You're ready. The business plan is set, the name is picked, and you’re itching to open that business bank account. But then you hit the wall of bureaucratic acronyms. The biggest one? The Employer Identification Number. You need it. You need it now. Honestly, the most common question I hear from new founders isn't about marketing or product-market fit—it’s how long does it take to get an EIN number so I can finally start spending money?
The answer is both "seconds" and "weeks." It sounds like a riddle, but it depends entirely on how you play the IRS game.
If you go the digital route, it’s instant. You click submit on the IRS website and—boom—there’s your number. But if you’re an international founder or someone who still loves their fax machine, you're looking at a much longer wait. I’ve seen people lose weeks of progress because they didn't realize the IRS website has "operating hours" just like a physical office. It’s weird, right? A website that sleeps.
The Instant Gratification Path: Online Applications
Most of you will use the online application. It’s the gold standard.
When you apply through the official IRS.gov portal, you get your EIN immediately upon completion. The session usually takes about 15 minutes. You’ll answer questions about your business structure—whether you're an LLC, a corporation, or a sole proprietorship—and the "responsible party" (that’s you). Once you hit that final button, the system generates a PDF.
Download that PDF immediately. Don't wait. Don't assume you can log back in and find it later. The IRS doesn't have a "user dashboard" where your documents live forever. If you close that window without saving the confirmation notice (CP 575), you’re going to spend three hours on hold with the IRS specialty tax line just to get a replacement letter. It's a nightmare you want to avoid.
There is a catch, though. The online application is only available from Monday to Friday, between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. Eastern Time. If you’re a night owl in California trying to get this done at 8:00 p.m. local time on a Friday, you’re out of luck until Monday morning.
Why the Online System Might Reject You
Sometimes, the "instant" path fails. You’ll get an error code—usually "Reference Number 101." This typically happens because the IRS's database is tripping over a name that's too similar to another business or because your "responsible party" information doesn't perfectly match their records.
When this happens, you’re kicked out of the fast lane. You can't just try again online. You’ll have to move to the manual methods, which brings us to the slower side of the clock.
Snail Mail and the Art of Waiting
If you can't use the online system, perhaps because you don't have a Social Security Number (SSN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN), you have to use Form SS-4.
Mail is the slowest possible way. You’re looking at four to five weeks. Maybe longer if it’s tax season. You print the form, ink it, stamp it, and send it to the IRS service center in either Cincinnati or Ogden. Then, you wait. You wait for a letter to show up in your physical mailbox. It feels prehistoric in 2026, but for certain international entities, it’s the only way.
The Fax Method: The Middle Ground
Faxing is actually faster than mailing. If you fax your SS-4, the IRS generally promises a turnaround of about four business days.
- You send the fax.
- An agent eventually looks at it.
- They fax the EIN back to you.
You need to make sure your fax number is active and capable of receiving a reply 24/7. If their return fax fails, they might just mail it anyway, and you're back to the four-week timeline.
International Founders: A Different Clock
If you are outside the U.S. and don't have a legal residence or principal place of business in the States, things get spicy. You can’t use the online tool.
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You have to call the IRS at 1-267-941-1099. This is not a toll-free number. You’ll be on hold. A lot. But the benefit is that they can often give you the EIN over the phone during that call. It’s "instant" in terms of getting the number, but "exhausting" in terms of the time spent listening to hold music.
Why You Can't Use Your EIN Immediately
Here is a detail that trips up everyone: having the number isn't the same as the number being "active" in all systems.
Even if you get your EIN in five seconds online, the permanent record doesn't propagate through all government databases immediately. If you try to file a tax return or sometimes even open a bank account the very next hour, the system might reject the number. It usually takes about two weeks for the EIN to be fully integrated into the IRS's permanent records.
Most banks can verify it sooner if you show them the physical CP 575 confirmation letter, but if you're trying to use an online-only "neo-bank," their automated verification might fail for the first 10 days. Plan for that gap.
The Responsible Party Rule
A few years ago, the IRS tightened the screws. You used to be able to use an entity's EIN to get another EIN. No more.
Every application now requires a "Responsible Party" who is a "natural person." This means a human being with a SSN or ITIN must be named. This change was designed to prevent people from hiding behind layers of shell companies. If you’re the one filling out the form, that’s you. If you’re doing this for a client, you need their personal info. If that person’s data is flagged for any reason, the timeline for how long does it take to get an EIN number stretches from seconds to weeks while the IRS investigates.
Common Myths About EIN Speed
I see these all the time on TikTok and Reddit. Let’s kill them now.
- "Paying a service makes it faster." No. It doesn't. Third-party filing services use the same IRS website you do. They charge you $50 to $300 for 15 minutes of data entry. They cannot "jump the line." They are useful only if you’re terrified of forms or don't have time to deal with the 101 error codes.
- "You need a lawyer to get an EIN." You don't. It's one of the simplest tax forms in existence.
- "I can just use my SSN forever." If you're a sole proprietor, sure. Но if you want to hire even one employee or open a "real" business account, you're going to need that EIN eventually. Better to get the clock starting now.
Summary of Timelines
- Online: Immediate (if you meet all criteria and apply during business hours).
- Fax: 4 business days.
- Mail: 4 to 5 weeks.
- Telephone (International only): Immediate (once you get a human on the line).
Actionable Next Steps
Stop overthinking it. If you have an SSN or ITIN, go to the IRS website right now—assuming it’s between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. ET.
First, gather your paperwork. You need the legal name of your business (as registered with your state) and the date you started or acquired the business.
Second, ensure you know your business "type." If you're an LLC with only one member, the IRS considers you a "Disregarded Entity" for tax purposes, but you still select "LLC" on the form. This confuses people constantly.
Third, once you get the PDF, print two copies. File one. Scan the other to a secure cloud drive. If you lose this number, you are in for a world of bureaucratic pain.
Fourth, wait at least 24 hours before trying to apply for a business credit card or bank account. Give the digital pipes a chance to clear. If the bank teller says the number "isn't valid," don't panic. Just tell them it's brand new and show them the CP 575 letter. Most experienced bankers know exactly what that means and will override the system.
Getting an EIN is the first "official" thing you do as a business owner. It’s the moment you stop being a person with a hobby and start being a person with an entity. Do it online, do it early, and save that PDF like your life depends on it.