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Get Your EIN for Free: Avoid Look-Alike Websites That Charge You

By Derek J. Hartsfield, CFO · Published October 18, 2026 · Last reviewed October 19, 2026

An Employer Identification Number, or EIN, is the number your business uses for banking, payroll, tax filings and accounting software. It is free to obtain, and most business owners can apply themselves in about five minutes. Many people pay for it anyway, because of how easy it is to land on the wrong website.

The short version

• It costs nothing. The IRS does not charge a fee for an EIN.
• Do not pay anyone to get one. Websites that charge a fee are not the IRS, and some exist only to collect your personal and business information.
• Use only the official IRS application. The link is below. Any other web address is not the IRS application.

The official IRS link

Apply at https://sa.www4.irs.gov/applyein/. This is the IRS’s own application. If you reach the IRS through its main site instead, the address will end in irs.gov.

Why so many look-alike sites exist

If you search for “get an EIN,” the results include many sites that look official. Some are paid advertisements. Some use flags, seals or the word “federal” to appear legitimate. Many charge a fee for what is a free form, and they ask for the same information the IRS asks for, including the Social Security number of the business owner. That is information you want to give only to the IRS.

What to have ready

• The legal name of the business exactly as it appears on your state formation documents, if it is an LLC or corporation.
• The business address and the type of entity, such as sole proprietorship, LLC or corporation.
• The name and Social Security number or ITIN of the responsible party, usually the owner or principal officer.
• A brief description of what the business does and when it started.

A few practical notes

1. If you are forming an LLC or corporation, complete the state filing first. The IRS application is meant for entities that already exist.
2. Check the web address before you type anything. If it does not match the link above, close the page.
3. Save and print the confirmation the IRS gives you at the end. It is your official record of the number.
4. Keep the EIN in a secure place, such as a password manager, and avoid sending it in ordinary email.

If you already paid a site for an EIN

Contact your bank or card issuer to ask about the charge, and consider reporting the site at reportfraud.ftc.gov. If you entered personal information on a site that was not the IRS, a tax professional can advise you on protecting your identity.

What to have ready before you start

The IRS application asks for the legal name of the business, its structure, the responsible party’s name and taxpayer identification number, the business address and the reason you are applying. Gather these first and the application takes only a few minutes. The IRS issues the number immediately when you finish the online application, and you can save and print the confirmation notice for your records.

Who qualifies to apply online

The online application is available to entities whose principal business is in the United States or a U.S. territory, and the person applying must have a valid taxpayer identification number. Others can apply by fax, mail or phone using the instructions on the IRS website. Whichever route you use, apply only through IRS channels, and never pay a third party for an EIN.

After you have your EIN

Your EIN is one of the first things your accounting records depend on. Once it is in place, the next step is a clean, correctly set up set of books, so that your bank accounts, categories and opening balances start out right.

This article is general information, not tax or legal advice. For questions about entity type or tax filings, consult a tax professional.

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