Process Guide

EIN Online Application

Step-by-step guide to the IRS EIN Assistant online application. Get your EIN instantly with an SSN or ITIN, or file by fax through ein.so without one. $49 Standard, $97 Express.

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The IRS EIN Assistant at irs.gov lets US residents with an SSN or ITIN apply for an EIN online and receive it instantly. The application takes 10-15 minutes and is open Monday through Friday, 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM Eastern Time. The IRS charges $0. Non-residents without an SSN cannot use this tool and must file Form SS-4 by fax to 855-215-1627 instead. ein.so prepares and faxes your SS-4 for $49 Standard (4-7 business days) or $97 Express (2-3 business days).

The EIN online application is the fastest way to get an Employer Identification Number when you qualify. An EIN is the 9-digit federal tax ID the IRS assigns to a business, formatted XX-XXXXXXX. The IRS EIN Assistant issues it on the spot for applicants who hold a Social Security Number or an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number. The catch is identity verification: the tool checks the responsible party against a US tax record. Non-US residents have no SSN or ITIN, so the online path is closed to them. This guide covers who can use the online tool, the exact steps, the limitations, and the fax alternative that works for everyone. For the full overview of every method, see how to get an EIN.

Factor	IRS Online Tool	ein.so Fax Service
Who qualifies	SSN or ITIN holders	Anyone, including non-residents
Identification	SSN or ITIN	Passport number on Line 7b
Government fee	$0	$0 (IRS)
Service cost	Free	$49 Standard / $97 Express
Speed	Instant	4-7 days / 2-3 days
Availability	Mon-Fri 7am-10pm ET	Any time
Result	EIN + CP 575	EIN + CP 575 by email

Eligibility

Who Can Use the EIN Online Application?

US residents and entities with a responsible party who holds a valid SSN or ITIN can use the EIN online application. The IRS EIN Assistant verifies the responsible party against a US tax record, so anyone without an SSN or ITIN is blocked. The principal business must also be located in the US or its territories.

The online tool sets four hard requirements. Each one is a gate; failing any one stops the application.

A US Tax ID

The responsible party must enter a valid SSN or ITIN. The system cross-checks this against IRS records in real time. A passport number does not work online. Applicants without an SSN or ITIN use the fax route described below. See EIN without an SSN.

An Individual Responsible Party

The responsible party must be a person, not another company. For an LLC, this is usually the managing member or owner. The IRS removed the option to name an entity as responsible party in 2018. See responsible party on EIN.

A US Principal Location

The entity must report a principal address in the United States or a US territory. The online tool does not accept a foreign principal address. Non-residents with a US LLC still cannot use it because the responsible party lacks an SSN.

One EIN Per Day

The IRS limits each responsible party to one EIN per day, online or otherwise. If you need EINs for multiple entities, space the applications across business days. This daily limit applies to every application method.

Step by Step

How Do You Apply for an EIN Online With the IRS EIN Assistant?

You apply for an EIN online by opening the IRS EIN Assistant at irs.gov, selecting your entity type, entering the responsible party SSN or ITIN, supplying your business details, and submitting. The IRS issues your EIN immediately. The full process takes 10-15 minutes, and the tool runs Monday through Friday, 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM Eastern Time.

Open the IRS EIN Assistant

Go to irs.gov and find the EIN Assistant on the Small Business page. Use only the official irs.gov domain. Avoid third-party sites that copy the IRS interface and charge a fee for the free government form.

Select Your Entity Type

Choose your structure: sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, S-corporation, LLC, trust, estate, or other. Your selection determines which IRS returns you file later. An LLC asks how many members it has next.

Enter the Responsible Party

Provide the responsible party name and SSN or ITIN. This must be an individual. The IRS validates the number against its records before letting you continue. A failed match ends the session.

Enter Business Details

Supply the legal name, trade name (DBA), US business address, county, state, reason for applying, date the business started, closing month of the accounting year, expected employee count, and principal activity.

Review and Submit

Check every field for accuracy. A wrong entity name or address requires a later correction by mail. Submit when correct. The IRS issues your EIN on the confirmation screen instantly.

Save Your EIN Letter

Download and save the CP 575 confirmation notice as a PDF. Print a copy. You need this letter to open a US bank account, file taxes, and verify your business with payment processors.

Information Checklist Before You Start

The session expires after 15 minutes of inactivity and does not save progress. Gather everything first.

Field	What to Enter
Responsible party	Full legal name plus SSN or ITIN
Entity type	LLC, corporation, partnership, sole prop, etc.
Legal name	Exact name on your formation documents
US address	Street, city, county, state, ZIP
Reason for applying	Started new business, banking, hiring, etc.
Date started	Month and year the business began
Principal activity	E.g., software, e-commerce, consulting

For the underlying form fields, read the SS-4 form guide.

Limitations

Who Cannot Use the EIN Online Application?

Non-US residents without an SSN or ITIN cannot use the EIN online application, because the IRS EIN Assistant verifies the responsible party against a US tax record. The tool also blocks foreign principal addresses, runs only on weekday business hours, and serves one EIN per responsible party per day. These applicants file Form SS-4 by fax instead.

The limitations below explain why millions of international founders skip the online tool entirely.

No SSN or ITIN — The system requires a US tax ID and rejects passport numbers. This blocks most non-residents.
Weekend and evening closures — The tool is offline outside Mon-Fri 7am-10pm ET, including most federal holidays.
One EIN per day — Each responsible party gets one EIN per day across all methods.
US principal address only — A foreign principal business address is not accepted online.
No saved progress — A 15-minute timeout ends the session, forcing a full restart.

Alternatives When the Online Tool Is Closed to You

Non-residents and applicants without an SSN have three official channels. The fax route is the standard choice.

Method	IRS Fax / Phone	Speed	Cost
Fax Form SS-4	855-215-1627	4-7 business days	Free (DIY) or $49 (ein.so)
Phone	267-941-1099	Same day	Free + international call charges
Mail Form SS-4	IRS Cincinnati office	4-6 weeks	Free

Most non-residents choose ein.so because we complete Form SS-4 correctly, enter your passport number on Line 7b, and fax it to the IRS for you. See EIN for non-residents and EIN without an SSN. Apply for your EIN for $49.

Non-Residents

How Do Non-Residents Get an EIN Without the Online Tool?

Non-residents get an EIN by filing Form SS-4 by fax to 855-215-1627, using a passport number on Line 7b in place of an SSN. The IRS does not require a Social Security Number, an ITIN, or a US visit for international applicants. The IRS issues most error-free faxed EINs within 4-7 business days.

This is the same federal process that issues every EIN; only the channel differs. The fax method has run for decades and remains stable.

Complete Form SS-4 With Your Passport

Enter your entity name on Line 1, your address on Line 4, your full legal name as responsible party on Line 7a, and your passport number on Line 7b. Write "Foreign" if the SSN field demands a value.

Fax the SS-4 to the IRS

Send the completed form to the IRS EIN fax line at 855-215-1627. International applicants use this dedicated number. ein.so handles this step so you avoid international fax setup.

Receive Your CP 575 EIN Letter

The IRS returns the EIN assignment letter, the CP 575. Standard ein.so processing takes 4-7 business days; Express takes 2-3 business days. Your EIN never expires.

A common failure point is address formatting. The IRS silently rejects malformed international addresses, and the applicant waits weeks for a letter that never arrives. ein.so reformats your address to an IRS-accepted style before faxing. For timing details, see EIN processing time, and for the full cost picture, see EIN cost.

Cost

How Much Does the EIN Online Application Cost?

The EIN online application costs $0, because the IRS never charges a fee for an EIN through any channel. Online, by fax, by phone, and by mail, the government fee is the same: nothing. A paid service fee applies only when you hire a filer because you cannot access the free online tool.

ein.so charges a flat service fee for handling the fax filing on behalf of non-residents. The IRS still charges $0; the fee covers form preparation, address formatting, faxing, and EIN delivery by email.

Service	EIN Government Fee	Service Fee	Total	Speed
IRS online tool (DIY)	$0	$0	$0	Instant
ein.so Standard	$0	$49	$49	4-7 business days
ein.so Express	$0	$97	$97	2-3 business days

If you also need a US tax ID for an individual, ein.so files ITIN applications for $197 Standard or $297 Express. An EIN identifies a business; an ITIN identifies a person. They are different IDs for different purposes. Most non-resident LLC owners need only the EIN. Read more on EIN cost and how to get an EIN.

After Approval

What Should You Do After You Get Your EIN?

After you get your EIN, open a US business bank account, connect payment processors, file your beneficial ownership report, and meet your annual IRS filing duties. The EIN is the starting point for US banking, payments, and tax compliance, not the final step.

A foreign-owned single-member US LLC carries specific federal filing duties. Missing them is expensive.

Open a US Bank Account

Use your EIN, CP 575 letter, and passport to open an account with Mercury, Relay, or Wise. Most approve non-resident LLC owners remotely within a few business days. See EIN for a bank account.

File Your BOI Report

Most US LLCs report beneficial ownership to FinCEN. Review the BOI filing rules and complete the report to avoid penalties. The filing itself is free at fincen.gov.

File Form 5472 Annually

A foreign-owned single-member US LLC files Form 5472 plus a pro-forma Form 1120 each year. The penalty for not filing is $25,000. This is an information return, not always a tax bill. Confirm specifics with a CPA.

Set Up Payments

Connect your EIN to Stripe, PayPal, or Payoneer to bill US customers in dollars. A US entity with an EIN unlocks payout rails that favor US businesses. Pair this with your new US bank account.

ein.so handles the EIN application and does not provide tax advice. Confirm your tax filings with a US CPA familiar with non-resident matters. Your EIN opens the door; a CPA keeps you compliant.

Next Steps

Next Steps After the EIN Online Application

Apply for your EIN — ein.so files Form SS-4 by fax for $49 Standard or $97 Express
Open a US bank account — Mercury, Relay, and Wise accept non-resident LLC owners
File your BOI report — required for most LLCs, free at fincen.gov
File Form 5472 — annually for foreign-owned LLCs, $25,000 penalty for non-filing
Learn the process — read how to get an EIN and the SS-4 form guide

More guides: EIN without an SSN | EIN for non-residents | EIN processing time | EIN cost.

Apply for your EIN — $49

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I apply for an EIN online?

Yes, if you have a valid SSN or ITIN. The IRS EIN Assistant at irs.gov issues your EIN instantly when you finish the application. The tool is open Monday through Friday, 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM Eastern Time. The whole process takes 10-15 minutes and costs $0.

Can non-residents apply for an EIN online?

No. The IRS EIN Assistant requires a valid SSN or ITIN to verify the responsible party. Non-residents without either must file Form SS-4 by fax to 855-215-1627 or by phone at 267-941-1099. ein.so prepares and faxes your SS-4 for $49 Standard or $97 Express.

How long does the online EIN application take?

The online EIN application takes 10-15 minutes from start to finish. The IRS issues your EIN immediately when you submit a complete form. You can download and print the EIN confirmation, the CP 575 notice, right away. There is no waiting period and no mailed delay for online applicants.

Is the online EIN application free?

Yes. The IRS EIN Assistant is completely free, and the IRS charges $0 for an EIN through any method. There is no government fee online, by fax, by phone, or by mail. ein.so charges a service fee ($49 or $97) only because non-residents cannot access the free online tool.

What information do I need for the online EIN application?

You need your SSN or ITIN, the legal name of the entity, the entity type, the reason for applying, the date the business started, the number of employees expected in 12 months, the principal business activity, and a US mailing address. Gather these before you start, because the session times out after 15 minutes of inactivity.

Why does the IRS online tool reject non-residents?

The IRS online tool validates the responsible party against a US tax record using an SSN or ITIN. Non-residents have neither, so the system stops the application. The IRS designed the fax and phone channels for international applicants, who enter a passport number on Form SS-4 Line 7b instead of an SSN.

Can I save my online EIN application and finish it later?

No. The IRS EIN Assistant does not save progress. Your session expires after 15 minutes of inactivity, and you must start over. Gather every field in advance: entity name, address, responsible party SSN or ITIN, entity type, and principal activity. Complete the application in one sitting to avoid losing your entries.

What is the difference between the online tool and the ein.so fax service?

The IRS online tool is free and instant but requires an SSN or ITIN, so it serves US residents only. The ein.so fax service serves non-residents who use a passport number on Form SS-4. ein.so prepares the SS-4, faxes it to 855-215-1627, and delivers your EIN by email in 4-7 business days for $49.

Does the online tool work on weekends?

No. The IRS EIN Assistant is offline outside Monday through Friday, 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM Eastern Time. It does not run on weekends or most federal holidays. The fax channel accepts Form SS-4 at any time, which is one reason non-residents and busy applicants choose the fax route that ein.so manages.

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