Employer ID Number (EIN)

In addition to the SSN or ITIN, people who decide to form a business may choose to apply for an Employer Identification Number (EIN) to identify a business entity.

Do You Need an EIN?

Similar in purpose to the SSN assigned to individuals, EINs are used by employers, sole proprietors, corporations, partnerships, non-profit organizations, trusts and estates, government agencies, certain individuals, and other business entities. An SSN or ITIN may be used to apply for an EIN.

According to the IRS, you will need an EIN if you answer “Yes” to any of the following questions:

  • Do you have employees?
  • Do you operate your business as a corporation or a partnership?
  • Do you file any of these tax returns: Employment, Excise, or Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms?
  • Do you withhold taxes on income, other than wages, paid to a non-resident alien?
  • Do you have a Keogh plan?
  • Are you involved with any of the following types of organizations?
    • Trusts, except certain grantor-owned revocable trusts, IRAs, Exempt Organization Business Income Tax Returns
    • Estates
    • Real estate mortgage investment conduits
    • Non-profit organizations
    • Farmers’ cooperatives
    • Plan administrators

Applying for an EIN

You can apply for an EIN online, by fax, or mail depending on how soon you need to use the EIN. Applying for an EIN is a free service offered by the IRS. Beware of websites on the Internet that charge for this free service.

For more detailed information about the application process for the EIN, see the IRS website page How to Apply for an EIN.