EIN assistance: Guaranteed EIN
Available now100% guaranteed EIN, delivered within 4 weeks
Your EIN is your company's federal tax ID. The IRS issues it at no cost; the hard part is knowing which application route applies, who the responsible party is and what to do without a Social Security number. Firmlane handles that for you and backs it with a clear promise. The 4 weeks start once your company has been approved by the state and we have your complete EIN information. If your EIN is not delivered within 4 weeks, we keep working on it at no cost and refund every Firmlane fee you paid on the order, or $100, whichever is more.
- Guaranteed EIN within 4 weeks
- Covers founders with or without an SSN or ITIN
- Included at no Firmlane fee on eligible formation orders
- The IRS issues EINs; Firmlane prepares and submits your application
Guaranteed EIN
Terms of the EIN guaranteeFour weeks, from state approval to your EIN
The 4 weeks start once your company has been approved by the state and we have your complete EIN information. From there, we prepare and submit your application and follow it through until your EIN is issued.
- 1
State approves your company
Your formation is approved by the state.
- 2
We have your complete EIN information
The 4-week clock starts here.
- 3
Application prepared and submitted
Through our established process with the IRS.
- 4
EIN delivered
In your account, within 4 weeks of the clock start.
What pauses the clock
- The clock pauses while we are waiting for information or a signature from you.
- Your information must be complete and accurate, and the responsible party must be able to sign the IRS application.
If we miss the 4 weeks
If your EIN is not delivered within 4 weeks, we keep working on it at no cost and refund every Firmlane fee you paid on the order, or $100, whichever is more.
EINs are issued by the IRS. Firmlane prepares and submits your application through its established process and follows it through until your EIN is issued. Firmlane is not affiliated with the IRS.
The guarantee, in plain terms
How the 4-week clock works
When the clock starts
The 4 weeks start once your company has been approved by the state and we have your complete EIN information.
That is why we wait for both: the IRS needs your company's exact legal name from the approved state filing, and the application needs complete details about the company and its responsible party. Once both are in place, the 4 weeks are counted in calendar days.
What pauses the clock
- The clock pauses while we are waiting for information or a signature from you.
- Your information must be complete and accurate, and the responsible party must be able to sign the IRS application.
In practice, the fastest way to your EIN is to answer our questions promptly and make sure the responsible party is ready to sign.
If we miss the 4 weeks
If your EIN is not delivered within 4 weeks, we keep working on it at no cost and refund every Firmlane fee you paid on the order, or $100, whichever is more.
Founders without an SSN or ITIN are covered
You do not need a US Social Security number or an ITIN for this guarantee. The IRS online application is only one of its routes, and it requires an SSN or ITIN. The IRS also accepts Form SS-4 by fax or by mail, and applicants with no legal residence, principal place of business or principal office in the US can apply through the IRS international phone line. When the responsible party has no SSN or ITIN, the Form SS-4 instructions say to enter "foreign" on the taxpayer ID line. We use the route that fits your situation.
Who issues the EIN
EINs are issued by the IRS. Firmlane prepares and submits your application through its established process and follows it through until your EIN is issued. Firmlane is not affiliated with the IRS.
The basics
What an EIN is and when you need one
An EIN is a nine-digit number the IRS assigns to identify a business for federal tax purposes. Think of it as the company's equivalent of a personal taxpayer ID.
Corporations and multi-member LLCs need one to file their federal returns. A single-member LLC that is disregarded for income tax still needs its own EIN if it has employees or certain excise tax obligations, and in practice most banks ask for an EIN before they open a business account. A US LLC owned by a foreign person needs one for its annual Form 5472 filing.
The IRS advises forming your LLC or corporation with the state first, then applying for the EIN in the company's exact legal name.
- Federal tax returns and information returns
- Business bank accounts and many payment providers
- Hiring employees and running payroll
- State tax registrations and some business licenses
Four IRS routes
The routes the IRS offers, and who can use them
Who can use it
- Online
- Entities formed in the US or US territories with a principal place of business there.
- Fax (Form SS-4)
- Any applicant.
- Mail (Form SS-4)
- Any applicant.
- Phone (international)
- Only applicants with no legal residence, principal place of business or principal office in the US or its territories.
SSN or ITIN for the responsible party
- Online
- Required.
- Fax (Form SS-4)
- Not required. Enter "foreign" or N/A if the responsible party has none.
- Mail (Form SS-4)
- Not required. Same as fax.
- Phone (international)
- Not required.
IRS processing (IRS estimates)
- Online
- EIN issued at the end of a successful session.
- Fax (Form SS-4)
- Generally within 4 business days, if a return fax number is included.
- Mail (Form SS-4)
- Approximately 4 weeks. The IRS suggests applying 4 to 5 weeks before the number is needed.
- Phone (international)
- Generally given to the authorized caller during the call, if the application is complete.
Where and when
- Online
- IRS.gov, Eastern Time: Mon to Fri 6:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. next day; Sat 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.; Sun 6:00 p.m. to midnight.
- Fax (Form SS-4)
- Domestic: 855-641-6935. International: 855-215-1627 from within the US or 304-707-9471 from outside the US.
- Mail (Form SS-4)
- Domestic: Attn: EIN Operation. International: Attn: EIN International Operation. Both Cincinnati, OH 45999.
- Phone (international)
- 267-941-1099 (not toll-free), Monday to Friday, 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
IRS details from IRS.gov and the Instructions for Form SS-4 (Rev. December 2025), reviewed October 17, 2026. They are the IRS's own estimates and can change. Our 4-week guarantee is separate and is described above.
The responsible party
The one concept that trips people up
A real person who owns or controls
The IRS defines the responsible party as the person who ultimately owns or controls the entity, or exercises effective control over it. If several people qualify, you choose the one the IRS should recognize.
An individual, not a company
Except for government entities, the responsible party must be an individual. A holding company or another LLC cannot be listed, even if it is the owner.
No nominees
Someone given limited authority only to help with formation, such as a filing agent, is a nominee. The IRS says nominees cannot apply for an EIN and should not be listed as the responsible party.
No SSN or ITIN? That is allowed
On Form SS-4, a responsible party without an SSN or ITIN who cannot get one enters "foreign" or N/A. The online application is not available in that case, but fax, mail and the international phone line are.
The responsible party signs
Your information must be complete and accurate, and the responsible party must be able to sign the IRS application.
Changes are reported on Form 8822-B
If the responsible party changes later, the IRS asks you to report it on Form 8822-B within 60 days. The IRS also limits EINs to one per responsible party per day.
How Firmlane does it
From state approval to EIN, step by step
- 01
Your company is approved by the state
The IRS advises forming the company before applying, so the application can use your exact legal name and formation date. The 4 weeks start once your company has been approved by the state and we have your complete EIN information.
Clock starts
- 02
We collect the Form SS-4 details with you
Entity type, responsible party, address, business activity, expected employees and the other details the IRS asks for. We explain why each one matters and check for common mistakes.
- 03
We confirm the responsible party and the route
Based on your answers, we confirm who the responsible party is and which IRS route fits: online, fax, mail or the international phone line.
- 04
We prepare and submit the application
Firmlane prepares your application and submits it through the route that fits, once the responsible party has signed.
- 05
We follow it through
Your account shows every status as it changes. The clock pauses while we are waiting for information or a signature from you.
- 06
Your EIN is delivered
When the IRS issues the EIN, the confirmation goes into your account documents, ready for your bank and your accountant.
Guaranteed EIN within 4 weeks
Status tracking
Statuses you may see in your account
Information needed
We need something from you before we can continue.
The clock pauses while we are waiting for information or a signature from you.
Ready for review
Your details are complete and waiting for our team to check them.
In preparation
We are preparing your Form SS-4 details for the chosen route.
Submitted
Your application has been sent to the IRS.
Awaiting IRS
The IRS is processing your application, and we are following it through.
Needs correction
Something must be fixed or clarified before the IRS can issue the EIN. We tell you exactly what.
Completed
Your EIN has been issued and the confirmation is in your documents.
Unable to proceed
We cannot continue with the application as it stands. We explain why and what your options are.
What EIN assistance includes
What Firmlane does
- Guaranteed EIN within 4 weeks, with the clock, conditions and remedy shown on this page
- Prepares the Form SS-4 information with you and checks for common mistakes
- Explains the responsible party rules
- Chooses the IRS route that fits your situation, including routes for founders without an SSN or ITIN
- Submits your application and follows it through until your EIN is issued
- Stores the EIN confirmation in your account
What Firmlane does not do
- Issue EINs. The IRS issues them
- Offer instant EINs
- Apply for an SSN. ITINs are a separate Firmlane service, through a Certifying Acceptance Agent partner
- Give tax advice about the elections and filings that follow
Cost
What an EIN costs
EIN on an eligible order
IRS fee for the EIN
The IRS does not charge for an EIN and warns about sites that charge for the number itself.
$0
Firmlane EIN assistance
At no Firmlane fee on eligible formation orders.
Included
Guaranteed EIN
If your EIN is not delivered within 4 weeks, we keep working on it at no cost and refund every Firmlane fee you paid on the order, or $100, whichever is more.
Guaranteed EIN within 4 weeks
Firmlane fee for EIN assistance
$0 on eligible orders
If you add EIN assistance outside an eligible order, any Firmlane fee is shown before you pay.
After the EIN arrives
The IRS says a new EIN can be used right away for most purposes, such as opening a bank account, applying for licenses or filing a paper return. It can take up to 2 weeks before the number works for e-filing, electronic tax deposits or the IRS TIN matching program.
Keep the IRS confirmation with your formation documents. Banks and payment providers commonly ask to see it.
Our promise
100% guaranteed EIN, delivered within 4 weeks
- When the clock starts
- The 4 weeks start once your company has been approved by the state and we have your complete EIN information.
- If we miss it
- If your EIN is not delivered within 4 weeks, we keep working on it at no cost and refund every Firmlane fee you paid on the order, or $100, whichever is more.
- The clock pauses while we are waiting for information or a signature from you.
- Your information must be complete and accurate, and the responsible party must be able to sign the IRS application.
EINs are issued by the IRS. Firmlane prepares and submits your application through its established process and follows it through until your EIN is issued. Firmlane is not affiliated with the IRS.
Start your companyRelated
General information, not tax advice
This page is general information based on IRS guidance as of the review date below. It is not legal or tax advice. EINs are issued by the IRS. Firmlane prepares and submits your application through its established process and follows it through until your EIN is issued. Firmlane is not affiliated with the IRS. The guarantee applies on the terms described on this page and in our terms of service. IRS hours, phone and fax numbers and IRS processing estimates can change; check IRS.gov for current details.
Official sources
Last reviewed
- IRS: Get an employer identification number (opens in a new tab)
- IRS: Employer identification number (opens in a new tab)
- IRS: Instructions for Form SS-4 (Rev. December 2025) (opens in a new tab)
- IRS: Responsible parties and nominees (opens in a new tab)
- IRS: Single member limited liability companies (opens in a new tab)
- IRS: Instructions for Form 5472 (opens in a new tab)
Form your company and get a Guaranteed EIN
Guaranteed EIN within 4 weeks. The 4 weeks start once your company has been approved by the state and we have your complete EIN information.
$0 Firmlane service fee on eligible formations. You pay the state filing fee, shown before you pay.
