How to Get an EIN in Montana (2026)

Q: How much does an EIN cost in Montana?

Nothing. The IRS issues EINs free of charge through its own application, and there is no Montana fee or surcharge. Third-party websites that charge $50 to $300 are only completing the same free federal form on your behalf. Apply directly at IRS.gov or on Form SS-4.

Q: Is a Montana EIN different from a federal EIN?

No. There is no state-issued EIN. The Employer Identification Number is a federal number issued by the IRS and is identical in format and function no matter which state your business is in. Montana issues its own separate account numbers for state tax purposes.

Q: How long does it take to get an EIN in Montana?

The IRS online application issues the number immediately at the end of the session. Faxing Form SS-4 typically takes several business days, and mailing it can take several weeks. International applicants without an SSN or ITIN can apply by phone or by fax.

Q: Does a Montana single-member LLC need an EIN?

Not always for income tax, because a single-member LLC with no employees may use the owner's SSN. In practice most get one: an EIN is required once you hire employees or owe certain excise taxes, and nearly every bank requires it to open a business account.

Q: Can I get an EIN before forming my Montana LLC?

You can, but it is better not to. If the EIN is issued under a name that differs from the one the Montana Secretary of State ultimately accepts, the IRS record and the state record will not match, which causes problems with banks and payroll. File the Articles of Organization first.

Q: Do I need a new EIN for a Montana DBA?

No. An assumed business name is an alias for an existing legal entity, not a new taxpayer. The entity keeps one EIN regardless of how many assumed names it registers with the Montana Secretary of State. You would only need a new EIN if you formed a new entity.

Fact-checked by the LegalGlass editorial team against primary sources · Published Aug 20, 2026 · Last updated Aug 20, 2026

An EIN (Employer Identification Number) is issued by the IRS, not by Montana, and it is free. A Montana business applies online at IRS.gov for immediate issuance, or by fax or mail on Form SS-4. Montana registration with the Secretary of State and the Department of Revenue is a separate, state-level step.

Quick Answer

Issuing agency: Internal Revenue Service (federal, not Montana)
Cost: $0 - the IRS never charges for an EIN
Fastest method: IRS online application; number issued at the end of the session
Form: Form SS-4, Application for Employer Identification Number
Limit: One EIN per responsible party per day
Montana steps: Secretary of State entity filing; Department of Revenue tax accounts

What an EIN Is and Who Needs One in Montana

An EIN is a nine-digit federal taxpayer identification number in the format 12-3456789. It identifies a business to the IRS the way a Social Security number identifies an individual. Because it is federal, there is no such thing as a "Montana EIN" - a business in Billings gets its number from exactly the same IRS system as a business in Boston. See what an EIN is for the concept in full.

The IRS requires an EIN whenever a business has employees, operates as a corporation or a partnership, files employment, excise, or alcohol/tobacco/firearms returns, withholds taxes on income paid to a non-resident alien, or has a Keogh plan. Certain trusts, estates, and non-profits also need one. A Montana single-member LLC with no employees is the main case where an EIN is technically optional for income tax - and even then most owners get one, because banks nearly always ask for it and because using an EIN keeps your SSN off invoices and W-9s.

Two practical Montana triggers come up constantly. First, hiring: as soon as you have a Montana employee you need an EIN for federal payroll, and you will also need state withholding and unemployment accounts. Second, banking: opening a business account in the LLC's name usually requires the EIN letter alongside your formation documents. See whether you need an EIN for a business bank account.

The EIN Is Free - Ignore Paid "Filing" Sites

The IRS issues EINs at no charge, through its own application. Websites that charge $50 to $300 to "obtain" an EIN are simply filling in the same free form on your behalf. There is no expedited IRS tier, no premium number, and no Montana surcharge. If a site asks for payment before it will show you an EIN, you are paying for typing. The free route is described at how to get a free EIN number.

How to Apply, Step by Step

Form the entity first if you are forming one. If your Montana LLC will exist, file the Articles of Organization with the Secretary of State before applying, so the EIN is issued in the exact legal name on the state record. See how to form an LLC in Montana.
Identify the responsible party. The IRS requires a natural person who controls or directs the entity, together with that person's SSN or ITIN. Nominees are not permitted.
Choose a method. Online is fastest and issues the number immediately. Fax and mail applications use Form SS-4 and take longer.
Complete the application in one sitting. The online session times out after a period of inactivity and cannot be saved.
Save the confirmation letter. The online application produces a CP 575-style notice you can download and print. Store it with your operating agreement.

The IRS limits issuance to one EIN per responsible party per day. If you are setting up several Montana entities, plan on several days rather than trying to batch them.

Application Methods Compared

Method	Who can use it	Typical timing	Cost
IRS online application	Applicants whose principal business is in the U.S. and who have an SSN or ITIN	Immediate	$0
Fax Form SS-4	Any applicant	Several business days	$0
Mail Form SS-4	Any applicant	Several weeks	$0
Phone (international applicants)	Applicants with no U.S. legal residence	Same call	$0

Applying Without an SSN

The online application requires the responsible party to have an SSN or ITIN. A foreign founder without either can still obtain an EIN by submitting Form SS-4 by fax or mail, or by calling the IRS international line, and by entering "Foreign" where a U.S. taxpayer number would go. This matters in Montana because the state imposes no residency or citizenship requirement on LLC members. See getting an EIN without an SSN and what an ITIN is.

Montana Registration Is a Separate Step

Getting an EIN does not register you with Montana. The state side has two parts. The Secretary of State handles entity filings - Articles of Organization for an LLC, the registered agent designation, an annual report, and any assumed business name. The Department of Revenue handles tax accounts, including withholding if you have employees.

Montana is unusual in having no general statewide sales tax, so there is no seller's permit to obtain the way there is in most states. That removes one registration many new owners expect. Local resort-area taxes can apply in certain communities, and industry licensing is handled by the relevant agency; see business licenses in Montana for how those layers fit together, and Montana LLC cost for the fee picture.

Common EIN Mistakes to Avoid

Three errors account for most EIN problems in Montana. The first is applying under the wrong name: the legal name on the SS-4 must match the Montana Secretary of State record character for character, including punctuation and the entity designator, or your bank and payroll provider will flag the mismatch. The second is naming a company rather than a person as the responsible party - the IRS requires a natural person who actually controls the entity, and nominee arrangements are not accepted. The third is applying twice because the confirmation letter was lost, which leaves the business with two EINs and two IRS accounts to reconcile.

A fourth, subtler mistake is treating the EIN as a substitute for state registration. It is not. A Montana LLC that has an EIN but no accepted Articles of Organization is not a legal entity, and a business with employees that has an EIN but no Montana withholding account is still out of compliance with the state. Federal and state registration run on separate tracks and both have to be completed.

After You Receive the EIN

Once the number is issued, use it consistently. Put it on federal returns, W-9s you give clients, payroll filings, and the business bank account application. Do not create a second EIN for a DBA - trade names share the entity's EIN. If you later elect S-corporation treatment on Form 2553, the election attaches to the same EIN; see S-corp vs LLC before you make it.

If you misplace the number, do not apply again. The IRS can retrieve it by phone from an authorized person, and it also appears on prior returns, the original confirmation notice, and bank records - see how to find a lost EIN. Closing the business does not cancel the EIN either: the IRS closes the business account but the number is never reassigned, so file final returns and send a closure letter rather than assuming the number lapses. Walk through dissolving a Montana LLC when you wind down.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does an EIN cost in Montana?

Nothing. The IRS charges no fee and Montana adds none. Paid "EIN filing" sites simply complete the free federal form for you.

Is a Montana EIN different from a federal EIN?

No - there is no state EIN. The number is federal. Montana issues separate state tax account numbers through the Department of Revenue.

How long does it take to get an EIN in Montana?

Immediately with the IRS online application. Fax takes several business days; mail can take several weeks.

Does a Montana single-member LLC need an EIN?

Required once you hire employees or owe certain excise taxes, and effectively required for banking. Otherwise the owner's SSN can be used.

Can I get an EIN before forming my Montana LLC?

Better to file the Articles of Organization first, so the EIN matches the exact legal name on the Secretary of State record.

Do I need a new EIN for a Montana DBA?

No. An assumed business name shares the entity's EIN. See Montana assumed business name filing.

Sources

IRS - Get an Employer Identification Number (free; online, fax, mail, phone).
IRS - Do You Need an EIN?
IRS - Employer ID Numbers (one EIN per responsible party per day).
IRS - Responsible Parties and Nominees.
IRS - Single Member Limited Liability Companies.
IRS - Canceling an EIN - Closing Your Account.
IRS - About Form 2553 (S-corporation election).
Montana Secretary of State - Business Services filing portal.
Montana Secretary of State - Business entity search.
Montana Department of Revenue - Businesses (state tax accounts).
Montana Department of Revenue - Forms.
Montana Code Annotated - 35-8-201 et seq. (LLC formation).

LegalGlass provides general information for educational purposes and is not legal advice, is not a law firm, and is not a substitute for advice from a licensed attorney or tax professional. Laws, fees, and thresholds change; verify current amounts with the IRS and the Montana Department of Revenue before acting.