Fill Out IRS Form SS-4 Online
Application for Employer Identification Number
Internal Revenue Service
Applies for an Employer Identification Number (EIN) for a business, estate, or trust.
Reviewed July 2026
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IRS Form SS-4, Application for Employer Identification Number, is how businesses, estates, trusts, and other entities request an EIN, the nine-digit number the IRS uses to identify them for tax filing and reporting. Banks also routinely require an EIN to open a business account.
You can fill out Form SS-4 in the Universal PDF editor, complete every applicable line, and download the finished PDF to fax or mail to the IRS, or keep as the reference copy behind an online EIN application.
What is Form SS-4 used for
An EIN works like a Social Security number for an entity: it identifies the business on employment tax returns, income tax returns, and information returns. The SS-4 collects the entity's legal name, mailing address, entity type, reason for applying, and the identity of its responsible party.
The responsible party is the person who ultimately owns or controls the entity, and the IRS requires that person to be an individual with their own taxpayer identification number in most cases. If that person or the address later changes, the entity reports the change on Form 8822-B.
Who files Form SS-4
A wide range of applicants use the SS-4:
- New corporations, partnerships, and multi-member LLCs that need an EIN before filing returns or opening accounts.
- Sole proprietors who hire employees or need an EIN for retirement plans or excise taxes.
- Estates and trusts that must file fiduciary returns.
- Nonprofits, churches, and other organizations applying for tax-exempt status.
- Foreign entities that need a US taxpayer identification number for withholding or treaty purposes.
How to fill out Form SS-4
Lines 1 through 7 cover the legal name, trade name, mailing address, and responsible party. Lines 8 and 9 identify the entity type, such as sole proprietor, partnership, corporation, or LLC, including how an LLC is classified. Line 10 states the reason for applying, and the remaining lines cover the start date, closing month of the accounting year, expected employment taxes, and principal business activity.
Line 14 lets eligible small employers elect to file Form 944 annually instead of quarterly Form 941 returns. Sign and date the form; a third-party designee section allows an accountant or formation service to receive the EIN on your behalf.
Filing methods and timing
Applicants with a principal business in the United States can apply online through the IRS website and receive an EIN immediately during the session. The paper SS-4 can be faxed, which typically returns an EIN within a few business days, or mailed, which takes several weeks. International applicants without a US legal residence can apply by phone.
The IRS limits online issuance to one EIN per responsible party per day. Whichever method you use, keep the completed SS-4 with your permanent records, since lenders and agencies often ask to see it.
Frequently asked questions
The online application replaces mailing the form, but it asks the same questions. Many filers still complete an SS-4 as a worksheet and retain it as the record of what was submitted.
Online applications issue an EIN immediately for qualifying US applicants. Fax applications typically take a few business days, and mailed applications take several weeks.
Generally the individual who ultimately owns or controls the entity, listed with their Social Security number or ITIN. Entities generally cannot name another company as the responsible party.
It needs one if it has employees, files excise taxes, or elects corporate taxation. Some banks also require an EIN to open an account even when the IRS does not require one.
Report the change on Form 8822-B. Changes to the responsible party must be reported within 60 days.
No. An EIN is permanent for the entity it was issued to and is not reused, even if the business closes.
Related forms
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