How Do You Get an EIN With IRS Form SS-4?

The EIN in one table

The responsible party

The application must name the person in charge of the entity and its assets, called the responsible party, and must generally include that person's name, Social Security number or ITIN, and signature. The responsible party must be a person, not an entity; the only exception is government entities. Nominees are not authorized to apply for an EIN: a nominee who applies puts the entity's information and privacy at risk.

Ways to apply

If the principal place of business is in the United States, apply online, free, direct from the IRS, with a valid taxpayer ID number; or fax Form SS-4, Application for Employer Identification Number, to 855-641-6935, with a cover sheet carrying the EIN faxed back in about 4 business days if a fax number is provided (the IRS no longer provides the SS-4 notated with the EIN); or mail Form SS-4 to Internal Revenue Service, Attn: EIN Operation, Cincinnati, OH 45999, for an EIN in approximately 4 weeks, with a processing-delay caveat when inventory is high and a processing-status check updated every 2 weeks.

If the principal place of business is outside the United States, apply by phone at 267-941-1099, Monday to Friday, 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Eastern time; or fax Form SS-4 to 855-215-1627 from within the United States or 304-707-9471 from outside the United States; or mail to Internal Revenue Service, Attn: EIN International Operation, Cincinnati, OH 45999.

Name and address rules

Enter the business name exactly as it appears on the registration or formation documents. IRS systems allow only letters, numbers, hyphens, and ampersands in business names: spell out symbols such as plus, at-sign, and period, use a hyphen for slashes, and drop apostrophes without adding a space. Street addresses are capped at 35 characters; enter key details such as apartment or suite numbers and use U.S. Postal Service standard abbreviations. Keep the information current with Form 8822-B; responsible-party changes are reported within 60 days.

When you can use the EIN, and when to get a new one

An EIN can be used immediately for most business needs, for example opening a bank account, applying for business licenses, and filing a tax return by mail. Wait up to 2 weeks to pass the IRS Taxpayer ID Number Matching Program, e-file a return, or make tax deposits and pay electronically. A new EIN is needed in general when ownership or structure changes. A new EIN is not needed to change the business name, address, or responsible party. Check the type-specific When to get a new EIN page before applying for a new EIN after an ownership or structure change; the type-specific cases are not enumerated here.

Waiting, lost numbers, and closing down

If a return is due and the EIN has not arrived, write Applied For plus the application date in the number space. If a deposit is due, send payment to the service-center address for the state, payable to the Internal Revenue Service, showing the SS-4 name, address, kind of tax, period covered, and application date. To find a missing EIN, check the original notice, the bank, licensing agencies, and past returns, then call 800-829-4933, Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time, Alaska and Hawaii following Pacific time, for identity verification and the number over the phone. A business entity should have only one EIN; multiple EINs are resolved by calling the Business and Specialty Tax Line at 800-829-4933. An EIN cannot be canceled, only deactivated; the deactivation procedure is not described here.

Beneficial ownership reporting

Some corporations, limited liability companies, and other entities may be required to report information on beneficial owners, the people who ultimately own or control the company, to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, FinCEN. Check whether reporting applies; it is a separate duty from obtaining the EIN.

The process, step by step

1. Form the entity first. Register the legal entity with the state before applying, including tax-exempt organizations.
2. Identify the responsible party. The person in charge of the entity and its assets, government-entity exception only. Do not use a nominee.
3. Choose one apply method only. Online, fax Form SS-4 to 855-641-6935 for about 4 business days, or mail Form SS-4 to Cincinnati for approximately 4 weeks, with the delay caveat. International applicants use the phone, fax, or mail routes above.
4. Enter the business name exactly as on the formation documents, following the IRS character and address rules. Keep the information current with Form 8822-B.
5. Use the EIN immediately for most needs. Wait up to 2 weeks for TIN Matching, e-filing, or electronic deposits and payments. If a return or deposit is due before the EIN arrives, use the Applied For procedure.
6. Do not apply for a new EIN for a name, address, or responsible-party change alone. Check the type-specific When to get a new EIN page before applying for a new EIN after an ownership or structure change.

What this guide does not state

The online application hours are not stated. The type-specific new-EIN cases are not enumerated. The EIN deactivation procedure is not described. No fee applies; the application is free.

Source

• IRS, Employer identification number hub
• IRS, Instructions for Form SS-4, 12/2025, reached via the EIN hub page
• IRS, Responsible parties and nominees, reached via the EIN hub page
• IRS, When to get a new EIN, reached via the EIN hub page

Facts verified 2026-10-29.

This page explains how the process works and what the official rules say. It is general information, not legal or tax advice. For advice about a specific situation, talk to a qualified professional or the agency.