Getting an EIN takes about ten minutes if you apply online through the IRS website, and the number is issued at the end of the session. Faxing Form SS-4 takes roughly four business days. Mailing the form takes four to five weeks. All three methods are free, and the EIN is active the moment it’s assigned.
Processing Time by Application Method
The method you choose is the single biggest factor in how quickly you get your number.
Online: Same Session
The IRS online EIN Assistant issues your number immediately once your information is validated. You answer a short series of questions and receive the EIN on screen at the end, with a confirmation you can download or print. To use the tool, you need a valid SSN or ITIN and a principal place of business in the United States or U.S. territories.1Internal Revenue Service. Get an Employer Identification Number
The tool operates on a schedule (Eastern Time):1Internal Revenue Service. Get an Employer Identification Number
- Monday through Friday: 6:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. the next day
- Saturday: 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
- Sunday: 6:00 p.m. to midnight
One rule catches people setting up multiple entities: the IRS issues only one EIN per responsible party per day. If you need numbers for several businesses, plan to spread the applications across separate days.1Internal Revenue Service. Get an Employer Identification Number
Fax: About Four Business Days
Fax a completed Form SS-4 to 855-641-6935. If you include a return fax number, the IRS will fax back your EIN in about four business days.2Internal Revenue Service. Employer Identification Number The IRS notes that high inventory levels can push processing beyond that estimate, so if a week passes with no response, check the IRS processing status page.
Mail: Four to Five Weeks
Mailing Form SS-4 is the slowest option. The IRS instructs applicants to send the form at least four to five weeks before they’ll need the EIN.3Internal Revenue Service. Instructions for Form SS-4 Unless something specific prevents you from applying online or by fax, there’s little reason to choose mail.
Phone: Same Call, but Only for International Applicants
If your principal place of business is outside the United States, the online tool isn’t available to you. You can call 267-941-1099 (not toll-free), Monday through Friday, 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The caller must be authorized to receive the EIN and able to answer every question on Form SS-4. If the information checks out, the IRS issues the EIN during the call.3Internal Revenue Service. Instructions for Form SS-4 International applicants can also use fax or mail.
When You Can Start Using the Number
Your EIN is active as soon as it’s assigned. You can open a business bank account, apply for licenses, and process payroll right away.4Internal Revenue Service. Valid EINs There is one gap to plan around: electronic tax filing. The IRS needs up to two weeks to fully load a new EIN into its e-file systems, so you may not be able to submit an electronic return during that window.2Internal Revenue Service. Employer Identification Number If a tax deadline is close, either build that two-week gap into your timeline or plan to file a paper return.
What Can Slow Your Application Down
Most delays come from problems on the application itself. A misspelled name, an incorrect SSN or ITIN, or a mismatch between what you entered and what the IRS has on file for the responsible party will stall the process. The online tool catches many of these errors in real time; fax and mail applications don’t surface problems until an IRS employee opens the form.
Common causes of delay:
- Blank required fields on Form SS-4, which trigger a hold while the IRS contacts you
- A duplicate application when the entity already has an EIN from a prior owner or officer
- Hitting the one-EIN-per-responsible-party-per-day limit when setting up multiple entities1Internal Revenue Service. Get an Employer Identification Number
- Peak tax season and IRS processing backlogs, which can stretch fax and mail timelines2Internal Revenue Service. Employer Identification Number
Applying online avoids nearly all of these problems because the system validates your entries before submission.
What to Have Ready Before You Apply
The ten-minute online timeline assumes you have your information ready. Gather these before you open the tool.
The responsible party’s information. Every EIN application requires one named responsible party, meaning the individual who owns or controls the entity and manages its funds. For a corporation, that’s typically the principal officer; for a partnership, a general partner; for a trust, the grantor or trustor; for an estate, the executor or personal representative.5Internal Revenue Service. Responsible Parties and Nominees This person must have an SSN or ITIN. Government entities are the only exception.
The rest of what you’ll need:
- Entity type (sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, LLC, trust, estate, or nonprofit). LLCs, partnerships, corporations, and tax-exempt organizations should be registered with the state before you apply for the EIN.1Internal Revenue Service. Get an Employer Identification Number
- Reason for applying: new business, hiring employees, changing entity type, or another qualifying reason
- Legal business name, any trade names or DBAs, physical address, and mailing address
- Start or acquisition date, expected number of employees, and principal business activity
If a third party is submitting the application on your behalf, the IRS requires signed authorization for that designee.1Internal Revenue Service. Get an Employer Identification Number
With this in hand, an online application is straightforward and finishes with an EIN in the same sitting. Choose fax if you can’t apply online, and reserve mail for the situations where nothing else works.