To get an EIN for an LLC in Texas, form the LLC with the Texas Secretary of State first, then apply free through the IRS online EIN Assistant. The whole online application takes about ten minutes, and the IRS issues your nine-digit number immediately when you finish. There is no fee at any point.
Form the LLC Before You Apply
The IRS will not issue an EIN to a business that does not legally exist yet. File your Certificate of Formation with the Texas Secretary of State under the Texas Business Organizations Code before you start the EIN application.1State of Texas. Texas Business Organizations Code Chapter 3 The filing fee is $300.2Texas Secretary of State. Business Filings and Trademarks Fee Schedule
Wait for the state to accept the filing before moving on. The EIN application asks for the exact legal name on your Certificate of Formation, and if the state rejects your proposed name for being too similar to an existing Texas entity, any EIN you obtained in advance would be tied to a name you cannot use.
Does Your Texas LLC Actually Need One?
Multi-member LLCs always need an EIN. The IRS treats them as partnerships by default, which triggers federal filing requirements that cannot be met with an individual’s Social Security number.
Single-member LLCs are different. If your single-member LLC has no employees and no excise tax obligations, the IRS technically allows you to use your personal SSN for federal tax purposes.3Internal Revenue Service. Single Member Limited Liability Companies Most owners still get one. Banks typically require an EIN to open a business checking account, using it on vendor paperwork keeps your SSN off invoices and W-9s, and you will need one before issuing a first paycheck if you ever hire.
What You Need Before You Start
Have this information ready. The online session times out, and restarting means re-entering everything.
- The exact LLC name as it appears on your filed Certificate of Formation, including “LLC” or “Limited Liability Company.”
- A physical U.S. street mailing address. P.O. boxes work for correspondence but not as the principal business address.
- The responsible party’s name. This is the individual who controls the LLC or its finances, usually the sole owner or managing member. The responsible party must be a real person, not another business entity.4Internal Revenue Service. Instructions for Form SS-4 (12/2025) – Section: Lines 7a-7b. Name of Responsible Party
- The responsible party’s Social Security number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number. The online system will not proceed without one.5Internal Revenue Service. Get an Employer Identification Number
- The number of members. One member means the LLC is a disregarded entity by default; two or more means partnership classification.6Internal Revenue Service. LLC Filing as a Corporation or Partnership
- A short description of what the LLC does and its primary product or service.
- The fiscal year end. Most LLCs use December 31.
Applying Online Through the IRS
The IRS EIN Assistant is the fastest route and is available Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Eastern Time.7Internal Revenue Service. Employer Identification Number The service is free. Expect about ten minutes from start to finish, with your EIN issued on screen when you submit.
When the application asks for your entity type, select “Limited Liability Company” and enter the number of members. For “reason for applying,” choose “Started a new business” unless you are acquiring an existing operation. Pick the industry classification that best matches the LLC’s primary activity.8Internal Revenue Service. Instructions for Form SS-4 (12/2025) – Section: Line 16
The IRS limits online applications to one EIN per responsible party per day.9Internal Revenue Service. Instructions for Form SS-4 (Rev. December 2025) If you are forming more than one LLC, spread the applications over separate days or use a different responsible party for each.
One warning. Searching “apply for EIN” surfaces third-party sites that charge $75 to $300 for the same service. Start at irs.gov and you will pay nothing.
Fax or Mail if You Cannot Apply Online
Form SS-4 is the paper version of the same application and asks for the same information.10Internal Revenue Service. About Form SS-4, Application for Employer Identification Number (EIN) Fax the completed form to 855-641-6935 and you should receive your EIN back by return fax within about four business days.
For mail, send the form to:11Internal Revenue Service. Instructions for Form SS-4 (12/2025)
Internal Revenue Service
Attn: EIN Operation
Cincinnati, OH 45999
Mail takes roughly four weeks. Given how fast the online option is, fax and mail really only make sense when the responsible party cannot use the online system.
If You Live Outside the U.S. or Have No SSN
If the responsible party has no SSN or ITIN, the online application will not work. International applicants can apply by phone at 267-941-1099, Monday through Friday, 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Eastern Time.7Internal Revenue Service. Employer Identification Number This is the only method that issues an EIN over the phone. You can also fax or mail Form SS-4 to the same addresses used for domestic paper applications.
Using an Attorney or Formation Service
You can authorize an attorney, CPA, or formation service as a third-party designee on Form SS-4 to complete the application, answer IRS questions, and receive the newly assigned EIN. The designee’s authority ends the moment the EIN is issued.12Internal Revenue Service. Instructions for Form SS-4 (12/2025) – Section: Third-Party Designee
Watch for one quirk. If the designee’s address or phone number matches the LLC’s, the IRS will not accept an online or phone application and you have to use fax or mail. The official CP 575 confirmation always goes to the LLC’s address regardless of who filed.
What You Get Back
Once the application goes through, the IRS issues a CP 575 notice. Online applicants can download it as a PDF right after submitting. Keep it somewhere secure; you will need it repeatedly, starting with your bank.
Most banks require the EIN, your Certificate of Formation, and an operating agreement (if you have one) to open a business checking account.13U.S. Small Business Administration. Open a Business Bank Account Some accept the downloaded CP 575 as proof; others want the mailed original. Call ahead and ask.
Your EIN is permanent. It never expires, never needs renewal, and stays with the LLC for its entire existence. The IRS does not reassign an EIN to another entity even if the original LLC closes.14Internal Revenue Service. Valid EINs If you lose the CP 575, you can request a replacement called Letter 147C from the IRS Business and Specialty Tax Line.
Keep Your EIN Records Current
After you have the EIN, the IRS expects you to report certain changes. If the responsible party changes or the business moves, file Form 8822-B within 60 days.15Internal Revenue Service. About Form 8822-B, Change of Address or Responsible Party – Business This is easy to forget until IRS mail starts going to a former member who no longer has anything to do with the business.
If the LLC dissolves or never actually starts operating, close the IRS account by sending a letter with the LLC’s legal name, EIN, address, and reason for closing, along with a copy of the original CP 575 if you still have it. The IRS will not close the account until all required returns are filed and any taxes owed are paid.16Internal Revenue Service. Closing a Business
Don’t Forget the Texas Side
Your EIN handles federal tax identification only. Every Texas LLC also owes an annual franchise tax report to the Texas Comptroller, due May 15 each year.17Texas Comptroller. Franchise Tax
If the LLC’s annualized total revenue is $2.65 million or less, no franchise tax is owed for the 2026 report year, and the No Tax Due Report is no longer required. You still have to file a Public Information Report or Ownership Information Report.18Texas Comptroller. Texas Franchise Tax Report Forms for 2026 Missing the filing can result in forfeiture of your LLC’s right to do business in Texas, which is a far bigger problem than any tax bill would have been.