Get your EIN from the IRS
Obtain the federal Employer Identification Number for the business.
About 20 min · easy · free
Do these first
You can read this step now, but it will not work until those are done.
Why this matters
Banks, payroll and tax filings all need it, and the IRS issues it free.
Doing it
Step by step
Go to the official IRS page
Use the IRS site directly. No third party is required and the EIN is free.
Apply using your approved entity details
Enter the legal name exactly as the state approved it, or the records will not match at the bank.
Save the confirmation notice
Keep the confirmation letter as a file. You will need it for banking, payments and payroll.
Official help
- Open official page
The only official place to get an EIN, free of charge.
Get your AI to help
Hand this to your AI
Get an EIN from the IRS
Help the owner obtain an EIN correctly on the first attempt.
How should it behave?
It stops and asks you before going further: Stop before submitting the application. Warn clearly that no third party should be paid for an EIN.
Legal, tax and financial rules differ by state and change. This is process guidance, not legal, tax or financial advice - for a binding answer, use the official agency source or a licensed professional in your state. Any tool named is a suggestion to evaluate, not a requirement.
Rules where you are
Registration rules and fees are set by your state, not nationally.
You're done when
You have the EIN confirmation notice saved somewhere you can find it again.
- Not yet
You have your EIN
The nine-digit number issued by the IRS. Store it somewhere safe.
Check it worked: The number appears on the IRS confirmation letter and matches your legal entity name exactly.
Almost there
Still to confirm: You have your EIN.
If it goes wrong
Applying before the state approves the entity causes name mismatches. Only the official IRS site issues EINs, and it never charges for one.