How to Get a Federal Employer Identification (EIN) Number

If you’re self-employed and don’t want to give out your social security number to people who hire you, don’t! Did you know that you can use a Federal Employer Identification Number (EIN) instead? All businesses should have their own EIN for tax purposes. Here’s how to get your very own EIN online, and even better, it’s free!

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Your business name
• Address
• Owners or other names if it's an LLC or corporation

1. If you own a business or are doing business under your own name, have the name of your business and address handy.

2. Log in to the IRS website and complete the application online. According to the IRS, the website to apply for an EIN is not available 24 hours a day. The URL is listed in the "resources" section that appears at the bottom of this article. The application process is available Monday to Friday 6:00 a.m. to 12:30 a.m. Eastern time, Saturday 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Eastern time and Sunday 7:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. Eastern time.

3. Even better, when you apply for an EIN online, the EIN assistant asks a series of questions that you simply need to answer to secure your EIN.

4. If you have questions or need assistance, you can call the IRS toll-free at [phone].

5. Your EIN will be assigned and available immediately. A copy will be sent to you via U.S. Mail.

Tips & Warnings

• This is a quick and easy way to get your EIN.
• Sole proprietors can use their EIN instead of a social security number.

Resources

• Visit the IRS.gov website to get an EIN

[AbbyNormal]

on 4/17/2008 Great artilce and very informative. Good job!

[favefive]

on 3/3/2008 Wow, had I known these before I started my own LLC it would have saved me a lot of money by not hiring someone else to file and do it for me.