You get an EIN by applying directly with the IRS. The fastest way is through their online application at irs.gov. It takes about ten minutes, and you receive your EIN immediately when you finish. There’s no fee. The IRS does not charge anything for issuing an Employer Identification Number.

Before you apply, make sure your business entity is already formed with the state. If you’re setting up an LLC or corporation in Florida, your Articles of Organization or Articles of Incorporation should be filed and approved with the Florida Division of Corporations before you request an EIN. The IRS will ask for your entity type and legal name, and these need to match what’s on file with the state. Our business formation service handles this entire sequence so nothing gets filed out of order.

For the online application, you’ll need a few pieces of information ready. The legal name of the business exactly as registered. The entity type (LLC, S-Corp, partnership, sole proprietorship). The name and Social Security Number of the “responsible party,” which is typically the owner or a managing member. Your business address and the reason you’re applying. The IRS walks you through each step, and at the end you can download your EIN confirmation letter as a PDF. Save that letter somewhere safe. You’ll need it to open a business bank account, file tax returns, and set up payroll.

If you can’t apply online, the IRS also accepts applications by fax using Form SS-4, which typically takes about four business days. You can mail the same form, but that takes four to six weeks. There’s no good reason to mail it unless you have no other option.

One mistake new business owners make is paying a third-party website $50 to $200 to “get their EIN.” These companies fill out the same free IRS form on your behalf and charge you for it. The IRS application is straightforward enough that you don’t need to pay someone else to do it.

Another common issue is applying for multiple EINs when you only need one. Each legal entity gets one EIN. If you have one LLC, you need one EIN. You don’t need a new one each year or a separate one for different services within the same business. If you change your business name or address, you update the existing EIN rather than applying for a new one.

Sole proprietors sometimes wonder if they even need an EIN since they can use their Social Security Number for tax purposes. Technically you can operate without one if you have no employees and no excise tax obligations. But getting an EIN is still a good idea. It keeps your SSN off of invoices, vendor forms, and bank documents. It also makes small business bookkeeping cleaner because your business has its own tax identity from day one.

Once you have your EIN, take it to the bank and open a dedicated business checking account. That single step of separating personal and business finances will save you significant headaches when it comes to bookkeeping and tax preparation down the road.