Rules

Can You Have Multiple EIN Numbers? Guide

Each entity gets one EIN. One person can own unlimited EINs across multiple businesses. A new entity needs a new EIN; name and address changes do not. ein.so files Form SS-4 for non-residents from $49.

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Each business entity gets one unique EIN, and one person can own unlimited EINs across multiple businesses. If you own 3 LLCs, you hold 3 EINs. The IRS sets no limit on EINs per person. You need a new EIN when you form a new entity or change entity type. You do NOT need a new EIN for a name change or an address change. Non-residents file Form SS-4 by fax for each entity, using a passport number in place of an SSN.

The EIN is the federal tax ID that identifies one legal entity to the IRS. The rule is simple: one entity, one EIN. A person who controls many businesses controls many EINs, because each business is a separate legal entity. Non-US residents apply for each EIN the same way, by faxing IRS Form SS-4 to 855-215-1627. This guide explains exactly when you need a new EIN, when you do not, and how to file for several EINs without an SSN. The federal SS-4 process is stable and applies the same way for one entity or ten.

Question	Answer
EINs per entity	1
Limit on EINs per person	None
New entity needs new EIN	Yes
Name or address change needs new EIN	No
IRS fee per EIN	$0
ein.so fee per filing	$49 Standard / $97 Express
Non-resident method	Fax Form SS-4 to 855-215-1627
ID on Line 7b	Passport number (no SSN/ITIN)

The Core Rule

How Many EIN Numbers Can One Person Have?

One person can have unlimited EIN numbers, with one EIN per business entity they own. The IRS sets no cap on the number of entities a person controls. Each entity files its own Form SS-4 and receives its own EIN.

The responsible party is the individual who ultimately controls the entity. The same responsible party can appear on every application. A non-resident founder who owns 5 US LLCs files 5 separate SS-4 forms and receives 5 distinct EINs. The pattern scales with no extra IRS rules.

Situation	Entities	EINs Needed
1 LLC	1	1
2 LLCs	2	2
1 LLC + 1 Corporation	2	2
5 separate businesses	5	5
1 LLC with 3 DBAs	1	1

The last row matters. A DBA (doing business as) is a registered trade name, not a separate legal entity. Three DBAs under one LLC share that LLC's single EIN. See what an EIN is for the full definition and EIN for an LLC for entity-level rules.

When You Need One

When Do You Need a New EIN Number?

You need a new EIN when you create a new legal entity, change your entity type, take a new sole proprietorship owner, or go through bankruptcy. The trigger is a change in the legal identity of the business, not a change in its details.

The IRS issues a new EIN because a new legal entity is a new taxpayer. Forming a second LLC creates a second taxpayer, so a second EIN follows. The table below lists the events that require a new number.

Event	New EIN Required?
Form a new LLC or corporation	Yes
Convert a sole proprietorship to an LLC	Yes
Convert an LLC to a corporation	Yes
New owner takes over a sole proprietorship	Yes
Entity goes through bankruptcy	Yes
Inherit and operate a business as a new entity	Yes

Each of these requires a fresh Form SS-4. For non-residents, that means a new fax filing per entity. Tax-specific edge cases, such as multi-member to single-member conversions, vary; confirm your situation with a CPA before filing.

When You Do Not

When Do You NOT Need a New EIN Number?

You do not need a new EIN when your entity stays the same but its details change. A name change, an address change, adding members, or electing S-Corp status all keep the same EIN. The legal entity has not changed, so the taxpayer ID does not change.

Many founders waste time applying for EINs they do not need. The IRS keeps your existing EIN through routine business updates. The table below shows the most common events that keep your current number.

Event	New EIN Required?
Business name change	No
Business address change	No
Add or remove LLC members	No
Change your registered agent	No
Elect S-Corporation tax status	No
Open a new bank account	No
Start a new DBA under the same LLC	No

For a name change, you notify the IRS in writing and keep your EIN. For an address change, you file Form 8822-B and keep your EIN. Read the EIN name change and EIN address change guides for the exact steps.

Non-Resident Process

How Do Non-Residents Apply for Multiple EINs?

Non-residents apply for each EIN by faxing a separate Form SS-4 to the IRS at 855-215-1627, using a passport number on Line 7b. No SSN or ITIN is required. Each US LLC needs its own SS-4 and its own EIN, so a founder with several LLCs repeats the process per entity.

The IRS online tool requires an SSN, so it is closed to most non-residents. The fax method is the working path. The IRS also limits the online tool to one EIN per responsible party per day, but that cap applies to the online tool, not to fax filings. A non-resident can file several SS-4 forms by fax for several entities.

List Your Entities

Identify each separate US LLC or corporation that needs an EIN. Each entity gets its own application. A holding company and two operating LLCs are three entities, so three EINs.

Complete One SS-4 Per Entity

Fill a separate Form SS-4 for each entity. Enter the entity name on Line 1, your address on Line 4, your full name as responsible party on Line 7a, and your passport number on Line 7b.

Fax Each Form to the IRS

Fax each completed SS-4 to 855-215-1627. The IRS processes each as a distinct application. The same responsible party name can appear on all of them.

Receive a CP 575 Per EIN

The IRS returns one EIN assignment letter (CP 575) per entity. Standard processing runs 4-7 business days; Express runs 2-3 business days through ein.so.

ein.so prepares and faxes each SS-4 so addresses and entity details pass IRS checks. See the full how to get an EIN walkthrough, the EIN without SSN guide, and EIN for non-residents for country-specific notes.

Cost & Speed

What Does It Cost to Get Multiple EINs?

The IRS charges $0 for every EIN, no matter how many you request. ein.so charges $49 Standard (4-7 business days) or $97 Express (2-3 business days) per Form SS-4 filing. Each entity is a separate filing, so the per-entity fee applies to every EIN.

For 3 LLCs, you file 3 separate applications. The math is per entity, because each entity is a distinct taxpayer with its own SS-4. The table below shows the cost across common scenarios.

Entities	IRS Fee	ein.so Standard	ein.so Express
1 EIN	$0	$49	$97
2 EINs	$0	$98	$194
3 EINs	$0	$147	$291
5 EINs	$0	$245	$485

Standard delivery takes 4-7 business days per filing; Express takes 2-3 business days. ein.so files concurrently, so multiple entities do not stack in a queue. See EIN cost and EIN processing time for the full breakdown. If you also need an individual tax ID, ein.so files ITINs at $197 Standard or $297 Express.

Compliance Per Entity

What Compliance Applies to Each EIN?

Each EIN carries its own federal compliance obligations. A foreign-owned single-member US LLC files Form 5472 with a pro-forma Form 1120 each year, under that LLC's own EIN. The penalty for not filing Form 5472 is $25,000 per entity, so every EIN you hold is a separate filing duty.

Multiple entities multiply your annual filings. Three LLCs mean three sets of Form 5472 filings, three BOI considerations, and three bank accounts. Keeping EINs separate is what makes this compliance possible; one shared EIN would corrupt the records.

Form 5472 + Pro-Forma 1120

Each foreign-owned single-member US LLC files Form 5472 with a pro-forma Form 1120 annually, under its own EIN. The penalty for non-filing is $25,000 per entity. This is an information return, not automatically a tax bill.

BOI Report to FinCEN

Most US LLCs report beneficial ownership to FinCEN. Each entity reports separately. Review the BOI filing rules for each LLC you own to avoid penalties.

Separate Bank Accounts

Each EIN supports its own US business bank account. Mixing funds across entities undermines liability protection. See EIN for a bank account to open one per entity.

Per-Entity Tax Returns

Tax treatment depends on entity type and your country of residence. ein.so does not give tax advice. Confirm per-entity filing duties with a US CPA familiar with non-resident matters.

The takeaway: more EINs means more compliance, and each EIN is a separate taxpayer. Plan for the annual cost and filing time of each entity before forming it. ein.so files the EIN; a CPA handles the tax specifics.

Next Steps

Get an EIN for Each Entity

List your entities — count each separate US LLC or corporation; each needs one EIN
File Form SS-4 per entity — non-residents fax each form to 855-215-1627 with a passport number on Line 7b
Apply through ein.so — $49 Standard (4-7 business days) or $97 Express (2-3 business days) per filing
Open a bank account per entity — Mercury and Relay accept non-resident LLC owners
File Form 5472 — annually per foreign-owned LLC ($25,000 penalty for non-filing)
File BOI per entity — most LLCs report beneficial ownership to FinCEN

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can one person have multiple EINs?

Yes. One person can own multiple business entities, and each entity gets its own EIN. There is no limit on the number of EINs one person controls. If you own 3 LLCs, you hold 3 EINs. The same responsible party name appears on every Form SS-4 you file.

Does each LLC need its own EIN?

Yes. Each LLC must have a unique EIN. You cannot share one EIN across two separate legal entities. The EIN identifies a single entity to the IRS for tax filing and banking. A foreign-owned LLC files Form 5472 each year under its own EIN, so mixing EINs breaks compliance.

When do I need a new EIN?

You need a new EIN when you form a new entity, change entity type (sole proprietorship to LLC or corporation), take a new sole proprietorship owner, or go through bankruptcy. You do NOT need a new EIN for a name change, an address change, or adding LLC members. Confirm edge cases with a CPA.

Can I use one EIN for two businesses?

No. Each separate legal entity needs its own EIN. Using one EIN for two entities violates IRS rules and corrupts your tax records. If you run two DBAs (trade names) under a single LLC, that single LLC uses one EIN, because the DBAs are not separate legal entities.

Is there a limit on how many EINs I can have?

No. You can hold as many EINs as you have entities. The IRS limits the online tool to one EIN per responsible party per day, but non-residents file by fax to 855-215-1627 and are not bound by that daily cap. ein.so files each Form SS-4 separately at $49 Standard per entity.

Do non-residents need a separate EIN for each US LLC?

Yes. A non-resident who owns several US LLCs needs one EIN per LLC. Each EIN application uses Form SS-4 with the owner's passport number on Line 7b. No SSN or ITIN is required. ein.so files each application by fax and delivers each EIN by email in 4-7 business days Standard.

Can the same responsible party be on multiple EIN applications?

Yes. The same person can be the responsible party on unlimited EIN applications. The responsible party is the individual who controls the entity. One non-resident founder can be the responsible party for 5 separate US LLCs, each with its own EIN issued under Form SS-4.

What is the difference between an EIN and a DBA?

An EIN identifies a legal entity to the IRS. A DBA (doing business as) is a trade name registered at the state or county level. A DBA is not a separate entity, so it shares the parent entity's EIN. One LLC with three DBAs uses one EIN for all three trade names.

How much does it cost to get multiple EINs as a non-resident?

The IRS charges $0 for each EIN. ein.so charges $49 Standard (4-7 business days) or $97 Express (2-3 business days) per Form SS-4 filing. For 3 LLCs, you file 3 separate applications. Each entity needs its own SS-4, so the per-entity fee applies to every separate EIN you request.

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