Form SS-4 Application for Employer Identification Number

SS-4

Application for Employer Identification Number

OMB No. 1545-0003

(For use by employers, corporations, partnerships, trusts, estates, churches,
government agencies, Indian tribal entities, certain individuals, and others.)
▶ Go to www.irs.gov/FormSS4 for instructions and the latest information.
Department of the Treasury
▶ See separate instructions for each line. ▶ Keep a copy for your records.
Internal Revenue Service
1
Legal name of entity (or individual) for whom the EIN is being requested

Type or print clearly.

Form
(Rev. December 2017)

8a

3

EIN

2

Trade name of business (if different from name on line 1)

4a

Mailing address (room, apt., suite no. and street, or P.O. box) 5a

Street address (if different) (Do not enter a P.O. box.)

4b

City, state, and ZIP code (if foreign, see instructions)

5b

City, state, and ZIP code (if foreign, see instructions)

6

County and state where principal business is located

7a

Name of responsible party

Executor, administrator, trustee, “care of” name

7b

Is this application for a limited liability company (LLC)
(or a foreign equivalent)? . . . . . . . .

8b If 8a is “Yes,” enter the number of
LLC members . . . . . . ▶

8c

Yes
If 8a is “Yes,” was the LLC organized in the United States? . .

9a

Type of entity (check only one box). Caution. If 8a is “Yes,” see the instructions for the correct box to check.
Sole proprietor (SSN)
Partnership
Corporation (enter form number to be filed)

No
. . .

SSN, ITIN, or EIN

.

▶

10

11
13

Other (specify) ▶
If a corporation, name the state or foreign country (if
applicable) where incorporated
Reason for applying (check only one box)
Started new business (specify type) ▶

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Yes

No

Estate (SSN of decedent)
Plan administrator (TIN)
Trust (TIN of grantor)

Personal service corporation
Church or church-controlled organization
Other nonprofit organization (specify) ▶
9b

.

Military/National Guard
Farmers’ cooperative
REMIC
State

State/local government
Federal government
Indian tribal governments/enterprises

Group Exemption Number (GEN) if any
Foreign country

▶

Banking purpose (specify purpose) ▶
Changed type of organization (specify new type) ▶
Purchased going business

Hired employees (Check the box and see line 13.)
Created a trust (specify type) ▶
Compliance with IRS withholding regulations
Created a pension plan (specify type) ▶
Other (specify) ▶
12
Closing month of accounting year
Date business started or acquired (month, day, year). See instructions.
14
If you expect your employment tax liability to be $1,000 or
less in a full calendar year and want to file Form 944
Highest number of employees expected in the next 12 months (enter -0- if none).
annually instead of Forms 941 quarterly, check here.
If no employees expected, skip line 14.
(Your employment tax liability generally will be $1,000
or less if you expect to pay $4,000 or less in total wages.)
Household
Other
Agricultural
If you do not check this box, you must file Form 941 for
every quarter.

15

First date wages or annuities were paid (month, day, year). Note: If applicant is a withholding agent, enter date income will first be paid to
nonresident alien (month, day, year) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ▶

16

Check one box that best describes the principal activity of your business.
Health care & social assistance
Wholesale-agent/broker
Construction
Rental & leasing
Transportation & warehousing
Accommodation & food service
Wholesale-other
Retail
Real estate
Manufacturing
Other (specify) ▶
Finance & insurance
Indicate principal line of merchandise sold, specific construction work done, products produced, or services provided.

17
18

Has the applicant entity shown on line 1 ever applied for and received an EIN?
Yes
No
If “Yes,” write previous EIN here ▶
Complete this section only if you want to authorize the named individual to receive the entity’s EIN and answer questions about the completion of this form.

Third
Party
Designee

Designee’s name

Designee’s telephone number (include area code)

Address and ZIP code

Designee’s fax number (include area code)

Under penalties of perjury, I declare that I have examined this application, and to the best of my knowledge and belief, it is true, correct, and complete.

Applicant’s telephone number (include area code)

Name and title (type or print clearly) ▶

Applicant’s fax number (include area code)
Signature

▶

Date ▶

For Privacy Act and Paperwork Reduction Act Notice, see separate instructions.

Cat. No. 16055N

Form

SS-4 (Rev. 12-2017)

Page 2

Form SS-4 (Rev. 12-2017)

Do I Need an EIN?
File Form SS-4 if the applicant entity does not already have an EIN but is required to show an EIN on any return, statement,
or other document.1 See also the separate instructions for each line on Form SS-4.
IF the applicant...
Started a new business

AND...
Does not currently have (nor expect to have)
employees

THEN...
Complete lines 1, 2, 4a–8a, 8b–c (if applicable), 9a,
9b (if applicable), and 10–14 and 16–18.

Hired (or will hire) employees,
including household employees

Does not already have an EIN

Complete lines 1, 2, 4a–6, 7a–b (if applicable), 8a,
8b–c (if applicable), 9a, 9b (if applicable), 10–18.

Opened a bank account

Needs an EIN for banking purposes only

Complete lines 1–5b, 7a–b (if applicable), 8a, 8b–c
(if applicable), 9a, 9b (if applicable), 10, and 18.

Changed type of organization

Either the legal character of the organization or its
ownership changed (for example, you incorporate a
sole proprietorship or form a partnership)2

Complete lines 1–18 (as applicable).

Purchased a going business3
Created a trust

Does not already have an EIN
The trust is other than a grantor trust or an IRA
trust4

Complete lines 1–18 (as applicable).
Complete lines 1–18 (as applicable).

Created a pension plan as a
plan administrator5

Needs an EIN for reporting purposes

Complete lines 1, 3, 4a–5b, 9a, 10, and 18.

Is a foreign person needing an
EIN to comply with IRS
withholding regulations

Needs an EIN to complete a Form W-8 (other than
Form W-8ECI), avoid withholding on portfolio assets,
or claim tax treaty benefits6

Complete lines 1–5b, 7a–b (SSN or ITIN optional),
8a, 8b–c (if applicable), 9a, 9b (if applicable), 10,
and 18.

Is administering an estate

Needs an EIN to report estate income on Form 1041

Complete lines 1–6, 9a, 10–12, 13–17 (if applicable),
and 18.

Is a withholding agent for
taxes on non-wage income
paid to an alien (i.e.,
individual, corporation, or
partnership, etc.)
Is a state or local agency

Is an agent, broker, fiduciary, manager, tenant, or
spouse who is required to file Form 1042, Annual
Withholding Tax Return for U.S. Source Income of
Foreign Persons

Complete lines 1, 2, 3 (if applicable), 4a–5b, 7a–b (if
applicable), 8a, 8b–c (if applicable), 9a, 9b (if
applicable), 10, and 18.

Serves as a tax reporting agent for public assistance
recipients under Rev. Proc. 80-4, 1980-1 C.B. 5817

Complete lines 1, 2, 4a–5b, 9a, 10, and 18.

Is a single-member LLC (or
similar single-member entity)

Needs an EIN to file Form 8832, Classification
Election, for filing employment tax returns and
excise tax returns, or for state reporting purposes8, or
is a foreign-owned U.S. disregarded entity and needs
an EIN to file Form 5472, Information Return of a 25%
Foreign-Owned U.S. Corporation or a Foreign
Corporation Engaged in a U.S. Trade or Business
(Under Sections 6038A and 6038C of the Internal
Revenue Code)

Complete lines 1–18 (as applicable).

Is an S corporation

Needs an EIN to file Form 2553, Election by a Small
Business Corporation9

Complete lines 1–18 (as applicable).

1

For example, a sole proprietorship or self-employed farmer who establishes a qualified retirement plan, or is required to file excise, employment, alcohol, tobacco, or
firearms returns, must have an EIN. A partnership, corporation, REMIC (real estate mortgage investment conduit), nonprofit organization (church, club, etc.), or farmers’
cooperative must use an EIN for any tax-related purpose even if the entity does not have employees.

2

However, do not apply for a new EIN if the existing entity only (a) changed its business name, (b) elected on Form 8832 to change the way it is taxed (or is covered by the
default rules), or (c) terminated its partnership status because at least 50% of the total interests in partnership capital and profits were sold or exchanged within a 12month period. The EIN of the terminated partnership should continue to be used. See Regulations section 301.6109-1(d)(2)(iii).

3

Do not use the EIN of the prior business unless you became the “owner” of a corporation by acquiring its stock.

4

However, grantor trusts that do not file using Optional Method 1 and IRA trusts that are required to file Form 990-T, Exempt Organization Business Income Tax Return,
must have an EIN. For more information on grantor trusts, see the Instructions for Form 1041.

5

A plan administrator is the person or group of persons specified as the administrator by the instrument under which the plan is operated.

6

Entities applying to be a Qualified Intermediary (QI) need a QI-EIN even if they already have an EIN. See Rev. Proc. 2000-12.

7

See also Household employer on page 4 of the instructions. Note: State or local agencies may need an EIN for other reasons, for example, hired employees.

8

See Disregarded entities on page 4 of the instructions for details on completing Form SS-4 for an LLC.

9

An existing corporation that is electing or revoking S corporation status should use its previously-assigned EIN.