Fill out Form SS-4 online

Who uses Form SS-4

• People starting a business that needs an EIN, such as a partnership, corporation or LLC
• Employers who hire or will hire employees, including household employers, and do not already have an EIN
• Trustees, executors of estates and pension plan administrators
• Churches, other nonprofits, government agencies and Indian tribal entities
• Foreign persons who need an EIN to meet IRS withholding rules or claim treaty benefits

Before you start

• The entity's legal name exactly as it appears on the social security card, charter, partnership agreement or trust instrument
• The name and SSN or ITIN of the responsible party (the person who ultimately owns or controls the entity)
• The mailing address, the street address if different, and the county and state where the principal business is located
• The type of entity, and for an LLC, the number of members and whether it was organized in the United States
• The date the business started or was acquired and the closing month of its accounting year
• If you have employees: how many you expect in the next 12 months and the date wages or annuities were first paid

How to fill out Form SS-4

1. 1

   Lines 1–3: Names

   On line 1, enter the legal name of the entity or individual. A sole proprietor enters their own name here, not the business name. Line 2 is the trade name ("doing business as" name) if it is different. Line 3 is for a trustee, executor or other "care of" person.

2. 2

   Lines 4a–6: Addresses and location

   Lines 4a–4b are the entity's mailing address. If you filled in line 3, use the address of that person. Fill in lines 5a–5b only if the street address is different, and do not use a P.O. box there. For a foreign address, include the city, province or state, postal code and the full country name. Line 6 is the county and state where the principal business is located.

3. 3

   Lines 7a–7b: Responsible party

   Enter the full name and SSN, ITIN or EIN of the responsible party. Unless the applicant is a government entity, this must be an individual, not an entity, and line 7b must be an SSN or ITIN. If the person has no SSN or ITIN and cannot get one, the instructions say to enter "foreign" or N/A.

4. 4

   Lines 8a–9b: LLC questions and type of entity

   Lines 8a–8c ask whether the applicant is an LLC, how many members it has and whether it was organized in the United States. On line 9a, check only one box for the type of entity; this is not an election of how the entity is taxed. The instructions explain which box an LLC should check. Line 9b is the state or foreign country where a corporation was incorporated.

5. 5

   Lines 10–12: Reason for applying and dates

   On line 10, check one reason, such as started a new business, hired employees, banking purpose or created a trust, and fill in the detail it asks for. Do not enter N/A on this line. Line 11 is the date the business started or was acquired, and line 12 is the last month of the accounting year.

6. 6

   Lines 13–17: Employees and business activity

   On line 13, enter the highest number of agricultural, household and other employees you expect in the next 12 months, using -0- where there are none. If you expect no employees, skip line 14, where an employer who qualifies can choose to file Form 944 once a year instead of Form 941 every quarter. Line 15 is the first date wages or annuities were paid; enter N/A if the business does not plan to have employees. On line 16, check the one box that best describes the main activity, and on line 17 describe it in more detail.

7. 7

   Line 18, Third Party Designee and signature

   Line 18 asks whether the entity has ever applied for and received an EIN; if yes, write that number. Fill in the Third Party Designee section only if you want to let a named person receive the EIN and answer questions about the form. Then enter the name and title of the person signing, phone and fax numbers, and sign and date the form.

After you fill it out

You send the signed Form SS-4 to the IRS by fax or by mail. The fax number and mailing address depend on where the entity is located, so check them in the Instructions for Form SS-4 on IRS.gov before you send it. Applicants with no legal residence, principal place of business or office in the United States or its territories can also apply by telephone, and applicants in the United States or its territories can apply online on IRS.gov instead of sending the form. Keep a copy for your records.

Signing: Sign and date the form before you fax or mail it. The instructions say it is signed by the individual applicant, the president, vice president or other principal officer of a corporation, a duly authorized member or officer of a partnership, government entity or other unincorporated organization, or the fiduciary of a trust or estate; follow the IRS instructions for how to sign.

Questions about Form SS-4

Official information

• About Form SS-4 (IRS)
• Instructions for Form SS-4
• Instructions for Form SS-4 (PDF)
• Get an employer identification number (IRS)

Page text last reviewed November 7, 2026.

Related forms

• Form 8822-BChange of Address or Responsible Party — Business
• Form 8832Entity Classification Election
• Form 2553Election by a Small Business Corporation
• Form 941Employer’s QUARTERLY Federal Tax Return
• Form W-9Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification