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.
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.
Common situations that need this filing.
What is included with every EIN filing.
- Form SS-4 prepared from your entity details
- Filed directly with the IRS (online for US founders, fax for international)
- Same-day EIN delivery for US founders with SSN or ITIN
- Faster processing for international founders (typically 1 to 3 weeks)
- IRS confirmation letter (CP 575) delivered to your Document Vault
- 147-C verification letter on request if you ever lose your CP 575
- EIN included free with any LLC, Corp, or Nonprofit formation
Four steps. We handle everything else.
How we compare.
- Free with any formation
- $79 standalone
- International founders supported
- Same-day for US founders
- 147-C letter on request
- Stored in Document Vault
| LegalZoom | ZenBusiness | CorpNet | File.Business | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service fee | $$ | $ | $$ | FREE w/ formation |
| International founders | no | limited | limited | yes |
| Same-day for US | sometimes | sometimes | sometimes | standard |
| 147-C re-issue | no | no | paid | free |
| Stored in vault | no | no | limited | yes |
“Two of us founded a Delaware LLC from London. We did not have SSNs. File.Business had our EIN in nine days by fax. The bank account followed a week later.”
The File.Business Promise
If we miss a filing deadline on a service you pay us to manage, we pay the state penalty. If you change your mind in the first 60 days, we refund our service fee in full. Your data stays yours, always.
Common questions.
Is the EIN really free at irs.gov?
Do single-member LLCs need an EIN?
How long does it take?
Can I get an EIN without a Social Security Number?
What is the "Responsible Party" on Form SS-4?
Can a foreign company get a US EIN?
What if I lose my EIN confirmation letter?
Will the EIN change my tax structure?
Can I get more than one EIN?
Does the EIN expire?
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.
From "I want to start a business" to fully compliant in five steps
Each step has a target time, a status indicator, and a clear owner. We do most of it. You sign and approve.
Pick name + state
Instant name availability across 51 jurisdictions. Our quiz suggests the right state if you are unsure.
Articles of Organization
$0 service fee. State fee at cost. Same-day in DE, WY, NV, FL, TX. Other states in 5 to 15 business days.
EIN from the IRS
Free, filed direct with the IRS. International founders without SSN: we fax Form SS-4 and get your EIN in 4 business days.
Open business banking
Mercury, Relay, Chase, or Brex. Pre-filled with your formation documents. International-founder accounts at Mercury and Relay.
Stay compliant
Annual reports auto-filed in all 51 jurisdictions. BOI tracking for foreign-owned entities. Penalty-free guarantee on Pro+.
EIN issuance workflow
How we obtain your federal Employer Identification Number from the IRS.
Form SS-4
5 minutesWe prepare IRS Form SS-4 from your formation data. You sign electronically.
US founder path
InstantIf 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 daysNo 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 dayIRS issues the EIN confirmation letter (CP 575). We store it in your document vault. Required for banking, tax filings, and Form 5472.
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.
Your filing is in progress
State of Delaware Division of Corporations · Expected acceptance: same business day
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.
Independent annual audit. Report available under NDA for enterprise customers.
Better Business Bureau accredited business with public dispute resolution policy.
Across all 50 states + DC. Single-member LLCs to multi-entity holding structures.
Customer rating from verified-formation customers, audited annually.
Professional liability coverage. Penalty-free guarantee covers state late fees from our error.
All 50 states plus DC. Filing direct with each Secretary of State; no middleman.
Countries. Foreign founders without SSN supported via IRS fax-EIN channel.
State fees passed through at cost. Service fees clearly priced.
You see the state's real fee. We add a service fee that's the same whether the state is $35 or $500. No "premier" tier hiding the basics.