Does an LLC Need an EIN to Open a Bank Account?

In almost every case, yes: an LLC needs an EIN to open a bank account, even though federal tax law doesn’t always require one. The IRS says a single-member LLC with no employees and no excise tax liability can use the owner’s Social Security Number for tax purposes.1Internal Revenue Service. Single Member Limited Liability Companies Banks are a different story. Federal anti-money-laundering rules require them to collect a taxpayer identification number before opening any account, and most banks will only accept an EIN for a business entity.2eCFR. 31 CFR 1020.220 – Customer Identification Program Applying is free, takes minutes online, and saves you a wasted trip to the branch.

When the IRS Actually Requires an EIN

Whether your LLC legally needs an EIN comes down to structure and activity. Three situations make one mandatory:

  • Multi-member LLCs. The IRS treats them as partnerships, which must file their own returns.
  • LLCs with employees. You need an EIN to report payroll taxes.
  • LLCs that owe excise taxes.3Internal Revenue Service. Employer Identification Number

The one LLC that can legally skip an EIN is a single-member LLC with no employees and no excise tax liability. The IRS treats that entity as “disregarded,” so income and expenses flow through the owner’s personal return under the owner’s SSN.1Internal Revenue Service. Single Member Limited Liability Companies Even then, the IRS notes you can apply for an EIN if you need one for a bank account or if your state requires it.

Why Banks Require an EIN Anyway

Banks don’t ask out of habit. Federal regulation 31 CFR 1020.220 requires every bank to maintain a Customer Identification Program. Before opening an account, the bank must collect the customer’s name, address, and an identification number. For a U.S. business entity, that identification number is a taxpayer identification number, which for an LLC generally means an EIN.2eCFR. 31 CFR 1020.220 – Customer Identification Program

Some banks will accept an owner’s SSN for a disregarded single-member LLC. Many won’t, because they want the business account cleanly separated from the owner’s personal tax identity. Calling ahead is the only reliable way to know which camp your bank is in, and because getting an EIN is free and fast, most owners just get one rather than risk it.

The EIN also becomes the LLC’s identity for everything else financial: applying for business credit, filing partnership or corporate returns if you elect that treatment, issuing 1099s to contractors, and completing W-9s for vendors.3Internal Revenue Service. Employer Identification Number

How To Get an EIN

The fastest route is the IRS online application. It’s free and issues the EIN immediately on approval. The tool runs Monday through Friday from 6:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. Eastern, Saturday from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., and Sunday from 6:00 p.m. to midnight, with a limit of one EIN per responsible party per day.4Internal Revenue Service. Get an Employer Identification Number

Have this information ready before you start:

  • The legal name of the LLC as it appears on your formation documents.
  • The LLC’s mailing address for IRS correspondence.
  • The responsible party’s full name and SSN or ITIN. This must be an individual, not another entity, and for most small LLCs it’s the sole member or managing member.
  • Entity type. Select LLC, then indicate the number of members and how the LLC is taxed (partnership, corporation, or disregarded entity).
  • A reason for applying, such as “Started new business,” “Banking purpose,” or “Hired employees.”
  • The date the business started or was acquired.5Internal Revenue Service. Instructions for Form SS-4 (12/2025) – Application for Employer Identification Number

If you can’t use the online tool, you can fax Form SS-4 to 855-641-6935 and get your EIN in about four business days, or mail the form to the IRS EIN Operation in Cincinnati and wait roughly four weeks.3Internal Revenue Service. Employer Identification Number

Save the CP-575 notice the IRS sends when it assigns your EIN. Many banks want to see it at the account-opening appointment. If you misplace it, you can call the IRS Business & Specialty Tax Line at 1-800-829-4933 to request a replacement 147C letter, which can be faxed during the call.

What Else the Bank Will Want

The EIN is the centerpiece, but banks require supporting documents too. Exact lists vary, so confirm with your bank before the appointment. Common requests include:

  • Articles of Organization (sometimes called a Certificate of Formation or Certificate of Organization). This is what you filed with the state to create the LLC and proves it legally exists.
  • The operating agreement. Banks review it to see who has authority to sign on the account.
  • An LLC resolution authorizing a specific person to open and manage the account, especially if the operating agreement is silent on banking authority.
  • Government-issued photo ID and SSN for every signer.2eCFR. 31 CFR 1020.220 – Customer Identification Program
  • A DBA certificate if the LLC operates under a trade name different from its registered legal name.
  • Business licenses or permits, particularly for regulated industries.
  • Funds for the minimum opening deposit, which varies by bank and account type.

Bring everything on the bank’s checklist plus your EIN confirmation letter. Missing a single document can push things back by days, especially if you need to request certified copies of formation documents from the state.

If You’re a Non-U.S. Owner

Foreign owners of U.S.-registered LLCs run into extra steps. The IRS online EIN tool isn’t available if your principal place of business is outside the United States, so you’ll apply by phone (267-941-1099 for international callers), fax, or mail.4Internal Revenue Service. Get an Employer Identification Number The responsible party on the application must have an SSN or ITIN. If you have neither, you’ll need to apply for an ITIN first or designate a U.S.-based responsible party.

At the bank, a current passport is the most widely accepted ID for non-residents, and federal rules allow banks to accept a passport number and country of issuance as an alternative identification number for non-U.S. persons.2eCFR. 31 CFR 1020.220 – Customer Identification Program You’ll still need your EIN, articles of organization, operating agreement, and a U.S. business address. Some larger banks also want a U.S.-issued state ID alongside the passport, and a few require an in-person visit to a U.S. branch. Check bank policies before choosing where to apply.