What Is an EIN Number? 9 Digits, 4 Filing Methods

What Is an EIN Number? The 9-Digit ID Every Rejection Is About

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.

digits in every EIN

1936

year EIN system introduced

1936

EIN system introduced

2-7

digit format XX-XXXXXXX

IRS fee on all 4 routes

IRS fee across 4 methods

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What is an EIN number, exactly?

A 9-digit federal tax identifier the IRS assigns to a business entity. The IRS issues it on Form SS-4 under IRC section 6109. Format is XX-XXXXXXX. The number never renews and never expires. Cost is $0 across all 4 filing methods.

Think of the EIN as the entity's version of an SSN. An SSN identifies a person; an EIN identifies a business entity: corporation, partnership, LLC, trust, estate, or nonprofit. The IRS uses the EIN as the primary key for every business tax record: Form 1120 filings, Form 1065 filings, Form 941 quarterly payroll returns, and every W-2 the entity issues.

What does an EIN number look like?

XX-XXXXXXX. Two digits, a hyphen, then 7 digits. The first 2 digits are a geographic prefix indicating the IRS campus that assigned the number. The remaining 7 digits are sequential. Total length is 10 characters including the hyphen; 9 digits without.

The 2-digit prefix has meaning. Prefix 01 comes from the Andover campus. Prefix 20 is Philadelphia. Prefixes 34-38 are Kansas City. Prefix 90 is issued by the online Assistant regardless of applicant location. The prefix does not follow business location: it follows the IRS campus that processed the application.

An SSN prints as XXX-XX-XXXX (3-2-4) with 2 hyphens. An ITIN prints as 9XX-XX-XXXX, always starting with 9. A PTIN prints as PXXXXXXXX with a letter. An EIN's 2-7 grouping distinguishes it from all 4 other TIN types at a glance.

Who needs an EIN number?

Six entity types: corporations, partnerships, multi-member LLCs, estates, non-grantor trusts, and any business with employees. Sole proprietors with 0 employees may use an SSN. Single-member LLCs may use the owner's SSN unless hiring or electing S-corp treatment.

Read the entity-specific guides at EIN for LLC, EIN for trust, EIN for estate, and EIN for sole proprietorship.

How much does an EIN number cost?

The IRS charges $0 through all 4 methods. Third-party services charge $59.99 (Rocket Lawyer) to $200 (Northwest no-SSN). ein-number.com charges $$69 Standard or $$99 Fast. Every service fee covers preparation and rejection recovery, not the number itself.

Read the cost breakdown at EIN cost and the free-application logic at what an EIN costs.

What rejection codes block an EIN application?

Five common codes. Code 101 hits on a name collision against the Master File. Code 102 hits when the responsible-party TIN does not match SSA records. Code 106 (no SSN) blocks the online path entirely. Code 114 (same-day cap) blocks retries within 24 hours. Code 115 (deceased RP) triggers on SSA death records.

Code	Meaning	Fix
101	Legal name collision in EIN Master File	File by fax with state formation cert
102	Responsible-party SSN mismatch at SSA	Fax with line 7b = Foreign
106	No SSN entered on line 7b	Fax at 855-215-1627, or 304-707-9471 from outside the US
114	Same-day 1-EIN cap hit for RP	Wait 24 hours
115	Deceased RP per SSA records	Fax with death certificate

Read the full taxonomy at reference number 101.

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What else do people ask about EIN numbers?

+What is an EIN number in simple terms?

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.

+How long is an EIN number?

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.

+Who needs an EIN number?

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.

+What does an EIN look like?

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.

+How much does an EIN cost?

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.

+When was the EIN system introduced?

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.

+What is the difference between EIN and SSN?

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.

+Can I get an EIN without an SSN?

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.

+What are the 5 rejection codes that block an EIN?

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.

+Does an EIN expire?

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.