How much does an EIN cost in Rhode Island?
Nothing. The IRS issues EINs free of charge. Websites that charge a fee to get an EIN are third-party intermediaries, not the IRS. Apply directly through the IRS to avoid paying for a free federal service.
Quick facts
- Who issues it
- The IRS - it is a federal number, not a state one
- Cost
- Free (the IRS never charges for an EIN)
- How to apply
- IRS online EIN Assistant, or Form SS-4 by mail/fax
- How long
- Immediate online; days to weeks by mail or fax
- You need
- The responsible party's SSN or ITIN, plus the business name and structure
- After the EIN
- Register with the RI Division of Taxation; maintain your entity with the RI Secretary of State
The same question in every other state
This requirement is set at state level, so the answer changes when you cross a state line. Below is how 36 other states answer the same question, each linked to the page that cites the agency it came from. The full breakdown is on EIN requirements by state.
| State | Answer |
|---|---|
| Alaska | Nothing. The IRS issues an EIN for free to any business, and there is no state charge for the number itself. |
| Florida | Nothing. The IRS issues an EIN free of charge, whether you apply online, by fax, by mail with Form SS-4, or by phone for international applicants. |
| Georgia | Nothing. The IRS issues an EIN free of charge, whether you apply online, by fax, by mail with Form SS-4, or by phone for international applicants. |
| Hawaii | Nothing. The IRS issues EINs free of charge through its online assistant or on Form SS-4, and it warns explicitly that you never have to pay a fee for one. |
| Idaho | Nothing. The IRS issues EINs free of charge. |
| Illinois | Nothing. The IRS issues EINs for free through its online application, or by fax or mail using Form SS-4. |
| Indiana | Nothing. The IRS issues EINs for free. |
| Iowa | Nothing. The IRS issues an EIN for free to any business, and there is no state charge for the number itself. |
| Kansas | Nothing. The IRS issues EINs free of charge to businesses in Kansas and every other state, whether you apply online, by fax, or by mail. |
| Kentucky | Nothing. The IRS issues EINs for free. |
| Louisiana | Nothing. The IRS issues EINs free of charge through its online assistant or on Form SS-4, and warns explicitly that you never have to pay a fee for one. |
| Maine | Nothing. An Employer Identification Number is issued free by the IRS. |
| Maryland | An EIN costs $0. The IRS provides EINs free of charge. |
| Massachusetts | Nothing. The IRS issues EINs for free, and there is no state charge. |
| Michigan | Nothing. The IRS issues EINs for free. |
| Minnesota | Nothing. The IRS issues EINs for free. |
| Missouri | Nothing. The IRS issues EINs free of charge, and there is no separate Missouri EIN. |
| Montana | Nothing. The IRS issues EINs free of charge through its own application, and there is no Montana fee or surcharge. |
| Nebraska | Nothing. The IRS issues EINs for free, and there is no state charge. |
| Nevada | Nothing. The IRS issues Employer Identification Numbers free of charge. |
| New Hampshire | Nothing. The IRS issues EINs for free. |
| New Jersey | Nothing. An EIN is free and is issued only by the IRS. |
| New Mexico | Nothing. The IRS issues EINs for free. |
| New York | Nothing. The IRS issues EINs free of charge. |
| North Carolina | Nothing. The IRS issues Employer Identification Numbers free of charge, online or with Form SS-4. |
| North Dakota | Nothing. The IRS issues EINs for free. |
| Ohio | Nothing. An EIN is free and is issued only by the IRS. |
| Oklahoma | Nothing. The IRS issues EINs free of charge, and there is no separate Oklahoma state fee. |
| Pennsylvania | Nothing. The IRS issues EINs for free. |
| South Carolina | Nothing. The IRS issues EINs for free. |
| Tennessee | Nothing. The IRS issues EINs free of charge through its online application and on Form SS-4. |
| Texas | Nothing. The IRS issues EINs free of charge, and the IRS warns against websites that charge for one. |
| Virginia | Nothing. The IRS issues EINs at no charge and warns applicants: "Beware of websites that charge for an EIN. |
| Washington | Nothing. The EIN is issued by the IRS, not by Washington State, and the IRS never charges for it. |
| West Virginia | Nothing. The IRS issues EINs at no charge in every state. |
| Wisconsin | Nothing. The IRS issues EINs free of charge through its online application and on Form SS-4. |
Full context for Rhode Island
This page answers one question. The complete Rhode Island guide -- covering the surrounding requirements, the forms, the agency, and what happens if you get it wrong -- is at How to Get an EIN in Rhode Island (2026).
Sources
- https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/apply-for-an-employer-identification-number-ein-online
- https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-ss-4
- https://tax.ri.gov/tax-sections/business-taxes
- https://www.sos.ri.gov/divisions/business-services
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 and fees change; verify current requirements with the relevant government agency before acting.