Get Your Official IRS EIN. Verified for Banking, Payroll, and Contracts
Whether you need to open a bank account, hire employees, sign vendor agreements, or file federal taxes, we cross-check your Form SS-4 against state filings to guarantee error-free issuance.
Serving Clients Across 20 States
One step.
Done right the first time.
Most new business owners assume the EIN is simple. It is a form, after all. But the IRS Form SS-4 requires your entity type, responsible party details, and business purpose to match your state formation documents exactly. A mismatch, even a small one, triggers a rejection. And a rejection means days or weeks of delays before your bank account can open.
We handle the application for you. You answer a short set of questions. We prepare your Form SS-4, verify it against your formation documents, and submit it to the IRS on your behalf. When it comes back approved, we send your EIN confirmation directly to your inbox.
The Universal Key to Running Your Business
Open Business Bank Accounts
Separate your personal and business assets with an exact legal entity match required by major financial institutions.
Hire Employees & Run Payroll
Comply with federal tax withholding, issue W-2s, and set up state payroll reporting legally.
Sign Client & Vendor Agreements
Process contractor 1099 forms, onboard with payment processors, and execute formal business contracts.
File Federal & State Taxes
Required for corporations, multi-member LLCs, partnerships, and S-Corp tax elections.
Protect Your Personal Identity
Stop placing your personal Social Security Number on invoices, contracts, and public business filings.
Build Business Credit & Licenses
Establish an independent credit history and obtain required state, local, or industry licenses.
The $0 IRS Portal vs. Next Step Filings
Here Is How It Works
Tell us about your business.
Complete a short, focused form with your entity name, state of formation, entity type, and responsible party information. We keep the questions targeted to what the IRS actually requires.
We prepare and verify your application.
We prepare your IRS Form SS-4 and cross-reference the details against your state formation documents before submission. This is the step most people skip when filing on their own, and the reason rejections happen.
We submit to the IRS.
We file your application through the correct IRS channel and track its status.
Your EIN is delivered to your inbox.
When the IRS issues your number, we send your EIN confirmation letter directly to you, ready to hand to your bank, accountant, or any other party that needs it.
FAQs
You have questions, we have resources and answers.
An Employer Identification Number (EIN) is a unique nine-digit federal tax ID issued by the IRS (formatted as XX-XXXXXXX) to identify your business entity. Think of it as a Social Security Number for your company. It is permanently assigned, does not expire, and is required to open business bank accounts, hire employees, sign contracts, and file federal tax returns.
Yes, most businesses require an EIN even if they have zero employees. While single-member LLCs without employees can technically use an owner’s SSN for federal taxes, banks, merchant processors, and vendors require an EIN to open accounts and issue 1099 payments. Using an EIN keeps your personal Social Security Number off public documents and vendor forms. Multi-member LLCs, corporations, and partnerships are legally required to have an EIN.
Most applicants with a valid U.S. Social Security Number (SSN) or ITIN receive their digital EIN confirmation letter within 1 to 2 business days. For non-U.S. residents without an SSN or ITIN, filings are processed through specialized manual IRS channels, which follow IRS manual processing schedules.
Yes, the IRS provides a free EIN application on IRS.gov. Next Step Filings offers a $99 standard U.S. filing package and a $150 non-SSN foreign filing package to eliminate application errors and save time. The self-serve IRS portal has a strict 15-minute timer and no pre-submission review. Simple typos or entity mismatches trigger immediate rejections or invalid records that take weeks to resolve. We cross-check your Form SS-4 against your state Articles of Organization before filing, guarantee acceptance, and store a backup copy of your official letter.
The responsible party is the individual who owns, controls, or manages the entity and its financial assets. For a single-member LLC, this is the owner. For multi-member LLCs or corporations, it is typically a managing member or principal officer. The IRS requires the responsible party to be a real individual (not another business entity) and provide a valid SSN or ITIN.
Your state of residence does not impact your federal EIN application. An EIN is a federal tax identifier tied directly to the state where your LLC or corporation was officially approved, not where you personally reside. You simply provide your state of formation and your current contact address.
Non-U.S. residents without an SSN or ITIN can obtain an EIN through our $150 International Filing Package. Because foreign applicants are blocked from the automated IRS online portal, our dedicated team manually prepares Form SS-4 and processes your filing directly with the IRS foreign entity department.
You must receive state approval for your LLC or corporation before applying for an EIN. The IRS requires your exact legal business name as registered with the Secretary of State. Applying before state approval risks application rejection or mismatched IRS records that delay bank account opening.
No, an EIN is a federal identifier issued by the IRS, while a state tax ID is issued by your state’s department of revenue. Your nine-digit EIN identifies your business for federal tax returns, banking, and federal payroll. Depending on your business activity and location, your state may issue a separate ID for state income tax, sales tax, or unemployment tax.
You receive your official IRS EIN confirmation letter (Notice CP 575). This document displays your legal entity name, address, and official nine-digit tax ID. Banks, payment processors, accountants, and vendors require a copy of this letter to verify your business. We send a digital PDF directly to your email and keep a secure backup copy stored in your account.
If your entity was already assigned an EIN, do not submit a new application. Filing a duplicate EIN creates severe tax filing complications. If you misplaced your original letter, our support team can assist you with an IRS retrieval request. If you obtained your EIN through Next Step Filings, you can download a copy directly from your account records.
No, every legal business entity requires its own separate EIN. If you operate multiple LLCs or corporations, each entity must file Form SS-4 to obtain a distinct tax ID. Sharing an EIN across entities causes tax errors, invalidates personal liability protection, and complicates business accounting.
Next Step Filings is an independent, private document-preparation service and is not affiliated with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) or any local, state, or federal government agency. You are not required to use our service to obtain an EIN; Employer Identification Numbers can be applied for directly through the IRS at no cost via IRS.gov. Our flat service fees ($99 standard U.S. filing / $150 foreign-owned non-SSN filing) cover manual application preparation, human error-checking against your state formation records, automated submission handling, and ongoing account document backup. Next Step Filings is not a law firm or CPA accounting firm and does not provide legal, tax, or financial advice. Use of our website and services is subject to our Terms of Service, Privacy Policy, and Refund Policy.
What Our Clients Say
I procrastinated because it was so overwhelming, but eventually, I found NextStep Filings. They handled the state filing and set up the registered agent; it was so easy and took only about 48 hours.
I wasn't confident in doing it on my own because of state requirements, unfamiliar terms... Working with NextStep Filing took that pressure off completely. They explained what was needed, took care of the filing, and kept the process moving.
Between state rules, filing correctly, and making sure nothing got missed, it felt like one wrong move could cause a ton of problems later. NextStep Filings handled my LLC formation and took a lot off my plate.
