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When you apply for an EIN online and you are eligible to use the IRS online application for an EIN, you can usually get the number right away. If you apply by fax, your EIN should be available in about four business days, and in about four weeks if applying by mail. Eligible international applicants can also apply over the phone, and get their EIN during their call if approved by the IRS.

Your method of application is important mostly if your bottom-line goal is to get the EIN number to open a business bank account, file tax returns, or to jump start your new LLC. Not all application methods are accessible to everyone. Which method is available will be determined by your business’s location, your responsible party’s taxpayer identification number, and if you are eligible for the IRS online system.

Here’s a look at how the timelines compare, what can slow down your application, and what to do if you don’t receive your EIN.

EIN Processing Time By Different Application Method

The IRS offers many ways to apply for an EIN. The right option depends on your circumstances, including whether your principal place of business is in the United States or abroad.

Application method	Who may use it	Current IRS processing or issuance timeframe	Important consideration
Online	Eligible applicants with a US or US territory business location and the required taxpayer identification number	Immediately after successful completion	The IRS online system has specific eligibility requirements.
Fax	Applicants eligible to submit Form SS-4 by fax	Generally within 4 business days	Provide a fax number so the IRS can return the EIN by fax.
Mail	Applicants eligible to submit Form SS-4 by mail	Approximately 4 weeks	Allow additional time for postal delivery in both directions.
Telephone	Eligible international applicants whose principal business, office, or agency is outside the United States and its territories	The EIN can be assigned during the call if the request is processed successfully	The person calling must be authorized and able to answer questions about Form SS-4.

These timeframes refer to different stages of the process. An online application may produce an EIN within minutes, whereas a mailed application involves both IRS processing and postal delivery. If your application contains errors or needs additional review, the actual wait may be longer.

How Long Does It Take To Get An EIN Online?

Online EIN application the online application for an EIN is the quickest way to apply if you are eligible. If you meet the requirements, the online application will give you your EIN after you successfully complete and submit the online application. Print out and save your assignment notice.

But this option isn’t available to all business owners.

To qualify, you generally need to meet the following conditions:

• Your business or organization must be formed in the United States or a US territory.
• Its principal place of business must be in the United States or a US territory.
• The responsible party must have a valid Social Security number (SSN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN), subject to IRS requirements.
• You must be the responsible party or an authorized representative.

The online application must be completed in one session. The IRS says it expires after 15 minutes of inactivity, so have your business details ready before starting. The service is free and is available only during specified operating hours.

When should you choose the online method?

Online if you are eligible and require your EIN as soon as possible, the online application is probably your best bet. Do not wait to save the notice you will receive upon acceptance of your application, which is when your EIN will be assigned.

If the IRS system indicates that you do not qualify or cannot complete your application, review the other options rather than trying the same online option again and again.

How Long Does An EIN Take By Fax?

The IRS generally processes EIN applications submitted by fax within four business days. To apply, complete Form SS-4, sign it where required, and send it to the appropriate IRS fax number. Include a fax number where the IRS can return your EIN.

The correct destination depends on where your principal business, office, agency, or legal residence is located.

• Applicants with a US state or District of Columbia connection: Fax Form SS-4 to 855-641-6935.
• Applicants without a legal residence, principal place of business, or principal office or agency in a US state or the District of Columbia: Use 855-215-1627 when faxing from within the United States, or 304-707-9471 when faxing from outside the United States.

Confirm the current instructions before transmitting your application because IRS contact details can change. The IRS lists these numbers in its Form SS-4 filing instructions.

The four-business-day processing time excludes the time required to complete the form, to correct a failed transmission, to edit errors, or to wait on a delayed response. For foreign applicants, an applicant’s access to a fax machine or online fax service may also influence the time to submit.

If you have a valid fax number and your application is complete, faxing can be helpful when you are unable to access the online system.

How Long Does It Take to Get an EIN by Mail?

The IRS advises applicants to allow approximately four weeks to receive an EIN through a mailed Form SS-4 application. Its instructions recommend submitting the form at least four to five weeks before the number is needed.

This method can work for applicants who cannot use the online system and do not wish to apply by fax or telephone where eligible. However, it is generally the least convenient option when time is limited.

To apply, complete Form SS-4, sign and date it, and mail it to the appropriate IRS address:

• U.S. state or District of Columbia connection: Internal Revenue Service, Attn: EIN Operation, Cincinnati, OH 45999.
• No legal residence, principal place of business, or principal office or agency in a US state or the District of Columbia: Internal Revenue Service, Attn: EIN International Operation, Cincinnati, OH 45999.

These are the addresses provided in the current IRS instructions. Check the official Form SS-4 guidance before mailing your paperwork.

Remember that four weeks is an approximate IRS timeframe, not necessarily the total time from the day you prepare your application to the day you receive the number. Postal delivery, incomplete information, and requests for clarification can extend the process.

If you have an upcoming tax filing or business deadline, consider whether an eligible faster method is available before choosing mail.

Can International Applicants Get an EIN by Telephone?

Yes! The IRS allows eligible international applicants to apply for an EIN by telephone. This method is intended for applicants who have no legal residence, principal place of business, or principal office or agency in the US or its territories.

If the IRS processes the application successfully, the representative can assign & communicate the EIN during the call. Unlike fax & mail applications, this method does not need waiting for the number to arrive through postal delivery or a fax response. However, the IRS does not guarantee that every call will result in immediate issuance. 

How the telephone application works

Before calling, prepare a draft of Form SS-4 to have the requested business information on hand. Your IRS representative will use this information to set up the account and issue you the EIN.

The caller must be eligible to have the number and to answer questions about the application. If an IRS representative asks to have a signed Form SS-4, you must submit it as the instructions. 

The IRS currently lists the following contact details for eligible international applicants:

• Telephone: 267-941-1099
• Hours: Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Eastern Time
• Cost: The number is not toll-free, so telephone charges may apply.

Verify the current contact details on the official IRS EIN application page before calling.

One distinction matters here: international applicants cannot use the online EIN application simply because they have formed a US LLC. Eligibility for the online system depends on the relevant business-location and responsible-party requirements, not just where the company was incorporated.

For eligible international applicants, telephone application can be a practical option when an EIN is needed promptly. Fax and mail remain alternatives when appropriate.

What Can Delay An EIN Application?

The IRS publishes standard timelines for its different application methods, but individual applications do not always follow those estimates. Some delays occur before the IRS begins processing the form; others arise because the application cannot be completed as submitted.

Here are the issues worth checking first.

• Incorrect or incomplete Form SS-4: Missing answers, incorrect entity details or inconsistent information can need clarification. Use the legal business name & other details that match the relevant formation or legal documents.
• Problems identifying the responsible party: The IRS wants information about the individual who eventually owns or controls the entity, subject to specific rules for certain organizations. Incorrect or inconsistent responsible-party information may complicate processing.
• Using an application method for which you are not eligible: For example, an applicant whose principal place of business is outside the United States and its territories cannot use the standard online EIN application. Choosing the wrong route can waste time.
• Fax transmission or postal delivery problems: A failed fax transmission means the IRS may not have received your application. A mailed application can also take longer because of delivery time or a return address problem.
• Additional IRS review: If the information provided does not allow the IRS to complete the application, further clarification may be needed. There is no single additional processing period that applies to every case.
• Applying before the entity is ready: Some entities need to be legally formed before they apply for an EIN. Applying before completing the necessary formation steps can create complications, depending on the entity and its circumstances.
• Submitting an unnecessary second application: The IRS will not usually issue more than one EIN per responsible party per day. More than that, filing another application over an initial missing response may do more harm than good potentially causing confusion or duplicate EINs. Double check on the original application! 

The best way to avoid preventable delays is to confirm your eligibility, prepare the correct form, review the details carefully, and use one application method for the entity.

What Should You Do If Your EIN Has Not Arrived?

If the expected processing period has passed and you have not received your EIN, start by checking how you applied. The next step depends on whether you submitted the application online, by fax, by mail, or by telephone.

1. Have you received a confirmation: For fax applications, find your transmission record. For mailed applications, look at your delivery information (if any).
2. Check the time frame against IRS estimate: fax application takes about four business days & mail application a month. These are just estimates, not a promise. 
3. Review your contact information: Confirm the fax or the address you provided was accurate.
4. Stay with current IRS follow-up advice: IRS says to call 800-829-4933 about confirming an EIN or a mailed-in application. Talk to IRS now on the official website for current directions.
5. Don’t submit a second application right away: Inquire whether your initial request is still in progress, or if your EIN has already been issued.

In the event you already have received an EIN but you have misplaced the confirmation notice you might want to search out or confirm an already issued one instead of applying for a new one. Retain a copy of your confirmation notice within your business records if possible.

For another tax deadline, the instructions for IRS Form SS-4 also tell you what to do if you have applied for an EIN but have not received it by a return deadline or tax deposit deadline. Read the instructions for the filing or deposit in question rather than assuming you can delay everything until the EIN is issued.

Does The EIN Timeline Differ For LLCs And International Applicants?

The basic IRS processing estimates do not change simply because an applicant owns an LLC. What changes are the application routes available to the owner & whether the entity is ready to apply.

EIN timing for a new LLC

Forming an LLC with a state and obtaining an EIN from the IRS are separate processes. The state establishes the legal entity, while the IRS issues the federal identification number.

Depending on the entity and its circumstances, the LLC may need to be legally formed before the EIN application is submitted. The time required for state formation is separate from the IRS processing period.

For example, if your state has already approved your LLC & you qualify for the IRS online application, you may receive the EIN immediately after successful completion. If you must apply by fax or mail, the corresponding IRS processing estimate applies instead.

Receiving an EIN does not mean that all state registrations, tax registrations, licenses, or other business requirements have been completed.

EIN timing for international business owners

An international owner can obtain an EIN without necessarily having an SSN or ITIN. The IRS instructions allow a responsible party who has no SSN or ITIN and is ineligible to obtain one to enter “foreign” or “N/A” in the relevant Form SS-4 field, as instructed.

However, the absence of an SSN or ITIN does not automatically make every application eligible for every method. An international applicant whose principal business location is outside the United States and its territories generally needs to use an appropriate alternative, such as telephone, fax, or mail.

If you formed a US LLC while living abroad, determine your eligibility before starting the application. This can prevent wasted time attempting to use an online system that is not available for your circumstances.