💰 Money School
How to Get an EIN (Free)
Get your EIN free from the IRS in minutes. Learn what an EIN is, who really needs one, and the exact steps at irs.gov so you never pay a middleman for it.
What you will learn
- 1Beginner: What an EIN Is and Why It Is FreeFree 6 min
- 2Intermediate: The Exact Steps to Get Yours🔒 8 min
- 3Advanced: Managing Your EIN Over Time🔒 8 min
Beginner: What an EIN Is and Why It Is Free
EIN in plain words
EIN stands for Employer Identification Number. Do not let the word "employer" throw you. You do not need employees to get one.
It is a number the IRS uses to identify your business, the same way a Social Security number identifies you as a person. Banks, the IRS, and some clients use it to know who your business is.
It is free, always
The IRS gives you an EIN for free at irs.gov. There is no fee. None.
There are websites that make themselves look official and charge you to "file" for an EIN. They are just filling out the same free form you can fill out yourself in a few minutes. Do not pay a middleman for an EIN alone.
Why you might want one
An EIN lets you open a business bank account, keeps your Social Security number off forms and invoices, and is required once you hire employees or set up certain business structures.
Even as a solo owner, using an EIN instead of your Social Security number is a simple privacy win.
Do this before lesson 2
- ✓Say it back: an EIN is free and comes from the IRS, not a paid service.
- ✓Decide whether you want an EIN now (most owners opening a business account do).
- ✓Bookmark irs.gov as the only place you will get your EIN.
Create your free account to unlock all lessons
You just finished lesson 1. The other 2 lessons in this course are ready for you. Create a free account to continue, then unlock the full course for $49 (or take the whole Money School for $177).
Full course $49. First lesson stays free, always.