Getting an EIN
Apply for a free federal business tax ID, save the confirmation, and know when a business change needs a new one
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An employer identification number is the federal tax ID for a business. The IRS issues it for free, and most founders will use it for banking, tax accounts, payroll, or state registrations. Even when federal tax rules do not require one, the IRS allows a business to request one for banking or state-tax purposes.
Prepare the application
Form the entity first, then copy its information exactly.
Gather the details
Use the legal name and entity details from the accepted formation record. Be ready to identify the responsible party and explain the main business activity.
If the entity is not formed yet, complete the Wyoming business registration first. The IRS says a legal entity should be formed with the state before applying for its EIN.
Apply and save
Apply directly, then preserve the confirmation.
Apply with the IRS
Apply through the IRS EIN page. The EIN itself is free. Even though it is self-service, the portal has set operating hours: Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 1 a.m. the next day, Saturday from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday from 6 p.m. to midnight, Eastern time. Check the IRS page before starting because availability can change.
Save confirmation
Download or print the confirmation before leaving the process. Save a protected digital copy and a second backup with the permanent company records. Banks and agencies may ask for proof, not only the number.
Use it with the business
The number follows the entity through banking and employer processes.
Use it for banking
Bring the EIN confirmation when opening a business bank account. The bank will tell you whether it needs an EIN, another taxpayer identifier, or both for the account and its owners.
Use it as an employer
Use the EIN when setting up payroll, federal employment-tax accounts, and Wyoming employer accounts. The hiring and payroll guide covers the employment forms and reports that come after this step.
Handle business changes
The IRS generally requires a sole proprietor to get a new EIN after incorporating or forming a partnership. For an existing LLC, terminating it and forming a new corporation or partnership also requires a new EIN. A simple name or address change does not.
One important exception: changing an existing LLC's federal tax election to corporation or S corporation treatment generally does not, by itself, require a new EIN. Check the official IRS new-EIN table for the business's exact before-and-after structure before applying again.
If the IRS does issue a new number, update the bank account, business credit cards, payroll system, DWS accounts, state tax accounts, licenses, W-9s, vendors, and customer records that still show the old EIN. Keep the old confirmation with the historical records.