How to Get an EIN in Indiana (2026)

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

A federal Employer Identification Number (EIN) is free from the IRS, and most Indiana businesses get one online in a single session using the IRS EIN Assistant. You apply on IRS Form SS-4; there is no Indiana charge for the federal number, though Indiana has its own separate tax accounts through INBiz and INTIME.

What an EIN Is and Why Indiana Businesses Need One

An Employer Identification Number is a nine-digit federal tax ID (format 00-0000000) that the IRS assigns to a business the way a Social Security number identifies an individual. It identifies your business on federal returns, payroll filings, and information returns. Forming an LLC or corporation in Indiana does not create an EIN automatically - the Indiana Secretary of State (through INBiz) handles entity registration, while the EIN is a separate federal step with the IRS.

You generally need an EIN if your business has employees, is taxed as a partnership or corporation, files employment or excise tax returns, or is a multi-member LLC. A single-member LLC with no employees can often use the owner's SSN, but most open a bank account with an EIN instead. Federal rules on identifying numbers appear at 26 U.S.C. § 6109. See the national EIN guide for the full checklist.

The EIN Is Free - Avoid Paid Look-Alike Sites

The IRS issues EINs at no cost. Third-party websites that charge a fee to "obtain" or "file" your EIN are simply completing the free IRS form on your behalf; the number itself is always free directly from the IRS. Because the number is federal, there is no Indiana-specific EIN and no state fee for it. If you need an individual taxpayer number instead of an SSN, review the ITIN process.

Each responsible party is limited to one EIN per day, and the online tool requires a valid SSN or ITIN for the responsible party - the person who controls or owns the entity. International applicants without an SSN or ITIN cannot use the online tool and instead apply by fax or phone. The IRS explains the responsible-party rules on its site.

How to Apply for an EIN (Four Methods)

The fastest method is the IRS online EIN Assistant, which validates your answers and issues the number immediately at the end of the session, letting you download the CP 575 confirmation notice. You must complete the online application in one sitting because it times out after inactivity, so gather your legal name, responsible party, entity type, and reason for applying first.

If you cannot apply online, you can fax Form SS-4 (roughly four business days for a return fax), mail it (about four weeks), or, for international applicants, call the IRS. Choose the entity classification that matches your federal election - a single-member LLC is a disregarded entity by default, a multi-member LLC is a partnership, and either can elect corporate or S-corporation treatment separately.

Before you start, have four things ready: the exact legal name of the business as registered with the state, the responsible party's name and SSN or ITIN, the entity type, and the reason you are applying (started a new business, hired employees, opened a bank account, and so on). Accurate answers matter because the EIN attaches permanently to the name and responsible party you enter, and correcting a mistake later means writing to the IRS rather than editing the record online.

Indiana State Tax Accounts Are Separate

Indiana runs its business registration through INBiz and its state tax accounts through the Indiana Department of Revenue's INTIME portal. After you obtain your federal EIN, you register for the taxes that apply to you - sales tax (a Registered Retail Merchant Certificate), employer withholding, and, for corporations, state income tax. Indiana taxes individual income at a low flat rate set by statute and reduced on a published schedule; confirm the current rate with the Department of Revenue.

Keep your EIN, INBiz entity record, and Department of Revenue accounts consistent so the legal name and responsible party match across every filing. For the state-level tax picture, see our business tax overview and Indiana LLC tax filing.

What You Use the EIN For

Once issued, the EIN stays with the business permanently and is used to open a business bank account, hire employees and run payroll, file federal income and employment tax returns, apply for licenses, and establish business credit. Banks almost always require the EIN (plus formation documents) before opening a business account, which is why even single-member owners commonly obtain one.

The EIN also appears on the information returns you issue and receive: W-2s for employees, 1099-NEC forms for contractors you pay, and the 1099s or K-1s that report income to you. Using a consistent EIN across all of these keeps the IRS's matching systems from flagging your filings, and it lets vendors and platforms verify your business quickly when you complete a Form W-9.

An EIN is not a business license and does not register you for Indiana sales tax by itself - those are separate steps. If you later change your entity type, add members, or convert to a corporation, you may need a new EIN; the IRS publishes the circumstances that require a fresh number. When you close the business, you also handle dissolution and close the EIN account.

EIN vs Other Tax IDs an Indiana Business May Need

The EIN is only one of several identifiers a business handles. It is a federal number used with the IRS. Separately, Indiana issues a state taxpayer identification number when you register through INTIME, and if you sell taxable goods you receive a Registered Retail Merchant Certificate for sales tax. These are distinct from the EIN, even though you use the EIN when you register for them.

Individuals also have identifiers that can be confused with an EIN. A Social Security Number identifies a person, and an ITIN is issued to certain individuals who are not eligible for an SSN. A single-member LLC owner may use an SSN or ITIN as the responsible party on the EIN application. Keeping these numbers straight - federal EIN, state tax ID, retail merchant certificate, and personal SSN or ITIN - avoids mismatched filings.

When you eventually restructure or close the business, the EIN does not disappear: you notify the IRS to close the business account, and you separately close your Indiana Department of Revenue accounts. Aligning every identifier to the same legal name and responsible party from day one is the simplest way to keep banking, payroll, and tax filings clean.

Common EIN Mistakes to Avoid

The most frequent errors are paying a third party for a free number, applying before the entity legally exists (file your INBiz formation documents first when forming an LLC or corporation), and naming a responsible party who is not an individual with a valid taxpayer ID. The responsible party must be a person who ultimately owns or controls the entity, not a paid agent.

Also confirm the entity classification you select matches how you intend to be taxed, and keep your CP 575 notice, because banks and the state may ask for it. If you form your business in Indiana, complete the INBiz filing and adopt an operating agreement before or alongside your EIN application so the ownership details line up. Review the glossary for unfamiliar terms.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does an EIN cost in Indiana?

Nothing. The IRS issues EINs for free. There is no Indiana fee for a federal EIN, and any site charging you is a paid middleman completing the free IRS Form SS-4 on your behalf.

Do I get an EIN from an Indiana state agency?

No. The EIN is federal and comes from the IRS. INBiz handles Indiana entity registration and the Department of Revenue (INTIME) handles state tax accounts, but neither issues the EIN.

How fast can I get an EIN?

The IRS online EIN Assistant issues the number immediately at the end of the session. Fax applications take about four business days and mailed Form SS-4 applications about four weeks.

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

Not always for taxes, since a single-member LLC can use the owner's SSN, but you need one to hire employees, and most banks require an EIN to open a business account.

Who can be the responsible party?

An individual who owns or controls the entity and has a valid SSN or ITIN. It cannot be a paid registration service. International applicants without an SSN or ITIN apply by fax or phone.

Do I need a new EIN if my business changes?

Sometimes. Converting a sole proprietorship to a corporation, changing an LLC to a corporation, or certain ownership changes require a new EIN. The IRS lists the exact triggering events.

Related

• How to get an EIN (cluster hub)
• How to form an LLC in Indiana
• What is an ITIN
• Business tax overview
• S-corp vs LLC
• Indiana LLC tax filing

Sources

1. IRS - Get an Employer Identification Number (EIN is free from the IRS).
2. IRS - Apply for an EIN Online (immediate issuance).
3. IRS - About Form SS-4 (Application for Employer Identification Number).
4. IRS - Limited Liability Company (LLC) (federal default classification).
5. IRS - Single Member Limited Liability Companies (disregarded-entity default).
6. IRS - Business Structures (entity types overview).
7. IRS - Sole Proprietorships (federal tax treatment).
8. IRS - Self-Employment Tax (Social Security and Medicare Taxes) (15.3% combined rate; $400 threshold).
9. Cornell LII - 26 U.S. Code § 6109, Identifying numbers.
10. Cornell LII - 26 CFR § 301.7701-3, Entity classification election.
11. Cornell LII - 26 U.S. Code § 1402, Net earnings from self-employment.
12. Indiana Secretary of State - INBiz Business Registration (Indiana entity filing).
13. Indiana Department of Revenue - Business Tax (INTIME accounts).
14. Indiana General Assembly - Indiana Code Title 23, Business and Other Associations.

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 relevant state agency and the IRS before acting.