EIN Guide for Your Alaska Corporation

An Employer Identification Number (EIN) is a nine-digit federal tax identification number issued by the Internal Revenue Service. Think of it as a Social Security number for your business — it's how the IRS, banks, and other institutions identify the corporation.

Corporations always need one

Unlike a single-member LLC, which the IRS can treat as a disregarded entity that uses the owner's Social Security number, a corporation is always a separate taxpayer. That means every Alaska corporation needs its own EIN from the moment it's formed, regardless of how many employees or shareholders it has. There's no version of a corporation that operates on the owner's personal Social Security number — the entity has its own tax identity, and the EIN is that identity.

What you'll use it for

• Filing the corporation's federal tax returns
• Opening the corporate bank account (banks require it)
• Hiring employees and running payroll
• Making an S-corporation election with the IRS
• Applying for business licenses and permits, and establishing business credit

Timing matters. You want the EIN in hand before you open the bank account or start hiring, but you also want the corporation to legally exist first.

Apply after the corporation is formed

Apply for the EIN after your Articles of Incorporation are accepted by the Alaska Division of Corporations, not before. The EIN application asks for the entity's legal name and formation details, so having the corporation officially on record keeps everything consistent. Applying before formation risks a mismatch between the EIN record and the actual entity.

The online application

• Apply through the IRS EIN Assistant at IRS.gov — it's the fastest method.
• The application takes about ten minutes.
• The EIN is issued immediately at the end, so you can print the confirmation and use the number the same day.
• The online tool is available during IRS business hours and must be completed in a single session — it doesn't save partway through.

Who applies — the responsible party

The application requires a "responsible party" — a real person who controls or manages the corporation, identified by their Social Security number or ITIN. For a small corporation, this is usually the president or principal owner. The responsible party is not the same as an ownership stake; it's the individual the IRS holds accountable for the entity.

Alaska corporations can be owned and run by people who aren't US residents, and those owners can still get an EIN — the process is just different.

The path for non-US responsible parties

If the responsible party doesn't have a Social Security number or ITIN, the online EIN Assistant won't work, because it requires one to complete. Instead, apply using Form SS-4:

• Complete Form SS-4, the Application for Employer Identification Number.
• Submit it by fax or mail to the IRS.
• Fax turnaround is typically faster than mail — often a few business days — while mail can take several weeks.

International applicants can also apply by phone in some cases. The key point is that not having an SSN doesn't block you from getting an EIN for your Alaska corporation; it just means using the paper process instead of the instant online tool. Plan for the extra time if you're on a deadline to open a bank account.

The EIN process is simple, but a few avoidable errors cost people time and money.

Watch out for these

• Paying for an EIN. The IRS issues EINs for free. Websites that charge a fee just to "get your EIN" are charging for something you can do yourself in ten minutes at no cost. A formation package may include applying on your behalf as a convenience, which is different from being charged for the number itself.
• Applying before the corporation exists. Wait until the Articles of Incorporation are accepted so the EIN record matches the actual entity.
• Naming the wrong responsible party. The responsible party must be a real person who controls the corporation, with a valid SSN or ITIN (or use the SS-4 paper process if they have neither). Don't list a nominee or a company.
• Losing the confirmation. Save the EIN confirmation letter (the CP 575). Banks and agencies ask for it, and getting a replacement from the IRS is slower than keeping the original.
• Getting more than one EIN. A corporation needs exactly one EIN. If you're unsure whether one was already issued, confirm before applying again, rather than creating duplicate records.

The EIN unlocks the next steps in setting up the corporation to actually operate.

Put it to work

• Open the corporate bank account. With the EIN, the accepted Articles of Incorporation, and your bylaws or authorizing resolution, you can open a business account. Keeping corporate and personal money separate is essential to protecting the liability shield.
• Set up payroll if you'll have employees, using the EIN to register for federal payroll tax and any Alaska employer requirements.
• Make tax elections. If an S-corporation election fits your situation, file IRS Form 2553; the EIN identifies the corporation on that filing. This is a tax decision to make with a CPA.
• Keep it with your records. Store the EIN and its confirmation letter in your corporate book alongside the Articles and bylaws.

How Mainstay Filing helps

Mainstay Filing can include EIN application as part of setting up your Alaska corporation, so the number is ready when you go to open a bank account, without you working through the IRS process yourself. We handle the state-facing formation and can obtain the EIN alongside it; tax elections and planning stay with your accountant.