EIN Guide · What a federal EIN is, why your Delaware Nonprofit needs one, and how to get it.
Getting an EIN for Your Delaware Nonprofit
An Employer Identification Number is the federal tax ID your Delaware nonprofit needs before it can open a bank account, hire, or apply for tax exemption. This guide covers what the EIN is, when to apply, exactly how to get one for free, the responsible-party question that trips up nonprofits, and how the EIN fits into the 501(c)(3) path.
One price: $199.00/yr covers your formation, your registered agent, and your annual report, plus the $109.00 state filing fee, at cost.
State agency: Delaware Department of State, Division of Corporations
Annual report due: March 1 · Processing: ~10 business days
✓ No hidden fees ✓ No second-year price hikes ✓ No missed filings
State facts
Delaware Nonprofit
What an EIN Is and Why a Nonprofit Needs One
An Employer Identification Number is a nine-digit number the IRS assigns to identify an organization for federal tax purposes. It's the entity equivalent of a Social Security number — the identifier the government, banks, and other institutions use to recognize your nonprofit.
Despite the word "employer," you don't need employees to need one. Nonprofits require an EIN for nearly everything operational.
What the EIN unlocks
- Opening a bank account — no reputable bank will open a nonprofit account without an EIN
- Applying for 501(c)(3) status — the IRS exemption application requires the EIN, so you can't seek exemption without it
- Filing the annual Form 990 — your information returns are tied to the EIN
- Hiring employees and handling payroll taxes, if you have staff
- Receiving grants and processing donations through platforms that require a tax ID
In short, the EIN is the hinge between having a formed corporation and being able to actually operate it. It comes early in the launch sequence for a reason.
When to Apply — Timing Matters
The right moment to get the EIN is after your Delaware Certificate of Incorporation is approved, but before you apply for tax exemption or open a bank account.
Why the order matters
The EIN application asks for the organization's exact legal name — and that name must match your filed Certificate of Incorporation. If you apply for the EIN before the corporation officially exists, or use a slightly different name, you create a mismatch that ripples into your bank paperwork and your IRS exemption application. Aligning the EIN to the approved legal name keeps every downstream record consistent.
So the clean sequence is: file and get the Certificate approved, apply for the EIN using the exact legal name, then use the EIN to open the bank account and apply for 501(c)(3) status. A mismatch discovered later is fixable but annoying, and it can slow the exemption review — easily avoided by applying in order.
How to Apply — Step by Step
Applying for an EIN is free and, for most applicants, fast. The IRS offers it directly at no cost.
The online route (fastest)
- Go to the IRS EIN Assistant on IRS.gov.
- Select that you're applying for a corporation / nonprofit organization.
- Enter the organization's exact legal name from the Certificate of Incorporation, its address, and the details requested.
- Provide the responsible party's name and Social Security number or ITIN.
- Submit. The EIN is issued immediately — you can download and print the confirmation and use the number the same day.
The online session takes roughly ten to fifteen minutes and must be completed in one sitting. It's available during the IRS's posted hours.
If you can't apply online
Applicants whose responsible party lacks a US Social Security number or ITIN can't use the online tool. They apply instead with Form SS-4 by fax or mail, which takes longer — fax is measured in days, mail in weeks. Complete the SS-4 carefully, since errors slow it further.
The Responsible Party — a Nonprofit Wrinkle
Every EIN application must name a responsible party: the individual who ultimately controls or directs the organization. For a nonprofit, this is usually a principal officer — a president, chair, or executive director — not an "owner," because a nonprofit has none.
What to know
- The responsible party must be a person, not the corporation itself, and the IRS wants a genuine individual who exercises control.
- Their SSN or ITIN is required to apply online. If they don't have one, you're on the paper SS-4 route.
- The responsible party can be updated later using Form 8822-B if the person in that role changes, which is common as boards and officers turn over.
Don't overthink who to list — pick the officer who genuinely leads the organization at the time of application. It doesn't lock that person in forever; it's simply the IRS's point of contact and accountability for the entity.
After You Have the EIN
Getting the number is quick; using it correctly is what matters. A few practices keep the EIN working for you rather than becoming a source of confusion.
Immediate next steps
- Save the confirmation. Download and store the EIN confirmation letter (the CP 575 for online applicants). Banks and grantmakers ask for it, and the IRS doesn't easily reissue it.
- Open the bank account. With the EIN, filed Certificate of Incorporation, and bylaws, you can open a dedicated nonprofit account — essential for keeping charitable funds separate.
- Apply for exemption. The EIN is a prerequisite for Form 1023 or 1023-EZ; with it in hand you can move to the 501(c)(3) application.
Common pitfalls to avoid
- Don't apply twice. If you already have an EIN, applying again creates duplicate records. One entity, one EIN.
- Don't pay a big fee for it. The EIN is free from the IRS. Any charge for obtaining one is for convenience or a bundled service, not a government fee.
- Keep the name consistent. Use the exact legal name everywhere so your EIN, bank account, and IRS records line up.
The EIN itself is one of the easiest steps in launching a nonprofit — free, fast, and issued on the spot. The value is in doing it in the right order and keeping the details consistent, so it smooths the path to your bank account and your tax exemption rather than becoming a snag.
Frequently asked questions
Does my Delaware nonprofit need an EIN?
Yes. A nonprofit needs an EIN to open a bank account, apply for 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status, file its annual Form 990, and handle payroll if it has staff. Despite the word "employer," you need one even with no employees. It's the federal tax ID that lets the organization actually operate, and the exemption application requires it.
How much does an EIN cost?
Nothing. The IRS issues EINs free through its online assistant, and the number is issued immediately. If a service charges a large fee purely for obtaining an EIN, that's for convenience or a bundled service — the government's portion is zero. You can apply directly on IRS.gov at no cost in about ten to fifteen minutes.
When should we apply for the EIN?
After your Delaware Certificate of Incorporation is approved and before you open a bank account or apply for tax exemption. Use the exact legal name from the filed certificate so your EIN, bank, and IRS records all match. Applying before the corporation exists, or with a slightly different name, creates mismatches that can slow the exemption review.
Who is the responsible party for a nonprofit's EIN?
A principal officer who controls or directs the organization — typically the president, chair, or executive director — not an owner, since a nonprofit has none. Their SSN or ITIN is needed to apply online. You can update the responsible party later with Form 8822-B when the person in that role changes, which is common as officers turn over.
What if no one has a Social Security number?
The online EIN tool requires the responsible party to have an SSN or ITIN. If yours doesn't, apply with Form SS-4 by fax or mail instead. Fax responses take a few days; mail takes weeks. Complete the SS-4 carefully, because errors add further delay. It's slower than the online route but fully workable.
We already have an EIN — do we need a new one?
No. One entity keeps one EIN for its life. Applying again creates duplicate IRS records and confusion. You'd only need a new EIN in specific structural changes, not for routine events like changing officers or address. If your officer changes, update the responsible party with Form 8822-B rather than getting a new number.
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Formation, your registered agent, and your annual report. One price, $199.00/yr, with the state fee passed through at cost.
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