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FilingAn EIN is the federal tax ID number every US business needs to open a bank account, hire employees, and file taxes. We file IRS Form SS-4 on your behalf.
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Federal Tax ID Number
Same-day SS-4 filings

Get your federal tax ID, often the same day.

An Employer Identification Number is the 9-digit federal tax ID the IRS issues to your business. Every US business with an LLC, corporation, partnership, or employees needs one. We file Form SS-4 with the IRS, including for international founders without a Social Security Number.

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220,000+
Businesses formed
4.9 / 5
From 8,200 reviews
A+
BBB rated, SOC 2 II
$0
Missed-filing penalties
What it is

Get an EIN, explained plainly.

An EIN, also called a Federal Employer Identification Number or FEIN, is the business equivalent of a Social Security Number. The IRS issues one per entity, and it is required for opening a business bank account, hiring employees, filing federal taxes, applying for business credit, and dozens of other routine activities.

The IRS issues EINs at no cost through irs.gov, but the process is not simple for everyone. US founders with a valid Social Security Number can apply online and receive the EIN immediately. Founders without an SSN (international founders, certain trusts, single-member LLCs in some configurations) must file a paper SS-4 by fax or mail, which takes 4 to 8 weeks in normal IRS processing.

We file Form SS-4 on your behalf, properly completed for your specific situation, and follow up with the IRS if there is any delay. For domestic founders, we typically have your EIN the same business day. For international founders, we obtain the EIN by fax in approximately 1 to 3 weeks instead of the IRS's standard 4 to 8.

Who this is for

Common situations that need this filing.

New LLC and Corp ownersEvery LLC and corporation needs an EIN before it can open a business bank account, even single-member LLCs.
EmployersAnyone with W-2 employees or 1099 contractors needs an EIN to issue payroll tax forms.
International foundersNon-US persons forming a US LLC need an EIN to access US banking and payment processors.
Real estate LLCsProperty-holding LLCs need an EIN to open the rental income bank account and file partnership returns.
Trusts and estatesIrrevocable trusts and estates need an EIN to file Form 1041 and report income separately from beneficiaries.
Side businessesSole proprietors and single-member LLCs typically need an EIN to keep business and personal finances separate.
What we'll set up for you

A clean handoff, in four steps.

You give us the basics. We handle the state, the IRS, and the compliance clock so you can focus on the business.

01 · Name + Brand

A name that's actually available.

Real-time check against the state register, USPTO trademark database, and matching domains.

02 · State filing

Filed with the Secretary of State.

We submit your Articles, pay the state fee on your behalf, and return the stamped certificate.

03 · Federal IDs

EIN + the right tax setup.

Federal Employer ID with the IRS, plus state tax accounts when your business needs them.

04 · Stay compliant

Registered Agent + deadline tracking.

Your agent on file in every state, with every renewal and annual report tracked in one calendar.

How it works

Four steps. We handle everything else.

Step 1
Entity detailsYou confirm responsible party, structure, and intended start date.
Step 2
SS-4 preparedWe complete Form SS-4 based on your entity and tax election plans.
Step 3
IRS filingFiled online for US founders, by fax for international founders.
Step 4
EIN issuedCP 575 letter delivered to your Document Vault. You can open banking immediately.
Side by side

How we compare.

LegalZoomZenBusinessBizeeFile.Business
Service fee$79$99$70FREE w/ formation
International foundersnolimitedlimitedyes
Same-day for USsometimessometimessometimesstandard
147-C re-issuenonopaidfree
Stored in vaultnonolimitedyes

Based on publicly listed pricing and feature pages as of 2026. Competitor names are trademarks of their respective owners.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions.

Is the EIN really free at irs.gov?
Yes. The IRS does not charge to issue an EIN. What you pay for, when you pay anyone, is the preparation and filing of Form SS-4 on your behalf. We include EIN filing available; included on Growth, Corp, or Nonprofit formation. Standalone (for an existing entity that lost its EIN, or a non-formation client), our service fee is $79.
Do single-member LLCs need an EIN?
Technically, single-member LLCs can use the owner's SSN for tax purposes. In practice, every business bank, payment processor, and lender will ask for an EIN. Using your SSN also means putting your personal tax ID on vendor W-9s and invoices. We strongly recommend an EIN even for single-member LLCs.
How long does it take?
For US founders with a valid SSN or ITIN, the IRS issues the EIN the same business day during business hours. For founders without an SSN, the IRS requires a paper SS-4 by fax or mail. We obtain those EINs in approximately 1 to 3 weeks instead of the IRS's standard 4 to 8 because we fax during early-morning IRS hours.
Can I get an EIN without a Social Security Number?
Yes. International founders and certain US persons without an SSN obtain EINs by filing a paper SS-4. The "Responsible Party" line on the form accepts a passport number or other identification. We handle this routinely.
What is the "Responsible Party" on Form SS-4?
The Responsible Party is the individual who controls the entity (usually the principal owner or manager). The IRS uses this name to verify identity and to send tax notices. The Responsible Party is not the same as the Registered Agent.
Can a foreign company get a US EIN?
Yes. A foreign corporation, LLC, or partnership can obtain a US EIN for purposes of opening a US bank account, hiring US employees, or filing US tax returns. The application requires a US address (a US registered office or our address with permission).
What if I lose my EIN confirmation letter?
The original IRS letter is called CP 575. If you lose it, you can request a 147-C verification letter from the IRS that confirms your EIN. We can request the 147-C on your behalf for free if we filed your original SS-4.
Will the EIN change my tax structure?
No. The EIN is just an identification number. Your tax structure (sole proprietor, partnership, S-Corp, C-Corp) is determined separately by your entity type and any election you make on Form 8832 or Form 2553.
Can I get more than one EIN?
Each entity gets one EIN. If you form a second LLC, that second LLC gets its own EIN. Sole proprietors who form an LLC keep the LLC's new EIN; the old sole-prop EIN is closed.

Get your EIN in about 5 minutes.

Tell us a few details. We file at the right office. You receive the stamped certificate in your dashboard.

Pay only the state fee 60-day money-back State fee at cost Cancel anytime

EIN issuance workflow

How we obtain your federal Employer Identification Number from the IRS.

Form SS-4

5 minutes

We prepare IRS Form SS-4 from your formation data. You sign electronically.

US founder path

Instant

If you have an SSN or ITIN, we submit via IRS online application. EIN issues in your dashboard within an hour.

Foreign founder path

4 business days

No SSN/ITIN? We fax the signed SS-4 to IRS line +1 (855) 215-1627. EIN returns by fax in 4 business days.

CP 575 letter

Same day

IRS issues the EIN confirmation letter (CP 575). We store it in your document vault. Required for banking, tax filings, and Form 5472.

Real-time filing status

Every filing, traceable from submission to state seal

The same status view your customers see in the dashboard. Five stages, color-coded, with timestamps. No "we'll let you know" black box.

Filing #FB-2026-04812 · Acme Holdings LLC · Delaware

Your filing is in progress

State of Delaware Division of Corporations · Expected acceptance: same business day

1
Drafted
2:14 PM ET
2
Reviewed
2:31 PM ET
3
Submitted
2:46 PM ET
4
State accepted
Pending
5
Documents delivered
Pending
Entity typeLLC
StateDelaware
State fee paid$110.00
Our service fee$0.00
Estimated acceptanceToday by 5 PM ET
EIN statusQueued (issues after state acceptance)
Built on the proof

The numbers behind a business operating system you can trust

Audited, accredited, encrypted, insured. The complete picture of what makes File.Business safe to run your business on.

SOC 2 Type II
Audited

Independent annual audit. Report available under NDA for enterprise customers.

BBB Accredited
A+

Better Business Bureau accredited business with public dispute resolution policy.

Businesses formed
220,000+

Across all 50 states + DC. Single-member LLCs to multi-entity holding structures.

Verified customer rating
4.9 ★

Customer rating from verified-formation customers, audited annually.

E&O insurance
$5M

Professional liability coverage. Penalty-free guarantee covers state late fees from our error.

Jurisdictional coverage
51

All 50 states plus DC. Filing direct with each Secretary of State; no middleman.

International founders
90+

Countries. Foreign founders without SSN supported via IRS fax-EIN channel.

Platform uptime
99.98%

Last 90 days, all services. Real-time status at /status.

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How it works

How we deliver, end-to-end.

Four-step path from request to confirmation. State and IRS turnaround varies; our steps run in parallel where possible to compress the timeline.

1

Intake + scope

You tell us what you need through a short intake form (or a call for complex matters). We confirm scope, surface any gating issues (deadlines, missing documents, entity status), and quote any state fees that pass through at cost.

2

Prepare + verify

Our specialists draft the filing, verify entity details against state databases, run internal QA, and route any items needing your sign-off. You see drafts before anything gets submitted.

3

File with the authority

We submit directly to the state Secretary of State, FinCEN, IRS, USPTO, or whichever authority your filing requires. We pay state fees at cost and track the submission identifier in your account.

4

Confirmation + vault

Stamped certificate, IRS notice, or filing receipt arrives in your SOC 2 encrypted document vault the moment we receive it. Next filing deadline auto-added to your compliance calendar where applicable.

Start your business in the next 5 minutes.

No state-fee markup. Pay only the state fee. 60-day money-back guarantee.

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