Do you need to open a business bank account, file a tax return, hire employees, or apply for business licenses in the US for your Limited Liability Company? In that case, you have to obtain the Employer Identification Number or tax ID number for all such purposes.
You will need this tax ID even if you live outside the US but have business there. If you are looking to apply for the Tax ID number for your LLC, find out everything about it here.
APPLY FOR AN LLC TAX ID (EIN) NUMBER
In the US, an EIN is required to operate an LLC, corporation, trust, and other entities and meet federal or state tax purposes. The IRS issues the Tax ID number for your legal entity once you register it with the state.
According to the IRS guidelines, you can apply for a Tax ID number for your business entity in the US in the following ways:
- Online: You can use the IRS online tool to apply for an EIN directly, complete the application in a few minutes, and get the EIN online.
- FAX: You can download the EIN application form, Form SS-4, here, and after filling in the required information and attaching the documents, you can fax it to 855-641-6935.
- Mail form: Mailed the Form SS-4 with valid entities to the following address:
- EIN Operation,
- Cincinnati, OH 45999
What documents are required to apply for an LLC EIN?
Now that you know the ways to apply for the LLC Tax ID for your entity, check out the documents you will need for the application below:
- Business Entity Type (here it is LLC)
- If you are a third-party designee of the entity applying for the EIN of the LLC, you must submit a signed authorization.
- Social Security Number or Tax ID, and signature of the responsible party (the responsible party is someone who is in charge of the entity or its assets in the US).
- Have your business name ready as per the rules, where only alphabets, numbers (0-9), & and hyphens are accepted in the name.
Important Note:
- Some LLCs, business corporations, or other entities have to report their beneficial owners (who ultimately are the owners of the company) to the US Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN).
- If you have doubts or more questions about reporting the beneficial owner to the FinCEN, you can find more information here.
Steps to apply online for LLC Tax ID
If you do not have time and wish to get your EIN as soon as possible, your best resort is the online tool of the IRS, which is available during weekdays between 7 AM to 10 PM. However, you should keep a few things in mind before you begin your application, such as:
- You must have created the legal entity and registered it with the US state where it is established or operating.
- You should complete the EIN application in one session, and if you keep it inactive, it will expire after 15 minutes.
- You can only use this tool if your main place of business is the US, so if it is outside the US, you have to follow other methods to obtain an EIN.
- Apply carefully because the tool only permits one EIN application per responsible party per day.
Now that you are ready, you can complete the online application for LLC Tax ID in the following steps:
- Click the online link for Apply EIN and choose your business entity type.
- Write the number of members and the state in which you have registered after selecting LLC.
- Enter your responsible party’s information now, such as their Social Security number, etc..
- After that, enter your business details, such as business name, trade name (if any), address, reason for applying, business starting date, and other details.
- Once you’ve checked your entries, finish your application by clicking the submit button.
Once you submit, the system will validate your information based on the state records, and if it is approved, you will receive the EIN immediately, so do not forget to save the EIN confirmation letter.
How do foreign applicants submit an LLC Tax ID application?
Now, if your principal place of business is abroad and you are expanding it to the US, you can apply for the EIN through call, fax, or mail only; no online tool is available.
- Call at: 267-941-1099 (weekdays 6 AM to 11 PM)
- Fax: FAX Form SS-4 at 304-707-9471
- Mail: Mail form SS-4 to the address:
- EIN International Operation
- Cincinnati, OH 45999.
When can you expect to receive your EIN?
As we have mentioned IRS online tool is the fastest to receive the EIN; however, if you have applied through other methods, you can expect it to be issued within the following time, if it is approved:
- Four business days through the FAX application
- 4 weeks through mailed application.
The IRS has made the EIN application process simple & easy, so if you need to obtain it for your entity tax purposes, bank account, or any other purposes, you can complete the application.
