How to Get an EIN in Alaska (2026)

Fact-checked by the LegalGlass editorial team against primary sources · Published Aug 6, 2026 · Last updated Aug 6, 2026

An EIN is free from the IRS: you apply on Form SS-4 and pay $0. The fastest route is the IRS online assistant, which issues the number immediately. Alaska adds no charge for the EIN, but most Alaska businesses also need a state business license from the Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing.

What an EIN Is and Who Needs One in Alaska

An Employer Identification Number (EIN) is a nine-digit federal tax identification number issued by the Internal Revenue Service. It identifies a business the way a Social Security number identifies an individual, and it is used to file federal returns, hire employees, open a business bank account, and apply for many permits. An EIN is issued at the federal level, so the process is the same whether your business is in Alaska or any other state; what changes state to state is which state registrations you pair with it. For the national overview, see how to get an EIN.

The IRS requires an EIN when a business has employees, operates as a corporation or partnership, or is a multi-member LLC. You also need one if you file employment, excise, or certain other returns, or withhold taxes on income (other than wages) paid to a non-resident alien. A sole proprietor or a single-member LLC with no employees can often use the owner's Social Security number for federal income tax, but an EIN is still commonly obtained to keep business and personal finances separate. If you formed an LLC in Alaska, getting an EIN is usually the next step after the entity is registered.

How to Apply for an EIN, Step by Step

Applying is straightforward and, done directly with the IRS, completely free. Each step below corresponds to an IRS requirement for issuing the number.

1. Confirm you need an EIN. Check the IRS criteria: employees, a corporation or partnership, a multi-member LLC, or certain tax filings. If you sell taxable goods and hire staff, you will need one. When in doubt, most banks require an EIN to open a business account.
2. Identify the responsible party. Every application names one responsible party, a natural person who ultimately owns or controls the entity, along with that person's SSN or ITIN. The responsible party cannot be the entity itself, and the IRS limits you to one EIN per responsible party per day.
3. Apply on Form SS-4. The quickest method is the IRS online assistant, which validates your answers and issues the EIN immediately. You may also submit the paper Form SS-4 by fax (about four business days) or by mail (about four weeks). Applicants with no US taxpayer number apply by phone.
4. Register with Alaska agencies. After you have the EIN, obtain your Alaska business license and register for any state tax the Alaska Department of Revenue administers for your activity, plus any local sales tax where you operate.

Keep the CP 575 confirmation notice the IRS issues with your new EIN. Banks, the state licensing division, and payroll providers may ask to see it, and it is the cleanest proof of the number and the exact legal name tied to it.

Free From the IRS: Cost and Application Methods

The EIN itself is free. The IRS never charges for issuing an EIN, and there is no Alaska fee for the number. Websites that advertise "EIN filing" for a fee are third-party services that simply complete the same free IRS application on your behalf; you can do it yourself at no cost. The table below summarizes the application methods and typical timing.

The online assistant is available only to applicants whose principal business is in the United States or its territories and who have a valid taxpayer identification number. It must be completed in one session. If you cannot use it, the paper Form SS-4 by fax is the next fastest route.

Alaska State Tax and Business License Registration

Alaska is unusual: it has no personal income tax and no statewide sales tax. That means individuals and pass-through owners do not file an Alaska personal income return. Corporations, however, are subject to the Alaska corporate income tax, administered by the Alaska Department of Revenue, and some Alaska boroughs and cities levy their own local sales taxes. So while an EIN is federal, your state and local obligations depend on your entity type and where you do business.

Separate from taxes, Alaska requires most businesses to hold a state business license issued by the Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing within the Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development. This license is not the same as the EIN, and regulated professions require additional occupational licensing. Confirm the current business license fee and renewal cycle on the division's fee schedule before you apply, and see business licenses and business tax for how these pieces fit together.

EIN for Sole Proprietors and Single-Member LLCs

By default, the IRS treats a single-member LLC as a disregarded entity and a sole proprietorship as part of the owner's personal return. In both cases federal income tax flows to the owner's Form 1040, and a separate EIN is not strictly required for income tax if there are no employees. Even so, an EIN is strongly recommended: it lets you open a business bank account without exposing your SSN, simplifies hiring, and is required if you later elect S-corporation or corporate taxation. A multi-member LLC, taxed as a partnership by default, always needs its own EIN.

If your circumstances change, so can your EIN needs. Adding employees, changing your entity type, or bringing on a second owner can each trigger a new EIN or a new tax registration. When you form or restructure an Alaska business, review both the federal classification and the Alaska registrations together so nothing is missed.

After You Get Your EIN

Once the IRS issues your EIN, put it to work and keep it in good standing. Use it to open a business bank account, set up payroll if you hire staff, apply for your Alaska business license, and file federal returns. If your business hires employees, you will register for federal employment taxes and Alaska Employment Security (unemployment insurance) and workers' compensation coverage as required.

Your EIN does not expire and generally stays with the business for its life. If you close the business, you can ask the IRS to close the associated business account, though the EIN is never reassigned to another entity. Keep the number, the CP 575 notice, and your Alaska license paperwork together with your other formation records, and update the IRS if your responsible party changes by filing Form 8822-B.

Guard the number the way you would any sensitive identifier. Your EIN appears on tax filings, loan applications, and vendor forms such as the W-9, so share it only with parties that have a legitimate need. Because the online assistant issues the EIN in a single session, download or print the confirmation before you close the browser; the IRS will not resend that notice by email. If you ever misplace the number, you can retrieve it from a prior return, from your bank, or by calling the IRS Business and Specialty Tax Line, which can confirm the EIN to an authorized person after verifying identity.

Finally, remember that the EIN and your Alaska registrations run on separate calendars. The federal number is one-and-done, but your Alaska business license renews on the state's cycle, and any corporate income tax or local sales tax filings recur on their own schedules. Building a simple annual checklist that pairs the federal filings tied to your EIN with the Alaska license renewal keeps the whole business in good standing without last-minute surprises. See how to dissolve an LLC for the closing side of that lifecycle.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does an EIN cost in Alaska?

Nothing. The IRS issues an EIN for free to any business, and there is no state charge for the number itself. Anyone charging you a fee to obtain an EIN is a third-party service, not the IRS.

What form do I use to get an EIN?

IRS Form SS-4, Application for Employer Identification Number. You can complete it through the IRS online assistant for an immediate EIN, or submit the paper Form SS-4 by fax or mail.

Does a single-member LLC in Alaska need an EIN?

Not always for federal income tax, because a single-member LLC is a disregarded entity by default. But you need an EIN to hire employees, and most banks require one to open a business account, so most owners get one.

Does Alaska have a state income tax that needs a state ID?

Alaska has no personal income tax and no statewide sales tax. It does levy a corporate income tax, and some boroughs and cities impose local sales taxes, so registration depends on your entity type and location.

How long does it take to get an EIN?

The IRS online application issues the EIN immediately once the questions are answered. Fax applications take about four business days and mailed Form SS-4 applications take about four weeks.

Do I need an Alaska business license too?

Yes. Alaska requires most businesses to hold a state business license from the Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing, which is separate from the federal EIN. Check the current fee on the state fee schedule.

Related

• How to get an EIN (cluster hub)
• How to form an LLC
• What is an ITIN?
• S-Corp vs LLC
• Business tax basics
• Business licenses
• What is a DBA?

Sources

1. IRS - Get an Employer Identification Number (free EIN; application methods).
2. IRS - Apply for an EIN Online (immediate issuance; one session).
3. IRS - Do You Need an EIN? (who is required to have an EIN).
4. IRS - About Form SS-4 (Application for Employer Identification Number).
5. IRS - Form SS-4 (PDF).
6. IRS - Instructions for Form SS-4 (responsible party; fax and mail timing).
7. IRS - Responsible Parties and Nominees.
8. IRS - Limited Liability Company (LLC) (default classification).
9. IRS - Single-Member LLCs (disregarded entity; when an EIN is needed).
10. IRS - Change of Address or Responsible Party (Form 8822-B).
11. Alaska DCCED - Business Licensing (Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing).
12. Alaska DCCED - Corporations (entity registration).
13. Alaska Department of Revenue - Tax Types and Programs (corporate income tax).
14. Alaska Department of Labor - Employment Security Tax (employer unemployment insurance).
15. Cornell Legal Information Institute - 26 U.S. Code § 6109 (identifying numbers).
16. Cornell Legal Information Institute - 26 CFR § 301.6109-1 (taxpayer identifying numbers).

LegalGlass provides general information for educational purposes and is not a law firm or a substitute for advice from a licensed attorney or tax professional. Laws, fees, and thresholds change; verify current requirements with the IRS and the Alaska Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing before acting.