So, you’re starting a business. That’s awesome. But honestly, before you can start hiring people or even opening a decent bank account at Chase or Bank of America, you need that nine-digit number. The Employer Identification Number. It’s basically a social security number for your company. Getting it is free, yet thousands of people pay "filing services" $300 to do it for them every single month. Don't be that person. Understanding how to file for ein online is surprisingly easy if you know the IRS's weirdly specific schedule and the technical traps that crash their ancient website.
Most people think they can just hop on the IRS website at 2:00 AM on a Sunday and get it done. Nope. The IRS literally "closes" their digital application. It’s only open from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday. If you try to do this on a Saturday, the page just won't load right. It’s kind of ridiculous for 2026, but that’s the government for you.
💡 You might also like: Richest Business in the World: Why Everyone Is Looking at the Wrong Numbers
The one thing that kills your EIN application every time
You’ve got to be fast. I mean really fast. The IRS session timer is notoriously aggressive. If you stop to look up your North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for more than 15 minutes, the system kicks you out. You lose everything. No saving progress. No "drafts" folder. You just start over from the beginning while questioning your life choices.
Before you even click "Apply Now," have your details ready. You need the legal name of the entity, the trade name (DBA) if you have one, and most importantly, the Social Security Number (SSN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) of the "Responsible Party." The IRS defines the Responsible Party as the person who ultimately owns or controls the entity. You can’t just put a random manager there; it needs to be the person who actually pulls the strings.
One weird quirk: if you already used your SSN to get an EIN for another business recently, the system might throw an "Error Reference Number 101." This basically means the IRS wants to talk to a human to make sure you aren't a bot or a fraudster. If that happens, you’re stuck filing Form SS-4 by fax or mail. Yeah, fax. It still exists in the tax world.
How to file for EIN online without getting scammed
If you search Google for "apply for EIN," the first five results are usually ads. They look official. They use red, white, and blue colors. They have names like "Federal Filing Service." They are not the IRS. They will charge you a "processing fee" for a service that takes about six minutes on the actual government site. Always look for the .gov URL. If it doesn't end in .gov, you're on a private site that wants your money.
Choosing the right legal structure
This is where the nuance kicks in. You have to tell the IRS if you're a Sole Proprietorship, an LLC, a Corporation, or even a Church. Most new entrepreneurs are filing for an LLC. If you are the only owner, you're a "Single-Member LLC." The IRS actually treats you as a "disregarded entity" for tax purposes unless you tell them otherwise.
💡 You might also like: Loneliness in Leadership: Why Most Founders and CEOs Won't Admit They’re Struggling
Wait. Why does that matter?
It matters because if you're a single-member LLC, you'll still file your taxes on your personal Form 1040. But you still want the EIN so you don't have to give your personal SSN to every vendor or client who needs a W-9. It’s about privacy. It’s about looking like a real business and not just someone working from their kitchen table.
The "Reason for Applying" Trap
The IRS asks why you’re doing this. Usually, it's "Started a new business." But sometimes it's because you "Hired employees" or "Changed organization type." Don't overthink this. If you're just starting out, "Started a new business" is the safest bet. It doesn't change your tax liability; it just helps the IRS categorize your file.
Once you get to the end, you'll see a summary page. Check it. Double-check it. Triple-check it. If you misspell your business name here, it's a nightmare to fix later. You'll have to write a physical letter to the IRS office in Cincinnati or Ogden to get it corrected. Nobody wants to write letters to Ogden.
Getting your confirmation letter (The CP 575)
The best part of knowing how to file for ein online is the instant gratification. If everything goes right, the system generates a PDF. This is your CP 575 notice.
Download it immediately.
Don't just look at it. Save it to your Google Drive, your Dropbox, and maybe even print a copy for your physical files. Banks are incredibly picky about this specific piece of paper. If you lose it, you can call the IRS to get a "confirmation letter" (the LTR 147C), but you’ll be on hold for two hours just to get a clerk to fax it to you. Save yourself the headache and keep that original PDF like it’s a bar of gold.
What about non-U.S. citizens?
This is a common sticking point. If you aren't a U.S. citizen and don't have an SSN or ITIN, you actually cannot use the online system. You're forced into the "paper lane." You'll have to fill out the SS-4 and call the IRS International EIN line. They'll take the info over the phone, or you can fax it. It’s a slower process—usually a few weeks—but it's the only way for international founders to get into the U.S. market officially.
Immediate steps to take right now
Once the PDF is in your hands, the "filing" part is over, but the "business" part starts. You should immediately take that EIN to a bank. Most neobanks like Mercury or Relay or traditional ones like Chase will let you open an account within minutes once they verify the number against the IRS database. Keep in mind, it can take up to two weeks for your new EIN to become "active" in all government systems, even though you have the number. If you try to apply for a specialized permit or a high-level merchant account the same day, their automated systems might say the number is invalid. Just wait a few days.
- Verify the current time is between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. ET on a weekday.
- Gather your SSN and the exact legal name you registered with the Secretary of State.
- Clear your browser cache or use an Incognito window to avoid session errors.
- Navigate directly to the official IRS.gov "Apply for an Employer ID Number" page.
- Complete the form in one sitting to avoid the 15-minute timeout.
- Save the CP 575 PDF to at least two different secure digital locations.
Having an EIN is the first real step in separating yourself from your business. It builds a "corporate veil" that helps protect your personal assets. It makes you a professional. And most importantly, doing it yourself for free means you have an extra $300 to spend on marketing or inventory instead of handing it over to a middleman for no reason.