How to Get a Free Georgia Employer Identification Number (EIN) for Your LLC

To open a business bank account, hire employees, or file most federal tax forms, you need an Employer Identification Number (EIN).

In this article, we will walk you through what an EIN is, who needs it, how to apply, and the key requirements you should know before getting started.

What Is an EIN and Who Needs It? 

An Employer Identification Number (EIN) is a federal tax identification number assigned by the IRS to businesses for federal tax purposes. Consider it the business version of a Social Security number. Whether you need an EIN depends on how your business is set up and how you plan to operate.

You will need an EIN if you:

• Start a new business that operates as a partnership or corporation. 
• Hire employees (including household employees).
• Open a bank account for banking purposes only.
• Change your type of organization, altering either the legal character or the ownership of the business.
• Purchase an existing business.
• Create a trust that is something other than a grantor trust or an IRA trust.
• Create a pension plan as a plan administrator for reporting purposes.
• Are a foreign person who needs an EIN to comply with IRS withholding regulations, complete Form W-8, avoid withholding on portfolio assets, or claim tax treaty benefits.
• Administer an estate to report estate income on Form 1041.
• Act as a withholding agent for taxes on nonwage income paid to an alien.
• Are a state or local agency that serves as a tax reporting agent for public assistance recipients.
• Are a single-member LLC for employment or excise tax returns, state reporting, or because you are a foreign-owned, disregarded entity requiring Form 5472.
• Are an S corporation to file Form 2553.

Expert Advice: If you don’t need an EIN for your business, it can still be beneficial to obtain one. For example, if you own an LLC with no employees, an EIN can help maintain your privacy and prevent your social security number from being linked to your business.

Important Requirements Before Applying for an EIN

Before filing an application for an EIN, you must meet several crucial requirements

Your LLC must be fully set up before you register for an Employer Identification Number (EIN). An LLC is a legal entity and therefore, must be registered with the Georgia Secretary of State before applying. The IRS recommends establishing your LLC with the state first, since filing before registering your LLC can delay your EIN application.

Business Name & Address Requirements for EIN Application: 

When completing an EIN application, the legal LLC name must match exactly with the name used in your Articles of Organization.

The IRS requires specific formatting rules for business names:

• Only letters (A–Z), numbers (0–9), hyphens (-), and ampersands (&) are permitted in the application system.
• Any special characters that are not supported must be adjusted before submission.

If the legal LLC name contains unsupported characters, the following rules apply:

• Symbols such as +, @, or periods (.) must be removed or written out in words (for example, “Georgia.Com” must be entered as “Georgia Dot Com” or “Georgia Com”).
• Slashes ( / or \ ) must be replaced with a hyphen (-).
• Apostrophes (’) must be removed entirely without replacement.

How to Apply for an EIN?

There are multiple ways to apply for an Employer Identification Number (EIN), depending on where your LLC is located. All U.S.-based businesses can submit their applications online, by fax, or by mail. International businesses have to apply by phone, fax, or mail.

If Your Business Is Located in the United States

If your principal place of business is in the U.S., you can apply for an EIN using any of the following methods:

• Online application: You can apply directly through the IRS and receive your EIN immediately upon completion.
• Fax submission: You can complete Form SS-4 (Application for Employer Identification Number) and fax it to 855-641-6935. If a fax number is provided, the IRS will return a faxed confirmation with your EIN in approximately 4 business days.
• Mail submission: You can send Form SS-4 to the Internal Revenue Service, Attn: EIN Operation, Cincinnati, OH 45999. In this case, the EIN is typically issued within about 4 weeks.

If You’re an International Applicant 

If your principal place of business is outside the U.S., you are required to apply using international application methods:

• Phone application: You can apply by calling 267-941-1099, available Monday through Friday, from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Eastern Time.
• Fax submission: Form SS-4 can be faxed to 855-215-1627 (within the U.S.) or 304-707-9471 (outside the U.S.).
• Mail submission: You can also mail Form SS-4 to the Internal Revenue Service, Attn: EIN International Operation, Cincinnati, OH 45999.

Keep in mind that all applicants are limited to one EIN per responsible party per day. 

You can download the form directly here. 

Who Is Responsible for Your EIN Application?

You are solely responsible for the application for a new EIN. You have to ensure there are no inaccuracies or omissions in the information you submit. The EIN application must be completed in a single session. You cannot save for later, and it times out after 15 minutes. You will need to repeat the process if you exceed that limit.

Under IRS guidelines, the third-party designee can complete and submit the EIN application for a taxpayer, provided the necessary authorizations are obtained and a signed Form SS-4 is obtained and retained.

Georgia LLC registration can file this application for you in one session. We can also help you set up your entity, as this must be completed before you can obtain an EIN.

Quick FAQs

Disclaimer: The information provided in this blog is for general informational purposes only. For professional assistance and advice, please contact experts.