$0
IRS fee
Minutes
online, with SSN/ITIN
~4 days
by fax
Why your LLC needs an EIN
- Required if the LLC has employees, or is taxed as a partnership or corporation.
- Banks open business accounts under the LLC’s EIN.
- Clients and payment platforms ask for it on Form W-9.
- Keeps your Social Security number off invoices and forms.
How to apply online (step by step)
- Form your LLC first. The IRS asks for the LLC’s exact legal name, state and formation date, so file your Articles of Organization before applying.
- Identify the responsible party. The individual who controls the LLC — usually the owner or managing member. Applying online requires that person’s SSN or ITIN.
- Apply online on IRS.gov during service hours. Monday–Friday 6 a.m. to 1 a.m. Eastern, Saturday 6 a.m.–9 p.m., Sunday 6 p.m.–midnight. The session times out after 15 minutes of inactivity.
- Answer the LLC questions. Number of members (this sets the default tax classification), reason for applying, start date, expected employees and principal activity.
- Download your EIN confirmation. Online applicants get the EIN immediately. Save the confirmation letter — banks ask for it.
All ways to apply
| Method | Who can use it | How long | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Online | US principal place of business; responsible party has an SSN or ITIN | Immediately | IRS.gov EIN online assistant |
| Fax (Form SS-4) | Anyone | About 4 business days (domestic) | Domestic: 855-641-6935 · International: 304-707-9471 (from outside the US) or 855-215-1627 (from the US) |
| Mail (Form SS-4) | Anyone | About 4 weeks | IRS address in the SS-4 instructions; international: EIN International Operation, Cincinnati, OH 45999 |
| Phone | International applicants only | During the call | 267-941-1099, Monday–Friday 6 a.m.–11 p.m. Eastern |
Getting an EIN from outside the US
The online application isn’t available if the principal place of business is outside the US or the responsible party has no SSN or ITIN. International applicants can:
- Call 267-941-1099, Monday–Friday, 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Eastern (not toll-free).
- Fax a completed Form SS-4 to 304-707-9471 (from outside the US) or 855-215-1627 (from within the US).
- Mail Form SS-4 to the EIN International Operation, Cincinnati, OH 45999.
Next, foreign owners usually need a bank that accepts non-residents — compare them here — and must file Form 5472 each year.
Paying someone to get your EIN
The IRS never charges for an EIN. Formation services will apply for you if you’d rather not deal with the form — you pay for the convenience, not the number. Bizee, for example, charges $70 and includes it free in its Standard and Premium formation packages.
Bizee EIN service
$70
- Bizee files the EIN application for you
- Delivered within one business day
- Free with Bizee’s Standard and Premium packages
Watch out: The IRS issues EINs for free — you only pay for the convenience
After you get your EIN
Mercury
$0/mo
- $0 monthly fee, no minimum balance, no opening fees
- Free ACH and free domestic wires, sent and received
- Free outgoing USD international wires
Watch out: No cash deposits
Relay
$0/mo (Grow $30, Scale $120)
- $0 Starter plan with no minimum balance
- Up to 20 checking accounts on Starter (Profit First friendly)
- Cash deposits at Allpoint+ ATMs and Green Dot retailers
Watch out: Wire and same-day ACH fees on Starter
Lili
$0/mo (Pro $15, Smart $35, Premium $55)
- No SSN required — open with a foreign passport and EIN
- Supported countries include much of Latin America
- $0 Core plan with no minimum deposit
Watch out: International wires cost $25 out / $15 in
Rates, fees and eligibility change often. Figures come from each provider’s own site on the date shown; confirm before opening an account. Fintechs are not banks — deposits are held at partner banks, Member FDIC. Verified October 18, 2026. We may earn a commission if you sign up through our links, at no cost to you. How we’re funded.
Frequently asked questions
How much does an EIN cost?
Nothing. The IRS says you never have to pay a fee for an EIN. Third-party sites that charge for it are only filling in the same free form for you.
Does a single-member LLC need an EIN?
Not always for income tax — a disregarded single-member LLC with no employees can report under the owner’s SSN. But it needs one for employees or certain excise taxes, and in practice banks, payment processors and many clients require an EIN for the LLC.
How long does it take to get an EIN?
Online: immediately. Fax: about 4 business days. Mail: about 4 weeks. International applicants can also get one over the phone.
Can a non-US resident get an EIN for an LLC?
Yes. Without an SSN or ITIN you can’t use the online application, but you can call 267-941-1099 (Monday–Friday, 6 a.m.–11 p.m. Eastern) or fax Form SS-4 to 304-707-9471 from outside the US. Guía en español.
Can I get more than one EIN a day?
The IRS limits online applications to one EIN per responsible party per day.
What do I do with my EIN?
Open a business bank account, set up payroll and contractors, file federal returns and apply for business credit.
Your LLC setup checklist
- Open a business bank accountKeep LLC money apart from yours to protect the liability shield.
- Sign an operating agreementSettle who owns and decides what before it matters.
- Get business insuranceCover what the LLC itself doesn’t protect.
- Plan your taxesKnow your tax status and federal due dates.
- Track state deadlinesFree reminders before each filing.
Everything in one list: printable LLC compliance checklist · live deadline calendar.