Cost Guide

EIN Cost

The IRS issues EINs for free. Third-party services charge $49 to $200+ for form preparation and filing. Compare prices and understand when paying makes sense.

An EIN costs $0 from the IRS. There is no government fee. The IRS issues Employer Identification Numbers at no charge through all application methods: online (instant), fax (4-7 days), phone (same day), and mail (4-6 weeks). Third-party services charge $49 to $200+ for form preparation and filing assistance. ein.so charges $49 — the lowest price in the market.

IRS Cost

IRS EIN Application: $0 (Free)

The IRS has never charged a fee for EIN applications. Every method is free:

| Method | Cost | Processing Time | Requirements | |--------|------|-----------------|-------------| | Online (EIN Assistant) | $0 | Instant | SSN or ITIN | | Fax (Form SS-4) | $0 | 4-7 business days | None | | Phone (267-941-1099) | $0 | Same day | None | | Mail (Form SS-4) | $0 | 4-6 weeks | None |

The EIN is free regardless of your business type (LLC, corporation, sole proprietorship, trust, estate, nonprofit), your location (US or international), or the number of EINs you have applied for previously.

Learn more about how to get an EIN for free or see the complete process at how to get an EIN.

Service Costs

EIN Service Price Comparison

Non-US residents cannot use the free IRS online tool. They must use fax, phone, or a third-party service. Here is how services compare:

| Provider | EIN Price | Express Option | Processing Time | |----------|-----------|---------------|-----------------| | ein.so | $49 | $97 | 4-7 / 2-3 business days | | ein-itin.com | $65 | N/A | 5-10 business days | | GovDocFiling | $147-200 | Included | 1-5 business days | | LegalZoom | $149+ | $249+ | 1-10 business days | | Incfile | $70+ | N/A | Varies | | Northwest | $100+ | N/A | Varies | | Harbor Compliance | $99+ | N/A | Varies |

Why ein.so Is the Cheapest

ein.so focuses exclusively on EIN filing. We do not sell LLC formation, registered agent services, or annual report filing as primary products. Our $49 price covers exactly what non-residents need: Form SS-4 preparation, IRS fax submission, and EIN delivery by email. No hidden fees. No upsells during checkout.

Apply for your EIN — $49

What You Pay For

What Does the Service Fee Cover?

When you pay ein.so $49, you are paying for:

Form SS-4 preparation — We complete all 21 fields of IRS Form SS-4 using your business information, ensuring correct formatting and no errors that would cause rejection
IRS fax submission — We fax your completed SS-4 to the IRS at 855-215-1627
Follow-up — We monitor for the IRS response and handle any issues
EIN delivery — We email your EIN to you as soon as the IRS issues it
Support — WhatsApp support throughout the process in English, Bengali, Hindi, and Urdu

You are NOT paying for the EIN itself. The EIN is always free from the IRS. The service fee covers the labor of handling the application process correctly.

Common EIN Rejection Reasons (Why DIY Fails)

| Rejection Reason | How ein.so Prevents It | |-----------------|----------------------| | Wrong entity type selected | We verify your LLC/Corp structure | | Missing foreign address format | We format international addresses correctly | | Invalid responsible party info | We verify all identifying information | | Duplicate application | We check for existing EINs first | | Incorrect fax transmission | We use reliable US-based fax service |

See our guide on EIN rejections for more details.

Summary

EIN Cost: Bottom Line

IRS cost: $0 (always free)
ein.so cost: $49 Standard / $97 Express
Competitor average: $100-200
No government fee exists
Paid services = form preparation + filing labor

If you have an SSN, get your EIN for free online at irs.gov. If you are a non-resident without an SSN, ein.so handles everything for $49 — the cheapest option available. Apply now.

For more details, see free EIN and EIN application fee.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does an EIN cost from the IRS?

The IRS charges $0 for an EIN. There is no government fee, filing fee, or processing fee. Every EIN application method (online, fax, phone, mail) is completely free. The EIN has been free since the system was created in 1974.

Why do services charge for EINs?

Services charge for labor: preparing Form SS-4, filing it with the IRS, and handling communication. Non-residents cannot use the free online tool because it requires an SSN. Services like ein.so ($49) handle the fax filing process for them.

What is the cheapest EIN service?

ein.so is the cheapest EIN service at $49 for Standard processing and $97 for Express. Competitors charge $65 (ein-itin.com), $147-200 (GovDocFiling), and $149+ (LegalZoom). All services deliver the same 9-digit EIN from the IRS.

Is there a government fee for an EIN?

No. The IRS does not charge any fee for EIN issuance. Any website claiming a government filing fee for an EIN is being misleading. The only costs are service fees charged by third-party providers for handling the application process.

Can I get an EIN for free as a non-resident?

Yes. Non-residents can fax Form SS-4 to 855-215-1627 for free or call the IRS at 267-941-1099 for free (plus international calling charges). Most non-residents choose a paid service because the DIY process requires fax access and correct form completion.

Need an EIN? We Handle Everything.

Non-US resident? We file Form SS-4 with the IRS and deliver your EIN by email. Just $49.

Get My EIN for $49