An EIN (Employer Identification Number) is your business's federal tax ID. It's completely free to get directly from the IRS at irs.gov — apply online and receive your EIN instantly. You do not need to pay a third party for this. The entire process takes about 15 minutes.
What is an EIN and do I need one?
An Employer Identification Number (EIN) — also called a Federal Tax ID or FEIN — is a nine-digit number assigned by the IRS to identify your business for tax purposes. Think of it as a Social Security number for your business.
You need an EIN to:
- Open a business bank account
- Hire employees
- File business tax returns
- Apply for business licenses and permits
- Apply for business credit
- Set up a business retirement plan
Even single-member LLCs with no employees should get an EIN — it's required to open a business bank account and keeps your SSN off business documents.
How to get a free EIN from the IRS
Go to irs.gov/ein
Navigate directly to the IRS EIN application page. The online application is only available Monday–Friday, 7am–10pm Eastern Time.
Select your entity type
Choose "Limited Liability Company" for an LLC, or the appropriate entity type for your business. Answer questions about the number of members and your state (Alabama).
Enter your information
Provide the LLC's legal name, address, and the responsible party's name and SSN or ITIN. The responsible party is typically the LLC member or owner.
Receive your EIN instantly
After submitting, your EIN is displayed immediately on screen and sent to the email you provide. Download and save the confirmation — you'll need it to open bank accounts.
| Cost | Free (directly from IRS) |
| Processing time | Instant (online) |
| Available hours | Mon–Fri, 7am–10pm ET |
| Where to apply | irs.gov/ein |
| Format | XX-XXXXXXX (9 digits) |
| Expires? | No — an EIN is permanent |