Sole Proprietor EIN Form

Use this form to apply for an Employer Identification Number (EIN) for a sole proprietor. Please provide accurate business and responsible-party information so your EIN application can be prepared and processed correctly.

Step 1 of 6 - Application

Responsible party

Identify the individual required by IRS responsible-party rules, not simply the person completing the form.

Who is the responsible party?

Enter the individual who ultimately owns or controls the entity and its funds. A nominee or formation service is not the responsible party. For a corporation or church, this is generally a principal officer; for a partnership, a controlling partner.

Sole proprietor

Enter the proprietor’s own legal name and taxpayer ID. We use this name for both the EIN applicant and responsible party; do not enter a DBA here.

Trust responsible party

IRS instructions identify the grantor, owner or trustor as the responsible party—not automatically the trustee. If that person is deceased or the correct individual cannot be established, choose Needs review below. Do not substitute a nominee.

Estate responsible party

Identify the living executor, administrator, personal representative or other individual required by IRS responsible-party rules. If an organization is the appointed fiduciary, we will verify the appropriate individual. Do not enter the deceased person here.

Can you identify the correct individual responsible party?(Required)

Yes

Needs review

Choose Needs review rather than guessing. An unresolved responsible party prevents IRS filing.

Responsible party’s full legal name(Required)

First Middle Last Suffix

Use the name shown in the individual’s Social Security or tax records.

Responsible party’s role or title(Required)

For example, owner, president, managing member, controlling partner, grantor, executor or administrator.

Responsible party’s U.S. taxpayer ID status(Required)

Responsible party’s SSN or ITIN(Required)

Enter the nine digits with the hyphens shown. Do not enter an EIN here.

Responsible party’s ITIN(Required)

Enter the nine digits with the hyphens shown. Do not enter an EIN here.

A different IRS filing method may be needed

An individual who has neither an SSN nor an ITIN and is ineligible for both may qualify for the SS-4 foreign/N/A exception. Missing or unavailable information alone does not establish eligibility. We will review the filing route; do not enter zeros or an entity EIN.

Explain what needs to be checked about the responsible party(Required)

Do not put taxpayer IDs in this explanation. For a deceased trust grantor, describe the situation so the correct IRS treatment can be reviewed.

Whose taxpayer ID belongs in the trust’s grantor/owner box?(Required)

This is the grantor/owner identifier on SS-4 line 9a. It is separate from the responsible-party identifier on line 7b.

Grantor/owner’s full legal name(Required)

First Middle Last Suffix

Grantor/owner’s taxpayer ID status(Required)

Grantor/owner’s SSN or ITIN(Required)

Enter the nine digits with the hyphens shown. Do not enter an EIN here.

Grantor/owner organization’s legal name(Required)

Grantor/owner organization’s EIN (if available)

Enter the nine-digit EIN with a hyphen after the first two digits.

Trust grantor information will be checked

If the line 9a grantor differs from the responsible party, or either is unresolved, processing requires a review of the trust’s actual ownership and reporting arrangement.

Physical and mailing addresses

Where is the principal physical location?(Required)

Use the actual principal office or location. For a trust or estate, use the principal place of administration. A registered-agent or mail-forwarding address is not a substitute for the actual location.

Principal physical address(Required)

Street Address Address Line 2 City State ZIP Code

Enter a street address, not a P.O. box.

County / parish / borough / equivalent(Required)

Enter the local jurisdiction for the physical address above.

Physical street address(Required)

Do not enter a P.O. box.

Physical address line 2 (optional)

Physical city / locality(Required)

Physical province / region (if used)

Physical postal code (if used)

Physical location territory(Required)

Physical location country(Required)

Spell out the country name.

Physical location municipality / equivalent(Required)

International filing route

A principal location outside the United States is not eligible for the IRS online EIN tool. Your information can be reviewed for an appropriate alternative method; submitting this form does not guarantee eligibility or issuance.

Should IRS mail go to this physical address?(Required)

Yes

For a trustee, executor or care-of recipient, use that recipient’s mailing address. Choose No if it differs from the physical address.

Where is the mailing address?(Required)

IRS mailing address(Required)

Street Address Address Line 2 City State ZIP Code

Use an address where the applicant can reliably receive IRS notices. A P.O. box is allowed for mailing.

Mailing street address or P.O. box(Required)

Mailing address line 2 (optional)

Mailing city / locality(Required)

Mailing province / region (if used)

Mailing postal code (if used)

Mailing territory(Required)

Mailing country(Required)

Spell out the country name.

Care-of name (optional)

Complete only if IRS mail should be addressed in care of someone else.

Review and authorize

Use Previous to make corrections. Submission creates an OTIN request, not an IRS-issued EIN.

Review your answers below. Taxpayer IDs and signatures are not displayed in this summary. Use Previous to correct information before submitting.

Use Previous to review your answers on earlier pages.

Before an IRS application can be filed

We must confirm that a new EIN is needed, verify the responsible party and entity classification, resolve missing information, and obtain the required signed authorization naming the individual IRS designee. This form does not elect a tax status or provide continuing IRS representation.

Is the person authorizing this request the responsible party entered above?(Required)

Yes

For a trust, the authorized signer is generally the fiduciary even when the responsible party is the grantor. If the responsible party is unresolved, select No and identify the authorized person.

Authorized signer’s full legal name(Required)

First Middle Last Suffix

Authorized signer’s title or capacity(Required)

For example, sole proprietor, president, duly authorized member, trustee, executor or administrator. A preparer must have actual authority; being the form submitter is not enough.

Authorized electronic signature(Required)

Sign to authorize this service request. This signature is not, by itself, a completed signed Form SS-4 or named third-party-designee authorization.

Additional information (optional)

Do not enter SSNs, ITINs, EINs, card details, passwords or document images here.

This is a private, non-government website. The IRS issues EINs directly at no charge.

Return to the sole proprietor EIN guide or review the EIN application hub.

Sole Proprietor EIN Form

EIN Form

Entity details

Responsible party

Physical and mailing addresses

Activity and tax information

Employees and withholding

Review and authorize