An EIN is the IRS's nine-digit identifier for a business, required for entities with employees, corporations, partnerships, most LLCs, and trusts, and obtained free from the IRS.
Sole proprietors can use their Social Security number but usually should not, to keep it off vendor forms. Foreign-owned entities apply by fax or phone because the online application requires a U.S. taxpayer number.
Payroll, bank accounts, and Forms W-9 all run on the EIN, and third-party services that charge for it are unnecessary.
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Definitions are general information, not legal advice, and may not reflect the most recent changes in law.
IRS letters, audits, unreported years, returns.
Foreign accounts, expats, offshore disclosure.
Audits, tax debt, criminal exposure, Tax Court.
Written analysis at a stated confidence level.
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