EIN or ITIN Application Service

No. The IRS does not accept Form W-7 electronically. You can order and start your application with us online, but the application reaches the IRS on paper: by mail, in person at an IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center, or through an acceptance agent. See can I apply for an ITIN online.

The IRS says to allow 7 weeks, and 9 to 11 weeks if you apply during tax season (January 15 to April 30) or from outside the U.S. Nobody can pay to speed this up. If the IRS asks for more information, it takes longer.

A completed Form W-7, a U.S. federal tax return unless you meet one of the exceptions, and proof of identity and foreign status. A valid passport proves both by itself. Without a passport you need two documents from the IRS list, at least one with a photo. See the full ITIN application requirements.

Yes. An ITIN that is not used on a U.S. federal tax return for three consecutive tax years expires on December 31 of the third year. You renew it with Form W-7. See how to check if an ITIN is expired.

Yes. A foreign responsible party who has neither number can still get an EIN. Form SS-4 is then filed by fax, phone or mail instead of the IRS online tool. See how to get an EIN without an SSN.

Through the IRS online tool an EIN is issued immediately. By fax the IRS says about 4 business days, and by mail about 4 weeks. Applications filed for owners without an SSN go by fax or phone, so they depend on the IRS workload at the time.

If the EIN is for an LLC or a corporation, form the company with the state first; the IRS says applying before the entity exists can delay the EIN. A sole proprietor can get an EIN without forming a company. See can I get an EIN without an LLC.

Yes. The IRS charges nothing for an ITIN or an EIN, and you can apply directly. Our fees, from $245 for an ITIN application and from $125 for an EIN application, pay for preparing, checking and filing the forms for you.