A nine-digit number the IRS assigns to a business for tax filing, payroll, and banking. It is free from the IRS and takes minutes online.
Any business with employees, any partnership or corporation, and most LLCs need one; sole proprietors can use a Social Security number but usually should not. Third-party sites charge for what the IRS does for free.
Not always, but you will for a business bank account at most banks, for payroll, and for an S election. Get it at formation.
Source: IRS: Apply for an Employer Identification Number
Last reviewed September 17, 2026. Tax rules change; confirm current law before acting.
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