If you run your own business, you need a way to identify it to the government when it comes time to do your taxes. The same is also true if you’re the executor of an estate, the creator of a trust or the founder of a non-profit. The way entities accomplish this is with an Employer Identification Number (EIN). If you don’t yet have an EIN, you can apply to receive one with IRS Form SS-4.
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Form SS-4 is a form from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) that you can use to apply for an Employer Identification Number (EIN). An EIN is a nine-digit number that employers, corporations, estates, trusts and other entities use for tax filing purposes. If you have employees or you’re a one-person incorporated business, odds are you have an EIN or you need one.
You should fill out IRS Form SS-4 in a wide range of circumstances, including but not limited to:
The form can be found on the IRS website. Filling it out is a bit of an involved process, but it’s certainly manageable. There are 18 fields, although not all may be applicable to you. The fields applicable to most people will be the legal name of your business/entity, the trade name if it differs from the legal name, the mailing address, the name of the responsible party, the type of business/entity, the reason for applying, the start date of the business/entity, the principal activity of the business/entity, and if you’ve ever applied for and received an EIN before.
While there are plenty of fields to complete, you shouldn’t have a problem answering anything as long as you have a good understanding of your business, trust or estate. If at any point you aren’t sure how to complete a certain field of the form, the IRS provides line-by-line instructions on its website. From the homepage, just click on Forms & Instructions, then scroll down until you find SS-4.
If you’d rather not deal with the paper form at all, you can also apply for an EIN online on the IRS website. You’ll need a legal residence in the U.S. and a valid Taxpayer Identification Number (your Social Security Number, most likely) to apply online.
You can submit your IRS Form SS-4 by fax or by mail. If you choose to fax in your form, you can send it to the fax number (855) 641-6935. If you choose to mail the form, you can send it to this address:
Internal Revenue Service
Attn: EIN Operation
Cincinnati, OH 45999
If you fax in your form, you can expect to receive your EIN within four business days. Make sure to include your fax number so the IRS can send your EIN back. If you choose to mail, you’ll need to wait roughly four weeks before receiving your EIN.
An EIN is a crucial piece of identification for employers of all kinds. You’ll also need it if you run a trust or estate. Without one, you won’t be able to file your tax returns correctly, which will lead to further complications down the road. If you enter into any of the many situations in which you’d need an EIN, make sure to complete and submit IRS Form SS-4 well before tax time. That way, you can receive your EIN on time and complete your tax obligations properly.
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Hunter Kuffel, CEPF®Hunter Kuffel is a personal finance writer with expertise in savings, retirement and investing. Hunter is a Certified Educator in Personal Finance® (CEPF®) and a member of the Society for Advancing Business Editing and Writing. He graduated from the University of Notre Dame and currently lives in New York City.
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