State Guide
EIN in Arkansas (AR)
How to get an EIN for your Arkansas business. The EIN is a federal number from the IRS. Non-residents apply with a passport number. $49 Standard, $97 Express.
Getting an EIN in Arkansas follows the same federal IRS process used in every state. The EIN is a federal number, not a state number. US residents apply free at irs.gov with an SSN and receive the EIN instantly. Non-residents file Form SS-4 by fax to 855-215-1627 using a passport number on Line 7b. ein.so prepares and faxes the form for $49 Standard (4-7 business days) or $97 Express (2-3 business days).
Arkansas hosts a growing base of small businesses, e-commerce sellers, and remote founders who attach a US LLC to the Arkansas Secretary of State. Every one of these entities needs a federal EIN before it can open a bank account, hire staff, or file federal taxes. The EIN (Employer Identification Number) is a 9-digit IRS tax ID in the format XX-XXXXXXX. It does not change from state to state. This guide explains how both US residents and non-residents get an EIN for an Arkansas business, how the federal EIN differs from Arkansas state tax registration, and what to do after approval.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| State | Arkansas (AR) |
| Federal EIN format | XX-XXXXXXX (9 digits) |
| EIN issuer | Internal Revenue Service (federal) |
| EIN cost (IRS) | $0 |
| EIN cost (ein.so) | $49 Standard / $97 Express |
| State tax authority | Department of Finance and Administration |
| IRS EIN fax line | 855-215-1627 |
State vs Federal
Is the Arkansas EIN Different From a Federal EIN?
The Arkansas EIN is not a separate number. The EIN is a single federal identifier issued by the IRS, and it stays the same whether your business operates in Arkansas, Texas, or any other state. Arkansas does not issue its own EIN.
Many founders confuse the federal EIN with Arkansas state tax registration. They are two distinct numbers from two distinct authorities. You may need both, depending on your activities in the state.
| Identifier | Issued by | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| Federal EIN | IRS | Federal taxes, banking, Form SS-4 |
| Arkansas state tax ID | Department of Finance and Administration | State sales tax and withholding |
Your EIN does not replace state tax registration. If you sell taxable goods or hire employees in Arkansas, register separately with the Department of Finance and Administration. See our state tax ID guide for the distinction. The federal EIN comes first, because banks and the IRS require it before any state-level setup.
Non-Residents
How Does a Non-Resident Get an EIN in Arkansas?
A non-resident gets an EIN in Arkansas by filing IRS Form SS-4 by fax to 855-215-1627 with a passport number on Line 7b. No SSN or ITIN is required. The IRS online tool requires an SSN, so non-residents must use the fax route. ein.so handles this filing remotely.
Non-residents can form an Arkansas LLC and obtain an EIN without ever entering the United States. The federal EIN process is identical in all 50 states.
Form Your Arkansas LLC
Gather Your Documents
Complete Form SS-4
Submit by Fax and Receive Your EIN
ein.so completes the SS-4 to prevent the silent rejections that international applicants face from address and name formatting errors. See EIN without SSN and EIN for non-residents for the full non-resident path.
How to Apply
What Are the Ways to Get an EIN in Arkansas?
There are four ways to get an EIN in Arkansas, and the right one depends on whether you hold an SSN. US residents with an SSN apply online for free and instantly. Non-residents without an SSN use fax with a passport number.
| Method | Speed | Cost | SSN required |
|---|---|---|---|
| Online | Instant | $0 (IRS) | Yes |
| Fax | 4-7 days | $0 / $49 (ein.so) | No |
| Phone | Same day | $0 | International callers only |
| 4-6 weeks | $0 | No |
The IRS charges $0 for the EIN by every method. The fee you pay a service covers the application work, not the number. See how to get an EIN for complete instructions and EIN cost for a price breakdown across methods.
The fax method is the standard route for non-residents because the IRS online tool blocks applicants without an SSN. ein.so prepares your Form SS-4, faxes it to the IRS, and emails your EIN. See EIN processing time for current timelines.
After Approval
What Does an Arkansas Business Do After Getting an EIN?
After getting an EIN, an Arkansas business opens a US bank account, registers for state taxes if required, files its federal BOI report, and meets annual IRS obligations. The EIN is the starting point, not the finish line.
Open a US Bank Account
Register for Arkansas State Taxes
File Your BOI Report
Meet Annual IRS Filings
Taxes
How Do Arkansas and Federal Taxes Work With an EIN?
Your federal EIN handles IRS reporting, while a separate Arkansas state tax ID handles state filings. Arkansas levies a state income tax administered by the Department of Finance and Administration; confirm the current rate with a CPA. The EIN itself is not a tax bill, it is an identifier.
A single-member US LLC owned by a non-resident is usually treated as a disregarded entity for US federal income tax. The owner reports income rather than the LLC, but the LLC still carries information-return duties.
Foreign-owned LLC filing duties
- File Form 5472 with a pro-forma Form 1120 every year for a foreign-owned single-member LLC.
- The penalty for failing to file Form 5472 is $25,000.
- File a federal BOI report with FinCEN for most LLCs.
- Confirm Arkansas state tax registration needs with the Department of Finance and Administration.
ein.so files Form SS-4 to obtain your EIN and does not provide tax advice. Work with a US CPA familiar with non-resident matters and, if needed, an Arkansas tax professional. See Form 5472 guide and BOI filing for the federal side.
Comparison
Should You DIY the EIN or Use ein.so?
For US residents with an SSN, the IRS online tool is free and instant, so DIY makes sense. For non-residents without an SSN, the fax route involves international logistics, address formatting, and silent IRS rejections, which is where ein.so saves time.
| Factor | DIY fax (free) | ein.so Standard ($49) | ein.so Express ($97) |
|---|---|---|---|
| IRS fee | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Service fee | $0 | $49 | $97 |
| Delivery time | 4-7 days if error-free | 4-7 business days | 2-3 business days |
| SS-4 prepared for you | No | Yes | Yes |
| Rejection risk handled | No | Yes | Yes |
The IRS charges nothing in every column, because the EIN is always free. The service fee covers preparing and faxing Form SS-4 correctly and resubmitting if the IRS rejects the filing. Non-residents who need an EIN tied to an Arkansas LLC use ein.so to avoid the common formatting errors that delay DIY applications by weeks.
ein.so also offers an ITIN service at $197 Standard or $297 Express for owners who later need an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number for personal US tax filing. The EIN and the ITIN are separate identifiers for separate purposes.
Next Steps
After Getting Your EIN in Arkansas
- Apply for your EIN — ein.so files Form SS-4 for non-residents from $49
- Open a US bank account — Mercury, Relay, and Wise accept non-resident LLC owners
- File your BOI report — required for most LLCs, filed with FinCEN
- File Form 5472 — annually for foreign-owned LLCs ($25,000 penalty for non-filing)
- Review the SS-4 form guide — every field explained for non-residents
Learn more: how to get an EIN | EIN without SSN | EIN for non-residents | EIN cost | EIN processing time.
Other states: Utah | Oklahoma | Kansas | Mississippi. Browse all on EIN by State.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is an Arkansas EIN different from a federal EIN?
No. The EIN is a federal number issued by the IRS. It is the same 9-digit number (XX-XXXXXXX) regardless of which state you operate in. Arkansas does not issue its own version of an EIN. Your Arkansas LLC uses the same federal EIN that an LLC in any other state uses.
How do I get an EIN in Arkansas as a non-resident?
Non-residents file IRS Form SS-4 by fax to 855-215-1627. Enter your passport number on Line 7b. No SSN or ITIN is needed. The IRS online tool requires an SSN, so non-residents must use fax. ein.so prepares and faxes the form for $49 Standard (4-7 business days) or $97 Express (2-3 business days).
Does Arkansas have a state tax ID separate from the EIN?
Yes. Arkansas issues a separate state tax registration through the Department of Finance and Administration for sales tax and withholding. This is not the same as your federal EIN. Many Arkansas businesses need both: the federal EIN for IRS filings and the state ID for Arkansas state taxes.
How much does it cost to get an EIN in Arkansas?
The IRS charges $0 for an EIN. The cost is the application work, not the number. ein.so charges $49 Standard or $97 Express to prepare and fax Form SS-4 for non-residents who cannot use the SSN-only online tool. Forming an Arkansas LLC with the Secretary of State carries a separate state filing fee.
Do I need an SSN to get an EIN for an Arkansas LLC?
No. An SSN is not required to obtain an EIN. The IRS online tool requires an SSN, but the fax method does not. Non-residents enter a passport number on Form SS-4 Line 7b instead. See our EIN without SSN guide. ein.so handles the fax filing for applicants outside the United States.
How long does it take to get an EIN in Arkansas?
US residents using the IRS online tool receive an EIN instantly. Non-residents using fax wait 4-7 business days for an error-free Form SS-4. ein.so Standard delivers in 4-7 business days for $49; Express delivers in 2-3 business days for $97. Mail filing takes 4-6 weeks.
Can a non-resident form an Arkansas LLC and get an EIN?
Yes. A non-resident can register an LLC with the Arkansas Secretary of State and obtain a federal EIN without living in the US or holding an SSN. You attach the EIN to the LLC after formation. The EIN process is federal and identical to every other state.
Does a foreign-owned Arkansas LLC have IRS filing duties?
Yes. A foreign-owned single-member US LLC files Form 5472 with a pro-forma Form 1120 each year. The penalty for failing to file is $25,000. This is an information return, not always a tax bill. Confirm your specific obligations with a US CPA. See our Form 5472 guide.
What is the Arkansas state income tax and how does the EIN relate?
Arkansas levies a state income tax administered by the Department of Finance and Administration; confirm the current rate with a CPA. Your federal EIN is used for IRS reporting, while a separate Arkansas state tax ID covers state filings. The EIN does not replace state tax registration.
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