When SSN is enough
Sole prop, no employees, no special elections
If you're a sole proprietor with no employees and no excise/employment tax obligations, your SSN is your business taxpayer ID. You only need an EIN if your bank requires one or you elect S-corp status.
When EIN is required
LLC, employees, certain elections
Single-member LLCs are disregarded entities for federal income tax but generally need an EIN for banking and state employer registration. Multi-member LLCs always need one. Anyone with W-2 employees needs one.
Expectation-setting
Only the IRS issues EINs. No service — formation operator, attorney, CPA, or EIN-resolution shop — issues EINs. What they sell is the labor of refiling SS-4 on your behalf, not a different outcome.
Z
ZenBusiness
SS-4 refile assistance
Formation, registered agent, and SS-4 refile assistance.
Price$0 + state fee — StarterProgram$100 CPA / 30-day cookie · Awin
Disclosure. We earn a referral fee if you use this service. They do not get you a different EIN — only the IRS issues EINs. They refile SS-4 on your behalf with corrected information.
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