FEIN: What is it? Why is it important to your business?

Correct tax identification ranks among the very first and most critical things to do while initiating business in the United States. Through all the registrations and paperwork that businesspeople have to go through, the Federal Employer Identification Number also known as FEIN is at the core of it all.

The identifier aids the IRS and other organizations in identifying your business, and it plays an essential part in business compliance. It’s needed in everything from the hiring of employees all the way to opening business bank accounts or getting licenses.

Obtaining and learning this is an initial step for US businesses, enabling them to comply with federal tax legislation with ease and function smoothly.

What is an FEIN number?

An FEIN, or Federal Employer Identification Number, is a nine-digit number issued by the IRS to identify business entities. It functions much like a Social Security number but is used for business rather than personal tax purposes. Just as individuals use SSNs when filing taxes, businesses use FEINs to meet federal reporting requirements. The system was introduced to manage the increasing complexity of business structures and tax obligations over time. Today, it’s an essential tool in the federal identification and compliance process for organizations of all types.

What an FEIN is used for?

The FEIN finds direct application in your everyday operations. Here are some of the most common use cases:

• Business Identification: The FEIN is being used by the IRS to identify your business.
• Business tax filing: This is required to file returns like corporate tax, employment tax, and partnership income tax.
• Opening Bank Accounts: Most banks do not open business bank accounts without a valid FEIN.
• Acquiring Licenses and Permits: The state and local authorities normally require an FEIN for business registration.
• Employee Hiring: Employers use it to report wages, withholding tax, and payroll tax returns.
• Building Business Credit: It is utilized by credit reporting agencies and lenders to monitor your business’s credit identity.
• Additional Uses: It may be needed for registrations with vendors, insurance policies, as well as legal contracts.

It takes approximately one to three weeks to get an FEIN.

Obtaining an FEIN takes minutes or takes time, depending upon the method utilized:

• Online Application: The fastest route. Apply online with the IRS, and in many cases, your FEIN will be issued immediately.
• Phone or Mail: Time-consuming alternatives. Foreign applicants may make applications over the phone, and applications sent in the post take 4-6 weeks.
• Processing Time: Internet = instant. Phone = several business days. Postal Mail = weeks.

Where is an FEIN number found?

There are multiple ways to locate your FEIN if you’ve already been issued one:

• IRS Confirmation Notice: Form CP 575 is sent out by the IRS when an FEIN is issued.
• Business Records: Your FEIN would appear in tax returns, bank statements, and official documents.
• IRS Recovery: It cannot be sought out online, but in the unlikely event that it’s lost, it can be requested from the IRS after identifying yourself.
• Your Accountant or Bookkeeper: Your business’s accountants or bookkeepers take care of this.

Is FEIN the same as employer ID number?

Yes. FEIN and Employer Identification Number are synonyms. Both are interchangeably referred to by the IRS and the majority of institutions that deal with finance.

Not all businesses have an FEIN number.

Here’s who typically needs one and who doesn’t:

• C or S Corporations
• Partners
• Limited Liability Companies (LLC’s)
• Non-profit organizations
• Cell phone usage
• Trusts and estates that generate income

The sole proprietors with no employees can normally use their Social Security number. Upon acquiring employees, incorporating, or becoming partners, they would need to obtain an FEIN.

There is no cost for obtaining an FEIN Number.

It is entirely possible to get an FEIN free, straight from the IRS. Don’t go to sites or pay to fill out an application—third-party companies who fill out the very same form for you.

How human resources uses one

Human resources use the FEIN for many essential purposes to make things easier for employees and for tax purposes:

• Payroll processing: Used to record employee compensation and remit payroll taxes.
• Employee Onboarding: Reported on tax documents like the Form W-4 and direct deposit agreements.
• Benefits Administration: Insurers and retirement plan sponsors require the business FEIN.
• Compliance: HR makes sure all use tax reports show the proper FEIN.
• Form W-2: All employee W-2s distributed must have the FEIN of the employer.

Obtaining one: A Step-by-Step Guide

Here’s a simple process to help you apply for an FEIN through the IRS:

1. Go to the IRS Application Page: Go to irs.gov and type in “Apply for an EIN Online.”
2. Eligibility: Your business needs to be US or US Territories. The Borrower needs to have an active Taxpayer Identification Number (e.g., an SSN).
3. Business Information: Provide your entity type, business name, purpose for applying, and responsible party details.
4. Submit the Application: When you have finished, you will receive your FEIN right away as a downloadable confirmation letter.
5. Retain Your Confirmation: Save or print your CP 575 notice for your files.

If you are not able to file electronically, you may fax or post Form SS-4, but they are slower.

FEIN number for various business types

Each business organization may have unique needs when it comes to it. Here’s how it applies across different structures:

• Corporations: S and C corporations are both necessary.
• Partnerships: All federal returns are mandatory for all partnerships.
• LLCs:
  • Single-member LLCs may use the owner’s SSN in case of tax-disregard.
  • Multi-member limited liability companies or tax-electing corporations need to have their own FEIN.
  • Nonprofits: Required to file an FEIN when seeking tax-exempt 501(c)(3) designation.

The FEIN is not simply an IRS tax requirement, but the foundation of your business’s identity with the IRS and other groups. If you are to run a real, scalable US business, you’re not just urged to have an FEIN—most are actually required to have one. For tax purposes and payroll, for banking and permitting, an FEIN makes essentially all the essential operations of a business feasible. By recognizing how essential it is and protecting it properly, you are making an important move towards complete business compliance and business efficacy.