to the authorized responsible party. The IRS provides 0 public FEI/EIN verification tool. Third-party verification services query commercial databases (D&B, LexisNexis), which report what was keyed in elsewhere rather than what the IRS holds. Letter 147C comes from the IRS itself at $0. Q: What if the FEI on Sunbiz does not match my CP-575? A: Three causes: transcription error on the state filing, a business name change with no corresponding IRS update, or 2 EINs assigned to the same entity by mistake. File Form 8822-B with the IRS to correct the name-EIN link. Cost is $0. Response is 4-6 weeks. Q: Do foreign entities have FEI numbers? A: Yes. A foreign entity registered as a Florida foreign LLC or foreign corporation carries an IRS-issued EIN, called FEI on state forms. Line 7b of Form SS-4 accepts the entry Foreign, so the EIN issues without an SSN. Fax filing at 855-215-1627 is the standard route, and the IRS answers in 4 business days. Q: How long does an FEI number lookup take? A: Sunbiz: 30 seconds. Alabama SOS: 1 minute. Missouri SOS: 1 minute. Illinois Cyberdrive: 2 minutes. All state searches are $0. Letter 147C from the IRS is faxed during the call on request, otherwise mailed, at $0, and the IRS publishes no turnaround figure for it. Request it on 800-829-4933. Third-party paid verification runs $20-$100 depending on database access. Q: What does ein-number.com file for FEI applicants? A: Form SS-4 with the IRS, which issues the EIN, the same number Florida DOR calls FEI. Our 69 Standard tier files by fax in 8 business days; 99 Fast tier files within 24 hours with IRS follow-up in 7 business days. Both tiers accept foreign responsible parties. Sources: - Employer Identification Number — https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/employer-identification-number - Taxpayer Identification Numbers (TIN) — https://www.irs.gov/individuals/international-taxpayers/taxpayer-identification-numbers-tin - Publication 1635, Understanding Your EIN (PDF) — https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p1635.pdf ## What Is an EIN Number? The 9-Digit ID Every Rejection Is About URL: https://ein-number.com/what-is-an-ein-number/ Updated: 2026-07-28 Summary: An EIN is a 9-digit federal tax ID the IRS issues on Form SS-4. Format is 2 digits, hyphen, 7 digits. Free at IRS. 5 rejection codes explain what goes wrong. Answer: An EIN is the 9-digit federal tax ID the IRS assigns to a business entity on Form SS-4. Format is 2 digits, hyphen, 7 digits (XX-XXXXXXX). Cost is $0, and the number never expires. Online returns it in 15 minutes; fax takes 4 business days. Five rejection codes explain what goes wrong when the IRS refuses to give you one. FAQ: Q: What is an EIN number in simple terms? A: An EIN is the 9-digit federal tax ID the IRS assigns to a business entity. Format is 2 digits, hyphen, 7 digits (XX-XXXXXXX). The IRS issues it on Form SS-4 at $0. It identifies the business the way an SSN identifies a person. Q: How long is an EIN number? A: Nine digits, always. Format is 2 digits, hyphen, 7 digits: XX-XXXXXXX. That is 10 characters total including the hyphen. An SSN prints as 3-2-4 with 2 hyphens, so grouping alone tells them apart in under 1 second on any Form W-9 line 1. Q: Who needs an EIN number? A: Six entity types under 26 CFR § 301.7701-3: corporations, partnerships, multi-member LLCs, estates, trusts (except grantor trusts), and any business with employees. Sole proprietors with 0 employees may use an SSN instead, until the first employee is hired or an excise return is due. Form SS-4 is the only route, and it costs $0 on all 4 methods. Q: What does an EIN look like? A: Two digits, a hyphen, and 7 digits, for example 12-3456789. The first 2 digits are a geographic prefix indicating which IRS campus assigned the number. The Andover campus uses 01, Kansas City uses 34-38, and Philadelphia uses 20. The remaining 7 digits are sequential. Q: How much does an EIN cost? A: The IRS charges $0 through all 4 methods: online (15 minutes), fax (4 business days), mail (4 weeks), and phone (foreign only). Year 1 is $0. Year 2 is $0. Every year after is $0, because an EIN never renews. Q: When was the EIN system introduced? A: The IRS started issuing EINs in 1936, following the Social Security Act of 1935. The 9-digit format was set from day 1 to align with SSNs. The 2-digit prefix once identified the IRS campus that assigned the number; since 2001 it reflects the assignment system rather than geography. The format has been 2 digits, a hyphen, then 7 digits since 1936, under 26 U.S.C. 6109. Q: What is the difference between EIN and SSN? A: An EIN identifies an entity; an SSN identifies a person. Both carry 9 digits. Format differs: EIN prints 2-7; SSN prints 3-2-4. Issuer differs: IRS issues the EIN on SS-4; SSA issues the SSN on SS-5. Both cost $0 under IRC section 6109. Q: Can I get an EIN without an SSN? A: Yes. Form SS-4 line 7b accepts the entry "Foreign" for the responsible party. The online IRS tool blocks non-SSN applications within 2 seconds via code 106. Fax is the standard route for foreign owners: 855-215-1627 from inside the United States, 304-707-9471 from outside it. Response is 4 business days. Q: What are the 5 rejection codes that block an EIN? A: Code 101 fires on a name collision against the EIN Master File. Code 102 fires when the responsible-party SSN or ITIN does not match SSA records. Code 106 (no SSN) blocks the online path entirely for foreign parties. Code 114 (same-day cap) blocks retries. Code 115 (deceased RP) triggers on SSA death records. Q: Does an EIN expire? A: No. An EIN never expires and never renews across the 90+ years since 1936. The IRS keeps every assigned EIN permanently in the EIN Master File. Even a dissolved business retains its EIN in IRS records. To close an EIN, file a closure letter under IRS closure procedures, but the number remains recorded. Sources: - Employer Identification Number — https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/employer-identification-number - 26 U.S.C. § 6109 — Identifying numbers — https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/26/6109 - 26 CFR § 301.6109-1 — Identifying numbers — https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/26/301.6109-1 - Publication 1635, Understanding Your EIN (PDF) — https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p1635.pdf ## About ein-number.com: Who Runs It and How Facts Are Checked URL: https://ein-number.com/about/ Updated: 2026-10-15 Summary: ein-number.com is a private EIN filing and reference site in a 4-site network. $69 or $99 to file Form SS-4; the IRS charges $0. Every fact cites an IRS source. Answer: ein-number.com is a private EIN filing and reference site, 1 of 4 sites run by the same founder. It prepares and files IRS Form SS-4 for $69 (Standard) or $99 (Fast) under a written accuracy guarantee, while the IRS itself charges $0. Every fact on every page cites an IRS form, instruction or statute, and the Updated date moves only after re-verification. Key facts: - ein-number.com is 1 of 4 sites in one network: einforllc.co, einnumber.co, wyomingllcformation.co and ein-number.com. - Form SS-4 preparation and filing costs $69 (Standard) or $99 (Fast); the IRS fee is $0. - Fast filings are submitted within 24 hours and complete in 7 business days from order. - Facts were last re-verified on 2026-08-03 against the Instructions for Form SS-4 (Rev. December 2025). - Postal address: 1209 Orange Street, Wilmington, DE 19801; support on WhatsApp +1 929 421 9229. FAQ: Q: Who owns ein-number.com? A: ein-number.com is operated by the founder named on this page, Zawwad Ul Sami, who also runs the 3 sibling sites einforllc.co, einnumber.co and wyomingllcformation.co. The postal address is 1209 Orange Street, Wilmington, DE 19801. The site is a private filing service with no connection to the IRS or any government agency. Q: What does ein-number.com charge? A: Two tiers: Standard at $69, filed by fax after a second-person accuracy check, and Fast at $99, filed within 24 hours with the IRS phone follow-up made, 7 business days total. The IRS itself charges $0 for an EIN on every route, so the fee buys preparation, review and the written guarantee, not the number. Q: Is ein-number.com affiliated with the IRS? A: No. ein-number.com is a private document preparation service and is not a law firm, an accounting firm, or a government agency. The IRS issues every EIN at $0, online in 15 minutes for applicants with an SSN or ITIN, by fax in 4 business days, and by mail in about 4 weeks. Q: Who writes the articles on this site? A: Zawwad Ul Sami, Founder, writes and signs every article across the 4 network sites, and the Article schema on each page names the same person. No CPA, enrolled agent or attorney has reviewed the content yet, and no page claims one has. Each page lists the IRS or statutory documents it is built from under a Sources heading with 1 numbered link per document. Q: How are the facts on each page verified? A: Every fee, deadline, fax number and phone line is stored once in a facts file and traced to an IRS instruction or statute, with the verification date recorded beside it. The last full re-verification was 2026-08-03 against the Instructions for Form SS-4 (Rev. December 2025). A page's Updated date moves only when a fact on it was re-checked or changed. Q: Which other sites belong to the same network? A: Three: einforllc.co covers EINs for LLCs, einnumber.co covers how to apply for an EIN, and wyomingllcformation.co covers Wyoming LLC formation. ein-number.com owns the lookup, verification and recovery topics. Each site links the other 3 in its footer, and the 4 sites share 1 author and 1 sourcing policy. Q: What does the accuracy guarantee cover? A: Every filing is double-checked before submission. If our error triggers an IRS rejection, we re-file at our cost until an EIN issues, otherwise full refund. The guarantee applies to both tiers, $69 and $99, and is written into the order confirmation sent within 1 hour of payment. It does not cover delays caused by the IRS itself, such as the 4-business-day fax turnaround or the 4-week mail route. Q: How do I reach a person? A: WhatsApp +1 929 421 9229 reaches the team directly, and a human answers from the same number. Give the order reference from your confirmation email so the filing is found in 1 lookup. Questions about an EIN you did not order through this site are answered too; the IRS Business and Specialty Tax Line, 800-829-4933, remains the only source for a Letter 147C. Sources: - Employer Identification Number — https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/employer-identification-number - Instructions for Form SS-4 (Rev. December 2025) — https://www.irs.gov/instructions/iss4 - 26 U.S.C. § 6109 — Identifying numbers — https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/26/6109 ## EIN Number Format: What the 9 Digits Mean URL: https://ein-number.com/ein-number-format/ Updated: 2026-10-15 Summary: An EIN has 9 digits written XX-XXXXXXX. The first 2 digits are the IRS campus or online prefix; 83 prefixes are valid and 17 are not. How to check one. Answer: An EIN number format is 9 digits written as XX-XXXXXXX: a 2-digit prefix, a hyphen, and 7 more digits. The prefix shows which of 10 IRS campuses assigned the number or that it came through the online EIN Assistant. The IRS lists 83 valid prefixes; the other 17 two-digit combinations, including 00, have never been issued. Key facts: - An EIN is 9 digits in a 2-7 pattern (XX-XXXXXXX); an SSN is 9 digits in a 3-2-4 pattern (XXX-XX-XXXX). - 83 two-digit prefixes are valid on the IRS list reviewed 2026-04-09; 17 prefixes (00, 07, 08, 09, 17, 18, 19, 28, 29, 49, 69, 70, 78, 79, 89, 96, 97) are unassigned. - Prefix 31 is reserved for EINs issued through the Small Business Administration. - An EIN has no check digit: validity is proven only by an IRS document (CP-575, Letter 147C) or IRS TIN Matching. - An ITIN always begins with 9 and uses the SSN-style 3-2-4 grouping, so no ITIN can be mistaken for an EIN. - The IRS charges $0 for an EIN and never reassigns one, so a correctly formatted number stays valid for the life of the entity. FAQ: Q: What is the format of an EIN number? A: An EIN is 9 digits written as 2 digits, a hyphen, and 7 digits: XX-XXXXXXX, for example 12-3456789. The IRS assigns it to a business, trust, estate or other entity under 26 U.S.C. § 6109. Databases often store the 9 digits without the hyphen, so 123456789 and 12-3456789 are the same number. Q: What do the first 2 digits of an EIN mean? A: The first 2 digits show which IRS campus assigned the number, or that it came through the online EIN Assistant. The IRS publishes the list: 83 two-digit prefixes are valid across 10 campuses, the internet route and 1 SBA prefix (31), and 17 prefixes such as 00, 07, 08, 09 and 17 have never been issued. Q: Can an EIN start with 0? A: Yes. Prefixes 01 through 06 are valid and were assigned by the Brookhaven campus, so an EIN such as 04-1234567 is a real format. The only zero-led prefix that cannot exist is 00, and an EIN reading 00-0000000 is a placeholder, never a number the IRS issued. The 7 digits after the hyphen can begin with 0. Q: How is an EIN different from an SSN or ITIN? A: All 3 are 9-digit taxpayer identification numbers, but the grouping differs. An EIN is 2-7 (XX-XXXXXXX) and identifies an entity. An SSN is 3-2-4 (XXX-XX-XXXX) and identifies a person. An ITIN is also 3-2-4 and always starts with 9, with 4th and 5th digits in the IRS ranges 50 to 65, 70 to 88, 90 to 92 or 94 to 99. Q: Does an EIN have a check digit? A: No. The IRS publishes no checksum for an EIN, so a 9-digit number with a valid prefix can still be wrong. The only tests that prove a number is real are an IRS document (the CP-575 notice or a Letter 147C) or a match through IRS TIN Matching, which compares the number and legal name against IRS records in 1 session. Q: Can an EIN contain letters? A: No. An EIN is 9 numeric digits with 1 hyphen; a value with letters is not an EIN. The IRS number that does contain a letter is the PTIN for paid tax preparers, which is the letter P followed by 8 digits. State tax IDs also mix letters and digits in some states, which is 1 way to tell a state number from the federal EIN. Q: Is the EIN format the same as the FEIN or federal tax ID format? A: Yes. FEIN (Federal Employer Identification Number), federal tax ID and tax ID number all refer to the same 9-digit IRS number in the same XX-XXXXXXX format. A form that asks for a FEIN wants the EIN; no second number exists. State forms that ask for a state tax ID want a different number issued by that state's revenue agency. Q: Where does the EIN format appear on documents? A: On the CP-575 notice the IRS mails once when the EIN is assigned, on a Letter 147C, in Part I of Form W-9, in box b of every W-2 an employer issues, in the payer box of a 1099, at the top of Form 941, and in the identification block on page 1 of Forms 1120, 1120-S and 1065. Each prints the same 9 digits. Q: How do I check whether an EIN is valid? A: Run 3 checks: count 9 digits with no letters, confirm the first 2 digits are 1 of the 83 valid IRS prefixes, and match the number against an IRS document for that legal name. For a vendor, IRS TIN Matching confirms the pairing at $0. For your own EIN, a Letter 147C from 800-829-4933 confirms it in 1 call. Q: Does the EIN prefix tell you where a business is located? A: No. The prefix shows the IRS campus that processed the application or that the application was filed online, not the state where the business operates. A company formed in Texas can hold a prefix assigned by the Philadelphia campus. Since online filing began, 21 prefixes are listed by the IRS under the internet route. Sources: - How EINs are assigned and valid EIN prefixes (reviewed 2026-04-09) — https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/how-eins-are-assigned-and-valid-ein-prefixes - Publication 1635, Understanding Your EIN (PDF) — https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p1635.pdf - Employer Identification Number — https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/employer-identification-number - 26 U.S.C. § 6109 — Identifying numbers — https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/26/6109 - 26 CFR § 301.6109-1 — Identifying numbers — https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/26/301.6109-1 - Individual Taxpayer Identification Number — https://www.irs.gov/individuals/individual-taxpayer-identification-number ## What Is a FEIN? The Federal Employer Identification Number URL: https://ein-number.com/what-is-a-fein/ Updated: 2026-10-15 Summary: A FEIN is the IRS's 9-digit Employer Identification Number (XX-XXXXXXX) with the word Federal added. Same number as an EIN, $0 from the IRS, 1 per business for life. Answer: A FEIN, or Federal Employer Identification Number, is the 9-digit tax ID the IRS assigns to a business, written XX-XXXXXXX. It is exactly the same number as an EIN: the IRS prints EIN on Form SS-4 and the CP-575 notice, while banks and state agencies add the word Federal. The IRS issues it for $0, once, for the life of the entity. Key facts: - FEIN and EIN are 2 labels for 1 nine-digit IRS number in the format XX-XXXXXXX; no business holds both. - The IRS charges $0 for a FEIN on all 4 routes and never charges a renewal fee, because the number never expires. - Online issue takes 15 minutes with an SSN or ITIN; fax takes 4 business days; mail takes about 4 weeks. - A business holds 1 FEIN nationwide but needs a separate state tax ID from each of the states where it registers for payroll or sales tax. - A lost FEIN is restated on Letter 147C, requested from the IRS at 800-829-4933, Monday-Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time. - The statutory basis is 26 U.S.C. § 6109; 26 CFR § 301.6109-1 names the EIN as the identifying number for entities. FAQ: Q: What is a FEIN in simple terms? A: A FEIN is the 9-digit Federal Employer Identification Number the IRS assigns to a business, trust, estate or nonprofit, written XX-XXXXXXX. It is the same number the IRS calls an EIN on Form SS-4 and the CP-575 notice. The F stands for Federal and distinguishes it from the state tax IDs issued by the 50 state revenue agencies. Q: Is a FEIN the same as an EIN? A: Yes. FEIN and EIN are 2 names for 1 number. The IRS itself uses EIN on every form and notice; FEIN appears on bank account applications, state payroll registrations and vendor portals. Whichever label a form uses, the answer is the same 9 digits, and a business never holds a second number under the other name. Both cost $0. Q: Is a FEIN the same as a federal tax ID number? A: Yes, for a business. Federal tax ID number, FEIN, EIN and tax ID (EIN) all point to the 9-digit IRS number issued under 26 U.S.C. § 6109. For an individual, the federal tax ID is the 9-digit SSN or, for people who cannot get an SSN, the 9-digit ITIN that always begins with 9. A form asking a company for its federal tax ID wants the FEIN. Q: Who needs a FEIN? A: Any entity that files a business return or pays wages: corporations, partnerships, multi-member LLCs, nonprofits, most trusts and every estate that has income. A single-member LLC or sole proprietor with 0 employees can report under the owner's SSN, but banks and payment processors ask for a FEIN to open a business account, so in practice 1 is needed within the first 30 days of trading. Q: How do you get a FEIN? A: From the IRS, at $0, through 1 of 4 routes: online in 15 minutes with an SSN or ITIN, by fax in 4 business days, by mail in about 4 weeks, or by phone at 267-941-1099 for applicants with no US residence. Every route files the same Form SS-4; applicants with no SSN or ITIN enter the word Foreign on line 7b. Q: How much does a FEIN cost? A: $0 from the IRS on every route, with no renewal fee in year 2 or any later year, because a FEIN never expires. A filing service charges for preparing and submitting Form SS-4: ein-number.com charges $69 (Standard) or $99 (Fast), and anyone holding an SSN or ITIN with a US address loses nothing by filing at irs.gov for free. Q: How do you find your FEIN if you lost it? A: Check the CP-575 notice first, then page 1 of any filed business return, a W-2 you issued (box b), a signed W-9, or your bank's account file. When no document survives, call the IRS Business and Specialty Tax Line at 800-829-4933, Monday-Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time, and request Letter 147C, which restates the FEIN and legal name at $0. Q: Does a FEIN change when the business changes? A: Not for a name change, an address change or a move to another state; Form 8822-B reports a new address or responsible party within 60 days and the FEIN stays. The IRS issues a new number when the legal entity changes: a sole proprietorship incorporates, a partnership becomes a corporation, or a single-member LLC takes on a 2nd member and becomes a partnership. Q: Is a FEIN public information? A: Only for 2 groups. Public companies print their FEIN on the cover of every Form 10-K filed with the SEC, and tax-exempt organisations' FEINs appear on Form 990 and in the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Private companies' FEINs are not published by the IRS or any state; a vendor shares it on a signed Form W-9, and 24% backup withholding applies to payments reported without a matching number. Sources: - Employer Identification Number — https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/employer-identification-number - Taxpayer Identification Numbers (TIN) — https://www.irs.gov/individuals/international-taxpayers/taxpayer-identification-numbers-tin - Publication 1635, Understanding Your EIN (PDF) — https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p1635.pdf - 26 U.S.C. § 6109 — Identifying numbers — https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/26/6109 - Instructions for Form SS-4 (Rev. December 2025) — https://www.irs.gov/instructions/iss4 ## DUNS Number vs EIN: Which 9-Digit Number Does the Form Want? URL: https://ein-number.com/duns-number-vs-ein/ Updated: 2026-10-15 Summary: An EIN is the IRS's 9-digit tax ID ($0, Form SS-4). A DUNS number is Dun & Bradstreet's free 9-digit credit ID. Federal awards use the 12-character UEI since 2022. Answer: A DUNS number and an EIN are 2 different 9-digit identifiers. The EIN is the IRS tax ID, issued for $0on Form SS-4, and is what a bank, a W-9 and a payroll return want. The D-U-N-S Number is a free identifier from Dun & Bradstreet that anchors a business credit file. Since April 4, 2022, federal contracts use a 12-character UEI instead of the DUNS number. Key facts: - The EIN is issued by the IRS under 26 U.S.C. § 6109 at $0; the D-U-N-S Number is issued free by Dun & Bradstreet, a private company. - Both are 9 digits, but only the EIN is a taxpayer identification number; a DUNS number in a W-9 TIN box triggers 24% backup withholding under 26 U.S.C. § 3406. - Federal contracts and grants switched from the DUNS number to the 12-character Unique Entity ID in SAM.gov on April 4, 2022; the EIN stays on the same registration. - Banks open a business account on the EIN plus the CP-575 notice or Letter 147C; no bank asks for a DUNS number to open an account. - Order of operations: EIN first (15 minutes online or 4 business days by fax), bank account second, UEI only for federal work, DUNS when a supplier asks. FAQ: Q: Is a DUNS number the same as an EIN? A: No. Both are 9 digits, but the EIN is issued by the IRS under 26 U.S.C. § 6109 and identifies the business for federal tax, payroll and banking, while the D-U-N-S Number is issued by Dun & Bradstreet, a private company, and identifies the business in its commercial credit file. The 2 systems share no data, and neither number can be entered in place of the other. Q: Can I put a DUNS number on Form W-9? A: No. Part I of Form W-9 asks for a taxpayer identification number, which for a business is the 9-digit EIN and for a sole proprietor is the SSN. A DUNS number is not a TIN under 26 U.S.C. § 6109. A payer who files a 1099 with a DUNS number in the TIN box receives an IRS mismatch notice, and 24% backup withholding under 26 U.S.C. § 3406 follows. Q: Do federal contractors still need a DUNS number? A: No. On April 4, 2022, the federal government stopped using the DUNS number for contracts and grants and switched to the 12-character Unique Entity ID (UEI) generated inside SAM.gov at no cost. A SAM.gov registration still requires the EIN as the tax identifier, so a contractor today holds a UEI and an EIN, and needs a DUNS number only for commercial credit. Q: Which number do I need to open a business bank account? A: The EIN. US banks verify the 9-digit EIN and legal name against the IRS CP-575 notice or Letter 147C, together with the state formation document and ID for each owner holding 25 percent or more under the beneficial-ownership rule in 31 CFR § 1010.230. No bank asks for a DUNS number to open an account; some lenders consult the D&B file later when extending credit. Q: Do I need a DUNS number to build business credit? A: A D-U-N-S Number is the key to a Dun & Bradstreet credit file, which many suppliers consult before granting net-30 or net-60 payment terms, so a business that wants trade credit under its own name requests 1. Getting the number is free from Dun & Bradstreet. It has no role in federal taxes, and the IRS neither issues nor records it; the EIN covers those. Q: Which should I get first, an EIN or a DUNS number? A: The EIN, because Dun & Bradstreet and every other registration asks for the business's legal name and formation facts first, and the EIN is required within the first 30 days for payroll, banking and 1099 reporting. The IRS issues it for $0 in 15 minutes online or 4 business days by fax. Request the DUNS number afterwards, when a supplier or platform asks for 1. Q: Can a non-US resident get both numbers? A: Yes. The EIN route for a founder with no SSN or ITIN is Form SS-4 by fax with the word Foreign on line 7b, or by phone at 267-941-1099 (Monday-Friday, 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Eastern time), at $0. Dun & Bradstreet issues D-U-N-S Numbers to businesses outside the United States too, through its international request process, for a business with a legal name and a physical address. Q: How much does each number cost? A: $0 for both from the issuers. The IRS charges nothing for an EIN on any of its 4 routes and never charges a renewal fee. Dun & Bradstreet states that getting a D-U-N-S Number is free; it sells paid credit-monitoring and reporting products separately. A filing service such as ein-number.com charges $69 or $99 for preparing and submitting Form SS-4, not for the number. Q: Why are both numbers 9 digits long? A: Coincidence of design, not a shared standard. The EIN format, 2 digits, a hyphen and 7 digits, is set by the IRS and the first 2 digits show the issuing campus. The D-U-N-S Number is 9 digits with no hyphen and no IRS meaning. A 12-character mix of letters and digits is the UEI, and a 9-digit number grouped 3-2-4 is an SSN or ITIN, never a business ID. Q: What if my business has neither number yet? A: Get the EIN first: $0 from the IRS in 15 minutes online with an SSN or ITIN, or 4 business days by fax without one. Open the bank account with the CP-575 notice. Register for a UEI in SAM.gov only if you will bid on federal work. Request a D-U-N-S Number when a supplier, marketplace or developer program asks for 1. Sources: - Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) replaced the DUNS number — https://sam.gov/content/duns-uei - D-U-N-S Number (Dun & Bradstreet) — https://www.dnb.com/duns.html - Employer Identification Number — https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/employer-identification-number - Taxpayer Identification Numbers (TIN) — https://www.irs.gov/individuals/international-taxpayers/taxpayer-identification-numbers-tin - 26 U.S.C. § 6109 — Identifying numbers — https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/26/6109 ## Reverse EIN Lookup: Find a Company From Its EIN URL: https://ein-number.com/reverse-ein-lookup/ Updated: 2026-10-15 Summary: A reverse EIN lookup turns a 9-digit number into a company name. It works for 2 groups at $0: SEC filers via EDGAR full-text search and nonprofits via IRS TEOS. Answer: A reverse EIN lookup turns a 9-digit Employer Identification Number into the company that holds it, and it works for exactly 2 groups at $0. For public companies, search the number in SEC EDGAR full-text search; the Form 10-K cover page prints it. For nonprofits, enter it in the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Private-company EINs appear in no public database. Key facts: - SEC EDGAR full-text search finds any filing since 2001 containing the EIN; the 10-K cover page labels it I.R.S. Employer Identification No. - The IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search has an EIN field and returns the organisation's name, city and exemption status at $0. - ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer mirrors IRS Form 990 data and is searchable by EIN at $0. - Private-company EINs are confidential return information under 26 U.S.C. § 6103; no IRS or state tool returns a name from one. - IRS TIN Matching confirms a name and EIN pair you already hold (25 pairs per interactive session, 100,000 per bulk file) but never returns a name. - The first 2 digits of an EIN identify the issuing IRS campus (83 valid prefixes), not the company, its state or its industry. FAQ: Q: What is a reverse EIN lookup? A: A reverse EIN lookup starts with a 9-digit Employer Identification Number and returns the legal name of the business that holds it, the opposite of looking up a number by name. It works only where the number is already public: SEC filings for public companies and IRS Form 990 data for the 1 group of entities whose returns are open by law, tax-exempt organisations. Q: Is there a free reverse EIN lookup tool? A: Two official ones, both $0. SEC EDGAR full-text search finds every filing since 2001 that contains the number, and the cover page of a Form 10-K or 10-Q labels it IRS Employer Identification No. The IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search accepts an EIN directly and returns the organisation's name, city and exemption status. No tool covers private companies. Q: Does the IRS offer a reverse EIN lookup? A: Only for tax-exempt organisations, through the Tax Exempt Organization Search at apps.irs.gov. For every other entity the IRS treats the EIN as confidential return information under 26 U.S.C. § 6103, so it runs no public search in either direction. IRS TIN Matching confirms whether a name and EIN pair you already hold is correct, but it never returns a name from a number. Q: Can I find any company by its EIN? A: No. About 2 categories are findable: companies that file with the SEC and organisations that file Form 990. Private LLCs, corporations and sole proprietors, which make up most of the businesses in the United States, do not appear in any public database by EIN. For those, the number is confirmed, not discovered: request a Form W-9 or run IRS TIN Matching on the pair you hold. Q: How do I confirm an EIN belongs to a specific company? A: For a company you pay, use IRS TIN Matching: it checks up to 25 name and EIN pairs per interactive session, or 100,000 per bulk file, against IRS records at $0 and returns a match code. For your own business, Letter 147C from the IRS Business and Specialty Tax Line restates the EIN beside the legal name. For a public company, compare against the 10-K cover page on EDGAR. Q: Why does my reverse EIN search return nothing? A: Four causes cover nearly every empty result: the company is private, so the number is in no public filing; the number was typed with the wrong grouping (EDGAR needs the exact form the filer used, 12-3456789 or 123456789); the entity files under a parent or subsidiary name you did not expect; or the number is not an EIN at all, for example a 3-2-4 SSN or a 9-digit DUNS number. Q: What does the EIN itself tell you about the company? A: Very little. The first 2 digits identify the IRS campus that assigned the number, or that it was issued online, out of 83 valid prefixes on the IRS list; the last 7 digits are a sequence. Nothing in the 9 digits encodes the entity type, the state or the year. A number beginning with 1 of the 17 unassigned prefixes, such as 00, 07 or 89, is not a real EIN. Q: Is a reverse EIN lookup legal? A: Yes. Searching public filings on EDGAR or IRS Form 990 data is exactly what those disclosure regimes exist for, under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and 26 U.S.C. § 6104. Using an EIN to open credit or file returns in another business's name is the crime, not the search; the IRS handles that as business identity theft and takes reports on Form 14039-B. Q: What does a reverse EIN lookup cost? A: $0 through every official route: SEC EDGAR, the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search, ProPublica's Nonprofit Explorer and IRS TIN Matching all charge nothing. Paid brokers sell records they scraped from the same public filings or from W-9s, so a paid result for a public company costs money for data that was free 1 click away, and a paid result for a private company is unverified. Q: What if the company never had an EIN? A: Then there is nothing to find, and the business applies for one. The IRS issues an EIN for $0 on Form SS-4: 15 minutes online with an SSN or ITIN, 4 business days by fax with the word Foreign on line 7b for applicants without either. ein-number.com prepares and files the form for $69 or $99 with a second-reviewer accuracy check. Sources: - EDGAR full-text search — https://www.sec.gov/edgar/search/ - EDGAR company search — https://www.sec.gov/cgi-bin/browse-edgar?action=getcompany - Tax Exempt Organization Search — https://apps.irs.gov/app/eos/ - Nonprofit Explorer (IRS Form 990 data, searchable by EIN) — https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/ - About Form 990, Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax — https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-990 - Employer Identification Number — https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/employer-identification-number - Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) Matching — https://www.irs.gov/tax-professionals/taxpayer-identification-number-tin-matching - 26 U.S.C. § 6103 — Confidentiality and disclosure of returns and return information — https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/26/6103 ## Is an EIN Public Record? URL: https://ein-number.com/is-ein-public-record/ Updated: 2026-10-15 Summary: An EIN is public record for 2 kinds of entity, SEC filers and tax-exempt organisations. Every private company's EIN is confidential under 26 U.S.C. § 6103. Answer: Yes for 2 kinds of entity and no for every other business. An EIN is public record when the holder files with the SEC, whose Form 10-K cover page prints it, or is a tax-exempt organisation, whose Form 990 is open to inspection under 26 U.S.C. § 6104. A private company’s EIN is confidential return information under 26 U.S.C. § 6103, and no IRS database publishes it. Key facts: - Public by law: the EIN of every SEC registrant (Form 10-K cover page) and every tax-exempt organisation (Form 990 and the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search, 26 U.S.C. § 6104). - Confidential by law: every other EIN is return information under 26 U.S.C. § 6103; the IRS runs no public EIN search and unauthorised disclosure is a crime under 26 U.S.C. § 7213. - 49 of the 50 state business registries do not display the federal EIN; Florida's Sunbiz record is the exception with an FEI/EIN Number field. - An EIN leaves the business on 6 document types: W-9, 1099, W-2, Form 941 and other returns, bank and processor applications, and state registrations. - Misuse of an EIN is business identity theft; the IRS takes reports on Form 14039-B and will not reassign the number, which stays with the entity for life. - A sole proprietor keeps the SSN off every 1099 by using an EIN in Form W-9 Part I; the IRS issues it for $0. FAQ: Q: Is an EIN public record? A: For 2 kinds of entity, yes, by federal law: companies that file with the SEC print the EIN on the cover of every Form 10-K and 10-Q, and tax-exempt organisations' returns are open to inspection under 26 U.S.C. § 6104. For every other business the EIN is return information, confidential under 26 U.S.C. § 6103, and no IRS or federal database publishes it. Q: Can anyone look up my business EIN? A: Only if your business is 1 of the 2 public categories. A private LLC, corporation or sole proprietorship appears in no IRS, SEC or federal search, and 49 of the 50 state registries index by name and do not display the federal number. People who hold your EIN hold it because you gave it to them on a W-9, a 1099, a W-2 or a contract. Q: Is an EIN confidential information? A: Legally it is return information protected by 26 U.S.C. § 6103, which bars IRS employees from disclosing it and carries criminal penalties under 26 U.S.C. § 7213. Practically it is semi-private: a business hands it to every client that files a 1099, every employee on a W-2 and every bank, so treat it as a number to share on request, not a secret to post. Q: Why is a nonprofit EIN published but a private company's is not? A: Because Congress wrote 2 different rules. 26 U.S.C. § 6104 requires an exempt organisation's application (Form 1023 or 1024) and annual Form 990 to be open to public inspection, so the IRS publishes them and the EIN with them, in exchange for the tax exemption. A for-profit company's return is covered by § 6103 confidentiality, so nothing in it, including the EIN, is released. Q: Does my state publish my EIN? A: Most states do not: 49 of the 50 Secretary of State registries show the legal name, formation date, status and registered agent but not the federal EIN. Florida's Division of Corporations is the exception; its Sunbiz record carries an FEI/EIN Number field. States that collect the EIN on payroll or sales-tax registrations keep it in tax accounts that are not public. Q: Can someone steal my business identity with my EIN? A: An EIN alone opens little, but combined with the legal name, address and an officer's details it has been used to file false returns, open trade credit or divert refunds. The IRS tracks this as business identity theft and takes reports on Form 14039-B, the Business Identity Theft Affidavit. Watch for an IRS notice about a return you did not file or a 1099 you did not issue. Q: Should I change my EIN if it leaks? A: You cannot in the way you cancel a card. The IRS issues 1 EIN per entity for its life and does not reassign it; a new EIN is issued only when the legal entity changes, for example a sole proprietorship incorporating. If misuse occurs, file Form 14039-B, keep filing your own returns on time, and monitor the business credit file under the same name. Q: Is an EIN safer to share than an SSN? A: Yes, which is why the IRS lets sole proprietors obtain one. An SSN identifies a person for life and unlocks personal credit, benefits and the 1040; an EIN identifies the business only. A sole proprietor who puts an EIN instead of an SSN in Form W-9 Part I keeps the personal number off every 1099 a client files, and the IRS charges $0 for the EIN. Q: Where does an EIN become visible in practice? A: On 6 kinds of document that leave the business: Form W-9 given to clients, Form 1099 filed by those clients, Form W-2 given to employees, Form 941 and other returns filed with the IRS, bank and payment-processor applications, and state licence or payroll registrations. For SEC filers add the 10-K cover page; for nonprofits add Form 990, which the IRS publishes in full. Q: Can I get an EIN without an SSN, and does that change the privacy answer? A: Yes and no. Form SS-4 line 7b accepts the word Foreign, so a founder with no SSN or ITIN gets an EIN by fax in 4 business days at $0. The privacy rule does not change: the EIN is confidential return information under § 6103 whether the responsible party holds an SSN or not, and the application itself is never published. Sources: - 26 U.S.C. § 6103 — Confidentiality and disclosure of returns and return information — https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/26/6103 - 26 U.S.C. § 6104 — Publicity of information required from certain exempt organizations — https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/26/6104 - EDGAR full-text search — https://www.sec.gov/edgar/search/ - Tax Exempt Organization Search — https://apps.irs.gov/app/eos/ - About Form 990, Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax — https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-990 - Employer Identification Number — https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/employer-identification-number - Identity Theft Central (individuals, businesses, tax professionals) — https://www.irs.gov/identity-theft-central - Form 14039-B, Business Identity Theft Affidavit (PDF) — https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f14039b.pdf ## Trust EIN Lookup: Why Trust EINs Are Not Searchable URL: https://ein-number.com/trust-ein-lookup/ Updated: 2026-10-15 Summary: A trust's EIN is in no public database: trusts do not file with the SEC and 26 U.S.C. § 6103 keeps it confidential. The trustee finds it on 5 documents or in 1 call. Answer: A trust EIN lookup finds nothing in public databases: a trust is not an SEC registrant and 26 U.S.C. § 6103 keeps its returns confidential. The trustee recovers the EIN from 5 documents the trust holds: the CP-575 notice, Form 1041, the account application, a Form 1099 issued to the trust, or a Schedule K-1. With none left, 1 call to the IRS at 800-829-4933 produces Letter 147C at $0. Key facts: - No public database lists trust EINs: trusts do not file with the SEC, and a non-charitable trust's returns are confidential under 26 U.S.C. § 6103. - The trustee finds the EIN on 5 documents: the CP-575, Form 1041 page 1, the trust account application, a Form 1099 issued to the trust, or a Schedule K-1 the trust issued. - The IRS reissues a trust EIN as Letter 147C to the trustee named on Form SS-4 line 7a, by phone at 800-829-4933, Monday-Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time, at $0. - A revocable living trust run by its living grantor reports under the grantor's SSN (26 CFR § 1.671-4); it needs its own EIN the day the grantor dies or it becomes irrevocable. - The 1 exception is a charitable trust filing Form 990 or 990-PF: its EIN is public under 26 U.S.C. § 6104 through the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. - A new trust EIN costs $0 from the IRS: 15 minutes online, 4 business days by fax, or on the call at 267-941-1099 for a trustee abroad. FAQ: Q: Can you look up a trust's EIN? A: Not in any public database. A trust is not an SEC registrant, so it never appears on EDGAR, and unless it is a charitable trust filing Form 990 or 990-PF its returns are confidential under 26 U.S.C. § 6103. The trustee recovers the number from the trust's own documents or from the IRS by phone at 800-829-4933; no third party can look it up. Q: Where does a trustee find the trust's EIN? A: On 5 documents: the CP-575 notice the IRS mailed when the EIN was assigned, page 1 of any Form 1041 filed for the trust, the trust bank or brokerage account application, any Form 1099 issued to the trust by a bank or broker, and any Schedule K-1 the trust issued to a beneficiary. If none survives, 1 call to 800-829-4933 produces Letter 147C. Q: Who can request a 147C letter for a trust? A: The trustee named as the responsible party on Form SS-4 line 7a, a successor trustee who can establish the appointment, or an agent holding Form 2848 or 8821 for the trust. The IRS agent verifies the trust's exact legal name, the date it was created or funded, the mailing address on file and the trustee's name before reading the 9 digits. Q: Does every trust have an EIN? A: No. A revocable living trust whose grantor is alive and is also a trustee reports under the grantor's SSN under 26 CFR § 1.671-4 and needs no EIN; 26 CFR § 301.7701-4 defines which arrangements count as trusts. The trust needs its own EIN when the grantor dies, when it becomes irrevocable, when a non-grantor trustee takes over, or when it must file Form 1041. Every estate with income files Form 1041 and needs an EIN. Q: Is a charitable trust's EIN public? A: Yes. A charitable trust that holds a tax exemption or files Form 990 or Form 990-PF is open to public inspection under 26 U.S.C. § 6104, and its EIN appears in the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search and in Form 990 data at $0. That is the 1 category of trust whose EIN a third party can find; family, living, land and special-needs trusts are not in it. Q: What is the difference between a trust EIN and an estate EIN? A: Different entities, different numbers. An estate is created by death and exists until the assets are distributed; it files Form 1041 under its own EIN obtained on Form SS-4 line 9a as Estate. A trust is created by a trust instrument and files Form 1041 under its own EIN, line 9a as Trust. A revocable trust that becomes irrevocable at death gets a new EIN at that point; the decedent's SSN closes. Q: Which Form SS-4 lines does a trust answer differently? A: Line 1 takes the trust's exact legal name as written in the trust instrument, line 3 takes the trustee as the care-of name, line 7a names the trustee as responsible party, line 9a is checked Trust (or Estate), line 10 states the reason, such as created a trust or banking purpose, and line 11 is the date the trust was created or funded. The IRS instructions list these in the trust-specific notes. Q: Can a trust get an EIN by phone or online? A: Both. A trustee with an SSN or ITIN uses the IRS online EIN Assistant and receives the number in 15 minutes with the CP-575 as a PDF. A trustee outside the United States calls 267-941-1099 (Monday-Friday, 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Eastern time) and receives the number on the call. Fax takes 4 business days and mail about 4 weeks. All 4 routes cost $0. Q: What happens to the trust EIN when the trust ends? A: The trustee files a final Form 1041 with the final-return box checked and writes to the IRS to close the business account; the EIN is retired and never reassigned to another entity. The IRS keeps the number on file against the filed returns, so a beneficiary or bank asking about the closed trust years later still refers to the same 9 digits. Q: What does a trust EIN cost? A: $0 from the IRS on every route, and $0 again for Letter 147C if the CP-575 is lost. A filing service charges for preparing Form SS-4 with the trust-specific lines completed correctly: ein-number.com charges $69 (Standard) or $99 (Fast) with a second-reviewer check and a full refund if an error on our side causes a rejection. Sources: - Instructions for Form SS-4 (Rev. December 2025) — https://www.irs.gov/instructions/iss4 - 26 CFR § 1.671-4 — Method of reporting (grantor trusts) — https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/26/1.671-4 - About Form 1041, U.S. Income Tax Return for Estates and Trusts — https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-1041 - Telephone assistance contacts for business customers — https://www.irs.gov/businesses/telephone-assistance-contacts-for-business-customers - Employer Identification Number — https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/employer-identification-number - Tax Exempt Organization Search — https://apps.irs.gov/app/eos/ - About Form 990-PF, Return of Private Foundation — https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-990-pf ## FEIN Number Lookup URL: https://ein-number.com/fein-number-lookup/ Updated: 2026-10-15 Summary: A FEIN number lookup is an EIN lookup: FEIN and EIN are the same 9-digit IRS number. Find yours on 5 documents or with a $0 IRS call; find a company's on SEC EDGAR. Answer: A FEIN number lookup is an EIN lookup: FEIN (Federal Employer Identification Number) and EIN are the same 9-digit IRS number, written XX-XXXXXXX. Find your own FEIN on the CP-575 notice, a filed return, a W-2, a W-9 or the bank file, or recover it with 1 call to the IRS at 800-829-4933. Public companies are on SEC EDGAR and nonprofits in the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search, at $0. Key facts: - FEIN and EIN are 1 number: 9 digits, format XX-XXXXXXX, issued by the IRS on Form SS-4 at $0. - Your own FEIN is on 5 documents (CP-575, business return, W-2 box b, W-9, bank file) or reissued as Letter 147C at 800-829-4933. - A public company's FEIN is on the Form 10-K cover page in SEC EDGAR; a nonprofit's is in the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search; both $0. - A private company's FEIN is confidential under 26 U.S.C. § 6103 and comes only from the company, on a signed Form W-9. - Florida's Sunbiz record labels the field FEI/EIN Number; most state payroll forms say FEIN; all want the same 9 digits. FAQ: Q: Is a FEIN number lookup different from an EIN lookup? A: No. FEIN (Federal Employer Identification Number) and EIN are 2 names for the same 9-digit IRS number in the format XX-XXXXXXX, issued under 26 U.S.C. § 6109. The IRS writes EIN on Form SS-4 and the CP-575 notice; banks and states add the word Federal. Every lookup method for 1 works for the other, at $0. Q: How do I look up my own FEIN number? A: Check 5 documents in order: the CP-575 notice, page 1 of any filed business return, box b of a W-2 you issued, a signed Form W-9, and the bank account file. If none survives, call the IRS Business and Specialty Tax Line at 800-829-4933, Monday-Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time, and request Letter 147C, which restates the FEIN at $0. Q: How do I look up another company's FEIN? A: Only 2 groups are searchable, both at $0: SEC registrants, whose FEIN prints on the cover of every Form 10-K and 10-Q on EDGAR, and tax-exempt organisations, whose FEIN appears in the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search once their Form 1023 or 1024 application is approved. A private company's FEIN is confidential under 26 U.S.C. § 6103; request a signed Form W-9 instead. Q: Is there a free FEIN lookup database? A: Two official ones, both $0: SEC EDGAR for public companies and the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search for nonprofits. No free or paid database covers private companies, because the IRS publishes no list of them. Sites that promise a free FEIN lookup for any business either repackage those 2 sources or sell records scraped from W-9s and credit files. Q: Why do some states say FEI or FEIN instead of EIN? A: State forms add the word Federal to separate the IRS number from the state's own employer or sales-tax account number. Florida's Division of Corporations labels the field FEI/EIN Number on every Sunbiz record, and most state payroll registrations print FEIN. Whatever the label, the box wants the same 9 digits the IRS assigned on Form SS-4. Q: Can I verify a FEIN number is real? A: Yes, in 3 steps: count 9 digits with no letters, confirm the first 2 digits are 1 of the 83 valid IRS prefixes, then match the number to a legal name against IRS records. For your own FEIN that match is Letter 147C; for a vendor's it is IRS TIN Matching, which checks 25 pairs per interactive session at $0 and protects you from 24% backup withholding under 26 U.S.C. § 3406. Q: How long does a FEIN number lookup take? A: Between 1 minute and 1 phone call. The CP-575 or a filed return gives the number in 1 to 2 minutes; EDGAR or the IRS exempt-organisation search returns a public FEIN in under 3 minutes; the IRS 147C call takes 1 call, with the letter faxed while you hold. Only a request for a private company's W-9 depends on someone else's speed. Q: What does a FEIN number lookup cost? A: $0 through every official route: your own documents, the IRS 147C call, SEC EDGAR, the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search and IRS TIN Matching all cost nothing. The IRS also charges $0 for a new FEIN. ein-number.com charges $69 or $99 only to prepare and file a new Form SS-4, with a second-reviewer accuracy check. Sources: - Employer Identification Number — https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/employer-identification-number - Taxpayer Identification Numbers (TIN) — https://www.irs.gov/individuals/international-taxpayers/taxpayer-identification-numbers-tin - Publication 1635, Understanding Your EIN (PDF) — https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p1635.pdf ## Public EIN List: 500 Largest US Companies' EINs (SEC Data) URL: https://ein-number.com/company-ein-list/ Updated: 2026-10-15 Summary: EINs of the 500 largest US public companies, each read from its SEC filing header: Amazon 91-1646860, Walmart 71-0415188, Apple 94-2404110. Free CSV. Answer: This public EIN list carries the Employer Identification Numbers of the 500largest US public companies by reported revenue, each read by script from the company’s SEC EDGAR filing header, the 1 place a corporation’s EIN is published by law. Amazon.com, Inc. is 91-1646860, Walmart Inc. is 71-0415188 and Apple Inc. is 94-2404110. The full table and a free CSV follow; the data is refreshed every quarter. Key facts: - All 500 EINs come from the SEC EDGAR submissions record (field "ein") of each registrant, the same number printed as I.R.S. Employer Identification No. on its Form 10-K cover. - Ranking: largest latest-year revenue reported in XBRL (us-gaap Revenues or RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax), 1 row per EIN. - Row 1 Amazon.com, Inc. 91-1646860; row 2 Walmart Inc. 71-0415188; row 4 Apple Inc. 94-2404110. - A public company's EIN is disclosed under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; a private company's is confidential under 26 U.S.C. § 6103 and is on no list. - Subsidiaries carry their own EINs: the number on a 1099 or W-2 from a group company is often not the parent's number shown here. - CSV: https://ein-number.com/company-ein-list.csv (11 columns, CC BY 4.0). Refreshed quarterly; an EIN itself never changes. FAQ: Q: Where do the EINs on this list come from? A: Every 1 of the 500 EINs is read by script from the SEC EDGAR submissions record of the company (data.sec.gov/submissions/CIK##########.json), which carries the same Employer Identification Number the company prints on the cover of its Form 10-K. The ranking uses the latest full-year revenue each company reported in XBRL. No number on this page is typed by hand or taken from a 3rd-party database. Q: Why are these EINs public when mine is not? A: Because a company that registers securities with the SEC must disclose its I.R.S. Employer Identification No. on the cover page of its periodic reports under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and EDGAR publishes those reports. A private company's EIN is confidential return information under 26 U.S.C. § 6103, so it appears in no public database; only the 2 disclosure regimes, SEC filings and Form 990, make an EIN public. Q: What is Amazon's EIN? A: Amazon.com, Inc., the SEC registrant, reports EIN 91-1646860 in its Form 10-K header; it is row 1 of this list. Sellers receive their Form 1099-K from a subsidiary, Amazon.com Services LLC, whose EIN is printed on that form and is a different number. A payment or 1099 always carries the EIN of the exact legal entity that issued it, which for a large group is often a subsidiary rather than the listed parent. Q: Why does my 1099 or W-2 show a different EIN for the same company? A: Because the paying entity is a subsidiary. A group such as Walmart or UnitedHealth operates through dozens of legal entities, each with its own EIN, and the SEC header shows only the parent registrant's number. The EIN on your form is the 1 that applies to you; verify it with IRS TIN Matching, which checks up to 25 name and EIN pairs per session at $0, rather than against this list. Q: How often is the list updated? A: Quarterly. The script re-reads the SEC submissions API and the XBRL revenue frames, re-ranks the 500 companies and rewrites both this page and the CSV; the Updated date above moves on each refresh. An EIN itself never changes for the life of the entity, so a company's row changes only when it is acquired, re-domiciles under a new entity, or drops out of the top 500 by revenue. Q: Can I download the list? A: Yes. The CSV at ein-number.com/company-ein-list.csv holds all 500 rows with 11 columns: rank, company, EIN, CIK, ticker, exchange, state of incorporation, SIC description, fiscal year end, revenue in USD and the EDGAR filings URL. It is published under a CC BY 4.0 licence; cite ein-number.com and the SEC as the source. The Dataset schema on this page points search engines to the same file. Q: How do I find a public company that is not in the top ${COUNT}? A: Search SEC EDGAR by company name or ticker, open the latest Form 10-K or 10-Q, and read the I.R.S. Employer Identification No. line on the cover page; the lookup takes under 3 minutes at $0. EDGAR covers every SEC registrant since 1993, and full-text search since 2001 also finds a filing from the number alone. The steps are on the EIN search by company name page. Q: Is it legal to use a company's EIN from this list? A: Reading and citing a public filing is lawful; that is what the SEC disclosure regime is for. Using another company's EIN on a tax form, a credit application or a bank account in its name is business identity theft, which the IRS treats as a crime and tracks through Form 14039-B. The lawful uses are verification: matching a W-9, confirming a payee before filing a 1099, or checking a vendor's legal identity. Q: Why do some large companies not appear? A: Three reasons: the company is private or foreign-listed and files no US Form 10-K (no SEC header to read); it is a foreign private issuer filing Form 20-F, which often carries no EIN in the submissions record; or it reports revenue under an XBRL tag other than the 2 used for ranking. The list is the 500 largest by reported revenue among listed SEC registrants with an EIN in the header, not a list of every large employer. Q: What does an EIN look like, and how do I check 1 against this list? A: An EIN is 9 digits in the format XX-XXXXXXX; the first 2 digits show the IRS campus that assigned it out of 83 valid prefixes. To check a number, find the company row here or on EDGAR and compare all 9 digits with the document in hand. A match confirms the parent registrant's EIN; a mismatch most often means a subsidiary issued the document, not a fake. The IRS charges $0 to confirm a pair through TIN Matching. Sources: - EDGAR full-text search — https://www.sec.gov/edgar/search/ - EDGAR company search — https://www.sec.gov/cgi-bin/browse-edgar?action=getcompany - Employer Identification Number — https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/employer-identification-number ## The EIN Blog URL: https://ein-number.com/blog/ Updated: 2026-07-28 Summary: Every EIN guide on ein-number.com: the 9-digit format, the W-9 line, the IRS phone routes, what is public record, and what the Secretary of State never issues. FAQ: Q: How often are ein-number.com blog posts updated? A: Every guide is reviewed at least every 90 days against IRS.gov primary sources and any updates to Publication 1281, Form SS-4 instructions, or the online EIN Assistant. Time-sensitive guides (147C, CP 575, EIN reference codes) are re-checked after every IRS system change we can verify. Q: Which topics does the ein-number.com blog cover? A: The 9-digit EIN format (2-7 layout), the W-9 line where the EIN goes, the IRS Business & Specialty Tax Line (800-829-4933), whether an EIN is public record, what the Secretary of State does and does not issue, EIN reference codes 101-114, and reverse EIN lookup options. Q: Are all posts sourced from IRS.gov? A: Yes. Every factual claim links back to an IRS.gov page, an IRS Publication PDF, or a Treasury regulation citation (26 CFR). We do not use secondary sources for any number, deadline, or dollar amount. ## EIN Number Example: What the 9 Digits Look Like (2026) URL: https://ein-number.com/blog/ein-number-example/ Updated: 2026-07-20 Summary: An EIN number example looks like 12-3456789: 2 digits, a hyphen, then 7. See what the prefix means, which IRS campus assigned it, and the 12 valid formats. Answer: An EIN number example looks like 12-3456789: 2 digits, a hyphen, then 7. See what the prefix means, which IRS campus assigned it, and the 12 valid formats. FAQ: Q: What is an example of an EIN number? A: 12-3456789 is a correctly formatted EIN number example: 2 digits, a hyphen, then 7 digits, 9 in total. Every EIN the IRS has ever issued uses that shape. The first 2 digits are a prefix recording the assigning IRS campus or system, and the last 7 are a serial with no readable meaning. Q: How many digits is an EIN? A: An EIN is 9 digits, displayed as 2 digits, a hyphen, then 7. The hyphen is formatting rather than data, so 12-3456789 and 123456789 are the same number. A string of 8 digits is incomplete and a string of 10 digits contains a typo, because the IRS has never issued either length. Q: Do the first 2 digits of an EIN mean anything? A: They identify the IRS campus or system that assigned the number, and nothing else. Before 2001 the prefix mapped to a geographic district; centralized assignment ended that. Online applications draw from an internet block of 21 prefixes, so a prefix of 27 shows the route used, not the state of the business. Q: What is the difference between an EIN and an SSN format? A: An EIN prints as 2 digits, a hyphen, then 7, as in 12-3456789. An SSN prints as 3 digits, 2 digits, then 4, as in 123-45-6789. Both hold 9 digits, so the hyphen positions are the only visual difference and the fastest check on a scanned document. Q: Can an EIN start with 0? A: Yes. Prefixes 01 through 06 are valid and belong to the Brookhaven block, so 01-2345678 is a properly formed EIN. The leading zero is a real digit and belongs in every field it is entered into. Dropping it leaves 8 digits, which the IRS reads as a different taxpayer or no taxpayer. Q: Is there a way to tell if an EIN example is fake? A: Three checks, in order. Confirm 9 digits in the 2-and-7 pattern, confirm the first 2 digits appear on the published IRS prefix list, then match the number to the exact legal name through a 147C letter. Only the third check proves anything, because any 9 digits can be typed in the right shape. Q: Does an EIN ever expire or need renewing? A: Never. An EIN carries no expiry date and no renewal, and it costs $0 in year 2 and every year after. The same 9 digits survive a business name change, an address change, and a move between states. The IRS retires a closed account's number rather than reassigning it. Q: Where can I see a real EIN example? A: On your own CP-575 assignment letter or 147C letter, on Form W-2 box b, and on any Form 1099 your business issued. For other entities, public company EINs appear in SEC filing headers and nonprofit EINs appear on page 1 of Form 990. All of those sources cost $0. Q: Can I get an EIN without an SSN? A: Yes. Form SS-4 line 7b accepts the entry Foreign for a responsible party with no SSN and no ITIN, and no passport upload is requested. The application goes by fax to 855-641-6935 for a US-based entity or 855-215-1627 from abroad. The IRS fee is $0 on every route. Q: What does an EIN cost? A: The IRS charges $0, on the online route and the fax route alike, in year 1 and in every year after. Filing services charge for preparation and review rather than for the number. ein-number.com files for $69 at Standard speed or $99 at Fast speed, double-checks every filing before submission, and refunds in full if we make an error. Sources: - Employer Identification Number — https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/employer-identification-number - Publication 1635, Understanding Your EIN (PDF) — https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p1635.pdf - 26 U.S.C. § 6109 — Identifying numbers — https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/26/6109 ## IRS EIN Phone Number: Every Line, Hour, and Answer It Gives (2026) URL: https://ein-number.com/blog/irs-ein-phone-number/ Updated: 2026-07-20 Summary: The IRS EIN phone number for international applicants is 267-941-1099, open Monday to Friday, 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Eastern. Every line, its hours, and what it does. Answer: The IRS EIN phone number for international applicants is 267-941-1099, open Monday to Friday, 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Eastern. Every line, its hours, and what it does. FAQ: Q: What is the IRS phone number to get an EIN? A: The IRS EIN line for applicants outside the United States is 267-941-1099, open Monday to Friday, 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Eastern Time. The assistor assigns the EIN during the call. An entity based in a US state uses the online assistant on irs.gov instead, which takes 15 minutes. Q: What are the IRS EIN phone hours? A: Monday to Friday, 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Eastern Time, which is 17 hours a day and 85 hours a week. The line is closed on Saturday, Sunday, and 11 US federal holidays. All 11 observed dates in 2026 fall on weekdays, so 115 calendar days drop out and 250 days a year remain on which the line answers. Q: Is the IRS EIN phone number toll free? A: No. 267-941-1099 carries a Philadelphia, Pennsylvania area code and the caller pays their own carrier's rate for the whole call. The IRS charges $0 for the EIN itself on every route, so the call cost is the only charge attached to the phone method. Q: Can I apply for an EIN by phone without an SSN? A: Yes. Form SS-4 line 7b accepts the entry Foreign for a responsible party with no SSN or ITIN, and the IRS assigns the EIN on the call at 267-941-1099. No passport upload and no US visit enters the process. The IRS fee stays $0. Q: How long does the IRS take to answer the EIN line? A: The IRS publishes no wait-time commitment for its EIN lines. Its Telephone Assistance page states that wait times are longer on Mondays and Tuesdays, which leaves the 51 line-hours between Wednesday and Friday as the lighter side of the week. The fax route at 855-215-1627 removes the queue entirely and returns the EIN within 4 business days. Q: What do I need before I call the IRS for an EIN? A: A completed Form SS-4. The IRS asks for the legal name on line 1, the mailing address on lines 4a and 4b, the responsible party on lines 7a and 7b, the entity type on line 9a, and the reason for applying on line 10, in that order. Q: Can I call the IRS to find an EIN I lost? A: Yes. The IRS reissues an existing EIN through Letter 147C to the responsible party or an authorised representative. Check a prior federal return, a bank application, or a Form 1099 first, because all 3 carry the 9 digits and cost $0 to read. Q: Does the IRS fax the EIN instead of phoning it? A: Yes, on the fax route. Send Form SS-4 to 855-641-6935 for a US-state entity or 855-215-1627 for an international applicant, and include a return fax number. The IRS faxes the EIN back within 4 business days. Without a return fax number the reply goes by mail in 4 weeks. Q: Can my accountant call the IRS about my EIN? A: Yes, with written authority. The IRS releases EIN information to the responsible party named on line 7a, or to a representative authorised on Form 2848 or Form 8821. A caller with the entity documents but no filed authorisation receives nothing on the call. Q: What if I cannot reach the IRS before my deadline? A: The fax route runs 24 hours a day and returns the EIN in 4 business days. ein-number.com Standard files by fax within 8 business days, 2–3 weeks total, at $69. Fast files within 24 hours with the IRS call included, 7 business days total, at $99. Every filing is double-checked before submission, and if we make an error, full refund. Sources: - Telephone assistance contacts for business customers — https://www.irs.gov/businesses/telephone-assistance-contacts-for-business-customers - Instructions for Form SS-4 (Rev. December 2025) — https://www.irs.gov/instructions/iss4 - Employer Identification Number — https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/employer-identification-number ## EIN on W9 Form: Where It Goes and When to Use It Instead of an SSN (2026) URL: https://ein-number.com/blog/ein-on-w9/ Updated: 2026-07-20 Summary: The EIN on a W9 form goes in Part I, in the 2-digit and 7-digit boxes. See which entity types enter it, the 24% backup withholding rule, and Publication 1281. Answer: The EIN on a W9 form goes in Part I, in the 2-digit and 7-digit boxes. See which entity types enter it, the 24% backup withholding rule, and Publication 1281. FAQ: Q: Where exactly does the EIN go on a W-9 form? A: In Part I, in the Employer Identification Number box, which prints as 2 digits, a hyphen, then 7 digits. The Social Security Number box above it, laid out 3-2-4, stays empty. Exactly one of the two boxes is filled on any W-9, never both at once. Q: Can I use an EIN instead of my SSN on a W-9? A: Yes for any entity the IRS treats as the taxpayer, including a corporation, a partnership, and a multi-member LLC. A sole proprietor is directed to enter the SSN first, and the IRS permits an EIN in that box instead. Line 1 still carries the individual name. Q: What is the backup withholding rate on a W-9? A: A flat 24% of each payment, removed by the payer and sent to the IRS. It starts on a missing, unsigned, or unmatched W-9. The withheld amount appears in box 4 of the Form 1099 and credits against the payee's return, so it is deferred rather than lost. Q: What name goes on line 1 of the W-9 with an EIN? A: The legal name the IRS holds against that 9-digit number, spelled character for character as it appears on the CP-575. A trade name goes on line 2. A 3-character difference such as LLC against L.L.C. is enough to fail the IRS name and number match. Q: How does a single-member LLC complete the W-9? A: A disregarded single-member LLC enters the owner's name on line 1, the LLC's name on line 2, and the owner's tax number in Part I. Its own EIN stays off the form. An LLC that elected corporate treatment enters its own EIN and one letter, C or S, on line 3a. Q: What happens if the EIN on a W-9 does not match IRS records? A: The IRS sends the payer a CP2100 or CP2100A notice. The payer has 15 business days to mail a first B notice and starts 24% backup withholding. A second B notice within 3 years requires IRS validation, which for an EIN means a 147C letter. Q: Can I fill out a W-9 without an SSN? A: Yes. Part I requires exactly one 9-digit number, and an EIN satisfies it. Getting the EIN also works without an SSN, because Form SS-4 line 7b accepts the entry Foreign for the responsible party. The IRS charges 0 dollars for the number on every route. Q: What do I write on the W-9 if my EIN has not arrived? A: Write Applied For in Part I, sign Part II, and send it. A 60-day exemption period lets payments continue while the IRS assigns the number. After 60 days without a number, the payer starts backup withholding at 24% until a corrected W-9 replaces it. Q: Does a W-9 expire? A: No. A W-9 carries no expiration date and stays valid until the information changes. Four changes call for a replacement: a legal name change, a classification change, a new EIN, and a correction after a B notice. A foreign person's Form W-8BEN does expire, on 31 December of the third year after signing. Q: Do I need a new EIN before I can send a corrected W-9? A: Only when the entity itself changed, such as a sole proprietorship incorporating or a single-member LLC adding a partner. A name change or address change keeps the same 9 digits. ein-number.com files a new EIN for $69 at Standard speed, 2–3 weeks total, or $99 at Fast speed, 7 business days total, with every filing double-checked before submission. Sources: - About Form W-9, Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification — https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-w-9 - Publication 1281, Backup Withholding for Missing and Incorrect Name/TIN(s) (PDF) — https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p1281.pdf - 26 U.S.C. § 3406 — Backup withholding — https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/26/3406 ## Secretary of State EIN Number: Why the State Never Issues One (2026) URL: https://ein-number.com/blog/secretary-of-state-ein/ Updated: 2026-07-20 Summary: A Secretary of State EIN number does not exist. The IRS issues all EINs for all 50 states. See what the state actually issues and the 4 IRS filing routes. Answer: A Secretary of State EIN number does not exist. The IRS issues all EINs for all 50 states. See what the state actually issues and the 4 IRS filing routes. FAQ: Q: Does the Secretary of State give you an EIN number? A: No. A Secretary of State issues no EINs in any of the 50 states. The IRS is the only office that assigns an EIN, and it charges $0. The Secretary of State assigns a separate state filing number when it approves your Articles. Q: Is a state filing number the same as an EIN? A: No. An EIN carries 9 digits printed as 2 digits, a hyphen, then 7, and identifies your business federally. A state filing number follows whatever format that state chose and identifies the entity on the state register only. Federal forms accept the EIN alone. Q: How do I find my state business filing number? A: Search the state's free online business registry by company name. The entity record returns the filing number, status, and formation date in about 3 minutes at $0. The same number appears on the stamped Articles the state returned at formation. Q: How do I find my EIN if the Secretary of State does not have it? A: Check the IRS CP-575 notice first, then any filed federal tax return, which prints the EIN in the header. When both are gone, request a 147C letter from the IRS. Applicants outside the United States reach the IRS at 267-941-1099. Q: Do I need a state registration before I apply for an EIN? A: Register the entity first when you are forming one. Form SS-4 asks for the exact legal name the state approved, and applying earlier risks a mismatch across every later bank check. A sole proprietor with no entity filing applies under a personal legal name. Q: Which number does a bank ask for? A: Both. The bank verifies the federal taxpayer through the EIN on the CP-575, and it verifies legal existence through the stamped Articles or a Certificate of Good Standing. Arriving with all 3 documents opens a business account in a single appointment. Q: Do I get a new EIN when I register in a second state? A: No. The EIN stays with the entity through every state registration, every address change, and every state move. You collect a second state filing number from the new state, while the same 9 digits keep identifying the business to the IRS. Q: Can I get an EIN without an SSN? A: Yes. Form SS-4 line 7b accepts the entry Foreign for a responsible party with no SSN or ITIN. US-based entities fax the form to 855-641-6935 and applicants outside the country fax to 855-215-1627. The IRS charges $0 and asks for no passport. Q: Does an EIN or a state number expire? A: An EIN never expires and costs $0 in year 2 and every year after. A state registration requires a periodic report and a fee set by that state, and skipping it puts the entity out of good standing while the EIN stays valid. Q: Is my EIN public like my state filing number? A: No for a private company. State entity records are public and searchable for free across all 50 states, which is why a lost state number takes under 3 minutes to recover. A private company EIN appears in no public database, so recovery runs through the IRS 147C letter route, faxed during the call on request, otherwise mailed. Sources: - Employer Identification Number — https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/employer-identification-number - Tax Exempt Organization Search — https://apps.irs.gov/app/eos/ - EDGAR full-text search — https://www.sec.gov/edgar/search/