How Much Does an EIN Cost? Free IRS Application vs Service
An EIN is free from the IRS. Compare the direct application routes with Form SS-4 preparation and international handling for a $149 service fee.
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Last updated September 3, 2026
An EIN costs $0 when obtained directly from the IRS. Form5472 Prep’s $149 price is not a government charge; it pays for Form SS-4 preparation and handling the international phone or fax application for a foreign-owned U.S. LLC. Choose DIY when you are eligible and comfortable with the process, or paid help when time and error prevention justify it.
Start the $149 managed EIN application if the LLC is formed and you want the paperwork and IRS contact handled.
EIN cost breakdown
| Cost item | Direct IRS route | Form5472 Prep service |
|---|---|---|
| IRS EIN issuance fee | $0 | $0 |
| Form SS-4 preparation | Self-prepared | Included |
| International phone or fax handling | Applicant handles | Included |
| Completed SS-4 record | Applicant saves | Included |
| Professional service fee | $0 | $149 |
| IRS processing guarantee | None | None |
The IRS online EIN page explicitly warns that applicants never have to pay a government fee for an EIN. A legitimate provider should explain that its charge is for services around the free number.
Who can get the EIN online for free?
The IRS online tool can issue an EIN immediately to eligible applicants. Current eligibility includes a domestic organization, a principal place of business in the United States or a U.S. territory, and the responsible party’s SSN or ITIN. The person using the tool must be the responsible party or an authorized representative.
The tool cannot be used when the principal place of business is outside the United States. Those applicants use phone, fax, or mail. A foreign-owned U.S. LLC can be domestically formed while still having its real principal place of business abroad, so state formation alone does not establish online eligibility.
What work does a paid EIN service replace?
A managed application can replace several practical tasks:
- interpreting the SS-4 fields for a foreign-owned LLC;
- matching the legal name and formation information;
- identifying the actual responsible party;
- using “Foreign” or “N/A” on line 7b when permitted;
- selecting the appropriate phone or fax route;
- maintaining the completed form and submission record; and
- communicating the assigned EIN to the owner.
It does not buy faster treatment from the IRS, change the entity’s tax classification, guarantee a bank account, or remove future filing duties.
When DIY is the better choice
Apply directly when the application is straightforward, you understand the entity classification, and you can use the IRS channel that fits your location. The direct process is appropriate for many owners and avoids a professional fee.
For an international fax filing, follow the current Form SS-4 instructions, use a return fax number that works, sign the form, and keep the complete submission. For an international phone application, the caller must be authorized and able to answer the SS-4 questions.
When the $149 service can be worth it
Paid help is most relevant when:
- the foreign owner cannot use the online tool;
- U.S. business-hour calling is inconvenient;
- the owner is unsure how to describe the LLC on SS-4;
- a previous submission contained inconsistent information;
- the business needs a clean form record for its compliance file; or
- the owner would rather spend time on banking and operations.
The buying decision is an exchange of money for preparation and administrative handling, not a purchase of the EIN itself.
Avoid misleading “EIN fees”
Before paying, confirm the total price, refund terms, exact deliverables, processing estimate, and whether the provider is applying for a new number or retrieving an existing one. A business should have only one EIN. Do not order a second application because the confirmation letter is missing.
If the LLC already has an EIN, locate the original notice, bank record, prior return, or request IRS verification instead of buying a new-number service. If the LLC has not been formed, complete state formation before applying.
Use Form5472 Prep’s EIN application service for a flat $149 when you want Form SS-4 prepared and the international application handled. The number itself remains free from the IRS.
Price and IRS routes checked September 3, 2026. Educational information only; not tax or legal advice.