Not legal advice. This is a general template for informational purposes, not legal advice and not a substitute for a licensed attorney in your state. Fill in the brackets, review carefully, and have an attorney review anything high-stakes.
Get Your EIN — Free from the IRS
An EIN (Employer Identification Number) is your business's federal tax ID. It costs $0 — never pay a service for one. Apply online at irs.gov (search "apply for EIN online"). It takes about 15 minutes and you get the number immediately.
Before you start, have ready
- Your LLC's exact legal name and state charter/registration number
- The "responsible party" — usually you: name, SSN or ITIN, address
- Your business address and start date
- What the business does (you'll pick a category)
- Whether you'll have employees (if yes, roughly how many)
The online steps
- Start the interview. On irs.gov, choose "Apply Online Now" and select Limited Liability Company as the entity type.
- State why. Most select "Started a new business." (Banking, hiring, or changing entity type are the other common reasons.)
- Responsible party. Enter your name and SSN/ITIN. The IRS verifies your identity here.
- LLC details. Enter the LLC's legal name, business address, and county. Say where the articles were filed (your state).
- Members. Enter the number of LLC members (1 for single-member).
- Closing questions. Answer about employees, gambling/tobacco/alcohol excise (almost always "no"), and your principal business activity.
- Submit and save. You get the EIN instantly — save/print the confirmation letter (CP 575). Banks ask for it when you open a business account.
After you have it
- ☐ Open a business bank account (bring EIN letter + LLC certificate + operating agreement)
- ☐ Give the EIN to anyone who needs a W-9 from you
- ☐ If hiring, register for your state's payroll withholdingDept. of Revenue
Hours note: The IRS online EIN application is only available during certain hours (generally weekdays). If it's down, try during business hours Central time.