How to Get an EIN in Virginia (2026)

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

An EIN is issued by the IRS, not by Virginia. Apply free at irs.gov and the online tool issues the number immediately; there is no state EIN and no fee. The IRS is explicit: "You never have to pay a fee" for an EIN, and applicants are limited to one EIN per responsible party per day.

Quick Answer

Issuing agency: IRS - not the Commonwealth of Virginia
Cost: $0 - free
Fastest method: Online at irs.gov; the number is issued immediately
Alternative: Form SS-4 by fax or mail
Limit: One EIN per responsible party per day
Session timeout: The online application expires after 15 minutes of inactivity

There Is No Virginia EIN

An Employer Identification Number is a nine-digit federal tax identification number issued by the Internal Revenue Service. It is federal, so there is no Virginia version, no Virginia application, and no fee to the Commonwealth. A business in Richmond gets an EIN the same way a business in Reno does.

Virginia does assign its own identifiers - an entity ID from the State Corporation Commission when you form the company, and a Virginia tax account number from Virginia Tax when you register for state taxes - but neither is an EIN and neither substitutes for one. See the national EIN guide.

The EIN is free. The IRS states directly: "Beware of websites that charge for an EIN. You never have to pay a fee." Any site charging for the number is selling a form-filling service, not the EIN itself.

Who Needs One

You need an EIN if your business has employees, if it is a corporation or a partnership, if it files employment or certain excise tax returns, or if it withholds tax on income paid to a non-resident alien. A multi-member Virginia LLC always needs one because it is taxed as a partnership by default.

A single-member LLC with no employees may technically use the owner's Social Security number for federal income tax. Even so, the IRS treats a disregarded single-member LLC as a separate entity for employment tax and certain excise taxes, so it needs its own EIN the moment it hires. And in practice, nearly every bank requires an EIN to open a business account.

A sole proprietor with no employees may operate on an SSN alone, though many get an EIN anyway to avoid putting a Social Security number on vendor forms such as Form W-9. See the single-member LLC guide.

A few situations force the issue regardless of size. Trusts, estates, and non-profit organizations need their own EIN. So does any business that files a return for alcohol, tobacco, or firearms, and any that has a Keogh plan. Changing entity type usually requires a new EIN as well: converting a sole proprietorship into a Virginia LLC taxed as a partnership, or incorporating an existing business, generally means applying for a fresh number rather than carrying the old one over. The IRS publishes a list of the events that require a new EIN, and getting this wrong creates mismatched filings that take months to unwind with the IRS and with Virginia Tax.

Naming the Responsible Party

Every EIN application must name a responsible party: the individual who ultimately owns or controls the entity, or who exercises effective control over it and its funds and assets. The IRS requires a natural person, not another entity, unless the applicant is a government entity or a publicly traded corporation.

The responsible party supplies a Social Security number or an ITIN. This is where the online application stops for foreign owners - the online tool requires a valid SSN or ITIN, so an applicant without one uses the fax or mail route on Form SS-4 instead.

Keep the record current. If the responsible party changes, the IRS requires the entity to report the change on Form 8822-B within 60 days. This is routinely forgotten and causes problems later when the IRS cannot match a caller to the account.

Applying Online

The fastest method is the IRS online EIN application. Form your entity with the Virginia State Corporation Commission first, so the EIN attaches to the exact legal name on the state's records; a mismatch between the SCC record and the IRS record causes bank and payroll problems later.

The online tool is available during published hours in Eastern time: Monday through Friday, 6:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. the next day; Saturday, 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.; and Sunday, 6:00 p.m. to midnight. Complete the application in one sitting - the IRS notes that a session "expires after 15 minutes of inactivity" and you must start over.

At the end you receive the EIN immediately and can download the confirmation letter. Save it. Banks, lenders, payroll providers, and state agencies routinely ask for that letter, and requesting a replacement from the IRS later is slow.

Applying by Fax or Mail on Form SS-4

Applicants who cannot use the online tool - most commonly foreign owners without an SSN or ITIN - complete Form SS-4, Application for Employer Identification Number, and submit it by fax or by mail to the IRS. The form asks for the legal name, trade name, mailing address, responsible party, entity type, reason for applying, and the date the business started.

Fax is substantially faster than mail. Mailed applications take the longest of the three routes. International applicants may also apply by telephone using the IRS number published for that purpose on the Form SS-4 instructions.

Whichever route you use, apply only once. The IRS limits applicants to one EIN per responsible party per day, and duplicate applications create duplicate numbers that then have to be reconciled with the IRS.

Using the EIN With Virginia Agencies

The EIN is the key that opens your state accounts. Register with Virginia Tax for the accounts your business needs - retail sales and use tax if you sell taxable goods or services, and employer withholding before your first payroll. Virginia Tax registration is separate from forming the entity with the SCC.

If you will have employees, you also register with the Virginia Employment Commission for unemployment insurance and must carry workers' compensation coverage where required. All of these use the EIN as the federal identifier for the business.

Local licensing is separate again. Most Virginia cities and counties impose a business, professional and occupational license - the BPOL tax - administered locally rather than by the state. See Virginia business license requirements and the national business license overview.

Common EIN Mistakes

Paying for it. The EIN is free from the IRS. Third-party sites charge for a form you can file yourself in minutes.

Applying before forming the entity. Get the SCC filing accepted first so the IRS record matches the legal name exactly. Correcting a name mismatch afterward is tedious.

Applying more than once. One EIN per responsible party per day. A second application for the same business creates a duplicate account.

Confusing the EIN with a Virginia tax account. Registering with Virginia Tax does not give you an EIN, and having an EIN does not register you for Virginia taxes. See Virginia LLC tax filing.

Losing the confirmation letter. Save it with your operating agreement and formation documents. When the business closes, write to the IRS to close the EIN account - see how to dissolve an LLC in Virginia. You can confirm entity details any time in the Virginia business entity search.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get an EIN in Virginia?

Apply directly to the IRS. There is no Virginia EIN. The fastest route is the free online application at irs.gov, which issues the number immediately at the end of the session. Applicants without a Social Security number or ITIN file Form SS-4 by fax or mail instead.

How much does an EIN cost in Virginia?

Nothing. The IRS issues EINs at no charge and warns applicants: "Beware of websites that charge for an EIN. You never have to pay a fee." Sites that charge are selling a form-preparation service, not the number, which you can obtain yourself in minutes.

How long does it take to get an EIN?

The online application issues the EIN immediately once you complete the session. Complete it in one sitting, because the IRS session expires after 15 minutes of inactivity. Fax applications on Form SS-4 take longer, and mailed applications take the longest.

Can I get more than one EIN in a day?

No. The IRS limits applicants to one EIN per responsible party per day. If you are forming several entities, apply for one EIN each day rather than submitting multiple applications, which creates duplicate accounts that must later be reconciled with the IRS.

Does a Virginia single-member LLC need an EIN?

It is required once the LLC has employees or owes certain federal excise taxes, because the IRS treats a disregarded single-member LLC as a separate entity for those taxes. Even when not strictly required, nearly every bank asks for an EIN to open a business account.

What are the IRS online EIN application hours?

Eastern time: Monday through Friday, 6:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. the next day; Saturday, 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.; and Sunday, 6:00 p.m. to midnight. The tool is unavailable outside those windows, and an incomplete session expires after 15 minutes of inactivity.

Sources

IRS - Get an Employer Identification Number (EIN is free; one EIN per responsible party per day).
IRS - About Form SS-4, Application for Employer Identification Number.
IRS - Responsible Parties and Nominees.
IRS - Single Member Limited Liability Companies (disregarded entity; employment and excise tax treated separately).
IRS - Limited Liability Company (LLC) (federal default classification).
IRS - Closing a Business.
IRS - About Form 8822-B (report a change of responsible party within 60 days).
IRS - Instructions for Form SS-4 (fax, mail, and international telephone application).
Virginia State Corporation Commission - Businesses (entity formation and records).
Virginia Tax - Register a business in Virginia (sales tax and employer withholding accounts).
Virginia Employment Commission - Employers (unemployment insurance registration).
Legal Information Institute (Cornell) - 26 CFR 301.7701-3 (entity classification election).

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, the Virginia State Corporation Commission, and Virginia Tax before acting.