How to Obtain an EIN Number in 2026
4 IRS-authorized routes: online at irs.gov (15 minutes, SSN required), fax to 855-215-1627 (4 to 7 business days), mail to Cincinnati OH 45999 (6 to 11 weeks), phone at 267-941-1099 (international only).
einnumber.co files Form SS-4 by fax in 5 business days at $67, or 24 hours at $97 with the IRS call included.
What are the 4 routes to obtain an EIN?
Online: 15 minutes at irs.gov with SSN or ITIN. Fax: 4 to 7 business days to 855-215-1627 without an SSN. Mail: 6 to 11 weeks to Cincinnati OH 45999. Phone: 1 call for international applicants at 267-941-1099. All 4 cost $0 at the IRS.
| Route | Time | SSN required | IRS fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Online (IRS assistant) | 15 minutes | Yes | $0 |
| Fax (855-215-1627) | 4-7 business days | No | $0 |
| Mail (Cincinnati 45999) | 6-11 weeks | No | $0 |
| Phone (267-941-1099) | 1 call | No | $0 |
| einnumber.co Standard | 12-14 business days | No | $67 |
| einnumber.co Fast | 6-8 business days | No | $97 |
How does the online route work?
Visit irs.gov and open the EIN assistant. The session runs 15 minutes end to end and covers 12 screens. The tool validates line 7b against SSN and ITIN records; without either, the tool blocks the applicant. Hours: 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Eastern, Monday to Friday. Cost: $0.
How does the fax route work?
Complete Form SS-4 across all 18 fields. Sign line 18. Fax to 855-215-1627 (international) or 855-641-6935 (US-based). The IRS returns the EIN by fax within 4 to 7 business days. Cost: $0 at the IRS.
See the field-by-field detail on the EIN by fax page.
How does the mail route work?
Mail 1 signed original of Form SS-4 to Internal Revenue Service, Attn: EIN International Operation, Cincinnati, OH 45999. Total time: 6 to 11 weeks plus 3 to 14 days postal transit each way. Cost: $0 at the IRS; postage runs $1.55 to $30. See apply for EIN by mail.
How does the phone route work?
International applicants only. Call 267-941-1099 between 6 a.m. and 11 p.m. Eastern, Monday to Friday. Wait time: 15 to 45 minutes. The IRS agent reads all 18 Form SS-4 fields with the caller and issues the EIN on the call. Cost: $0 at the IRS; international phone rate applies to the caller.
Which route is fastest?
Online (15 minutes) if you hold an SSN or ITIN. Fax (4 to 7 business days) if you hold neither. Phone (1 call) works for international applicants when fax fails. Mail (6 to 11 weeks) is the slowest; einnumber.co never mails. Fast tier delivers within 6 to 8 business days at $97.
What are the reference numbers?
Corporate rate 21 percent, self-employment tax 15.3 percent, Social Security 12.4 percent, Medicare 2.9 percent, additional Medicare 0.9 percent, backup withholding 24 percent, 1099 threshold $600, Form 5472 penalty $25,000, S-corp election 75 days, classification lock 60 months, EIN prefixes 60 valid, 13 unassigned.
The online assistant shows a reference code, not an EIN, when it stops. Code 101 flags a name conflict; 109 to 113 are technical; 114 is the 1-per-day limit. The EIN reference number 101 page maps every code to its cause and fix.
What else do people ask about how to obtain an EIN?
10 more questions across the 4 routes. IRS fee stays $0. Online takes 15 minutes with an SSN; fax takes 4 to 7 business days without. Mail runs 6 to 11 weeks. Phone works for international applicants only.
How do I obtain an EIN number?
File Form SS-4. 4 routes: online at irs.gov (15 minutes, requires SSN or ITIN), fax to 855-215-1627 (4 to 7 business days), mail to Cincinnati OH 45999 (6 to 11 weeks), phone at 267-941-1099 (international only). The IRS charges $0 through every route.
How do I retrieve my EIN number if I lost it?
3 retrieval routes for owners: check the CP-575 letter, check line B of a prior tax return (Form 1120, 1120-S, or 1065), or call 267-941-1099 for a 147C letter. 147C arrives by fax in 1 to 2 business days. All 3 routes cost $0 at the IRS.
What is the fastest way to obtain an EIN?
Online at irs.gov, 15 minutes end to end, with SSN or ITIN required on line 7b. Without an SSN, fax to 855-215-1627 in 4 to 7 business days. Mail runs 6 to 11 weeks. einnumber.co Fast runs 6 to 8 business days at 97 with the IRS call made within 24 hours.
Can I acquire an EIN without an SSN?
Yes. Line 7b of Form SS-4 accepts the word Foreign when the responsible party holds no SSN and no ITIN. The IRS returns the EIN by fax within 4 to 7 business days at $0. Fax to 855-215-1627. The online IRS assistant blocks non-SSN applicants at line 7b in 100 percent of cases.
Is EIN obtainment free?
Yes at the IRS. $0 for the number, $0 for Form SS-4, $0 for the CP-575 letter. All 4 filing methods cost $0. einnumber.co charges 67 Standard or 97 Fast for preparation and filing. Competitor prices: Rocket Lawyer $59.99, ZenBusiness $99, Northwest $200. IRS fee remains $0.
How do I get an EIN as a foreign founder?
File Form SS-4 with the state-approved LLC name on line 1, foreign address on line 4b, responsible party name on line 7a, and Foreign on line 7b. Fax to 855-215-1627. The IRS returns the EIN within 4 to 7 business days at $0. Read <a href="/ein-for-foreigners/">EIN for foreigners</a> for the full walkthrough.
How do I get an EIN for a Delaware LLC?
Register the Delaware LLC with the state ($90 filing fee, 5 to 7 business days approval). Once approved, file Form SS-4 with the exact Delaware LLC legal name on line 1. Fax to 855-215-1627 for a 4 to 7 business day EIN. Read <a href="/ein-number-delaware/">EIN in Delaware</a> for the full state-specific rules.
How do I get an EIN by phone?
International applicants only. Call 267-941-1099 between 6 a.m. and 11 p.m. Eastern, Monday to Friday. Have Form SS-4 completed before dialing; the agent reads through all 18 fields with you. Wait times run 15 to 45 minutes. The IRS assigns the EIN on the call. Non-toll-free line.
What paperwork do I need to obtain an EIN?
1 form: Form SS-4, 18 numbered fields. State approval certificate (LLC or corp), for line 1 legal name verification. Responsible party name and SSN or ITIN or Foreign for line 7a/7b. Foreign address for line 4b if applicable. 0 passport photos required. 0 identity documents required. The IRS asks for none.
What confirms the EIN after obtaining it?
The CP-575 confirmation letter. The IRS issues 1 CP-575 per EIN and prints the 9-digit EIN in bold, the legal name from line 1, and the issue date. Online applications produce the CP-575 as PDF at the end of the 15-minute session. Fax and mail applications return the CP-575 by return fax or return mail within 4 to 7 business days.