What is an EIN? The federal tax ID, explained.
An EIN, or Employer Identification Number, is a 9-digit federal tax ID that the IRS assigns to a US business. It is the business equivalent of a Social Security Number, and almost every US LLC, Corporation, partnership, or other entity needs one to open a bank account, hire employees, file taxes, or apply for licenses.
An Employer Identification Number (EIN), also called a Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN) or Federal Tax Identification Number, is a unique 9-digit number assigned by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to identify a business entity for federal tax purposes.
Here is what that actually means.
Think of an EIN as the Social Security Number for a business. Just as the IRS uses your SSN to identify you on your personal tax return, it uses your EIN to identify your LLC, Corporation, or other entity on the business return. Banks use it to verify the entity when you open a business account. Payroll providers use it to file the entity's payroll tax returns. The state may also reference it when you register for state employer taxes.
The EIN format is two digits, a hyphen, then seven digits: XX-XXXXXXX. The first two digits used to indicate which IRS service center issued the number, but that meaning has largely been retired with the move to online issuance. There is no fee to obtain an EIN; the IRS issues them for free directly through irs.gov.
Once issued, an EIN is permanent for the life of the entity. You do not renew it. If the entity is sold or restructured significantly, a new EIN may be required. If the entity dissolves, the EIN is not "released" or re-used; it stays associated with that entity in IRS records.
The four things to know.
Common situations.
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Common questions.
How much does it cost to get an EIN?
How fast can I get an EIN?
Can I get an EIN before forming the LLC?
Do single-member LLCs need an EIN?
Can a non-US person get a US EIN?
How do I look up my EIN?
Does the EIN change if I move states?
Can multiple LLCs share one EIN?
When does an EIN expire?
What if I never use my EIN?
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