EIN for a Georgia Corporation — What It Is and How to Get One

An Employer Identification Number is a nine-digit number the IRS assigns to a business for federal tax purposes. It's formatted like 12-3456789 and functions as the business equivalent of a Social Security number. The IRS uses it to identify your corporation on tax filings; banks use it to open accounts; and it's how the government tracks payroll, withholding, and returns tied to your business.

For a Georgia corporation, the EIN is federal — it comes from the IRS, not the Georgia Secretary of State. Forming your corporation in Georgia and getting an EIN are two separate steps with two separate agencies. You form the corporation first (the EIN application asks for the entity's legal name and formation state), then apply for the EIN.

EIN vs. Georgia state tax accounts

The EIN is distinct from any Georgia state tax registrations. Depending on your business, you may also need to register with the Georgia Department of Revenue for state income tax, sales tax, or employer withholding — but those use the EIN as the underlying federal identifier. Think of the EIN as the foundation the other registrations build on.

EIN vs. the Secretary of State control number

Don't confuse the EIN with your Georgia control number. When you incorporate, the Secretary of State assigns your corporation a control number that identifies it in the state's records and on the eCorp portal. That number is separate from the EIN — the control number is for the state, the EIN is for the IRS. You'll use each in different contexts: the control number when filing your annual registration or amendments with Georgia, and the EIN on federal tax filings and at the bank. Keeping the two straight avoids confusion when a form asks for one and you supply the other.

A corporation always needs its own EIN — there's no exception the way there is for a single-member LLC. Because a corporation is a separate legal and tax entity from its owners, it can never use a shareholder's Social Security number for its filings. The moment you incorporate, you have an entity that files its own federal return and therefore needs its own federal ID.

What you'll use the EIN for

• Opening a corporate bank account. Every bank requires the EIN to open an account in the corporation's name. Keeping corporate money separate from personal money is essential to preserving the liability shield, and the account starts with the EIN.
• Filing corporate tax returns. A C-corporation files Form 1120 under its EIN; an S-corporation files Form 1120-S. The IRS ties those returns to the number.
• Hiring employees. Payroll, employment tax deposits, and W-2 reporting all run through the EIN.
• Making an S-corporation election. Form 2553 references the corporation's EIN.
• Establishing business credit and vendor accounts. Lenders and suppliers often ask for the EIN rather than a personal SSN.

The fastest and simplest way to get an EIN is directly through the IRS, and it's free. Be cautious of sites that charge a fee to "obtain" an EIN for you — the IRS never charges for issuing one.

Online application (recommended)

Apply through the IRS EIN Assistant at IRS.gov. The online application is available during IRS business hours, takes about ten minutes, and issues the EIN immediately upon completion. You can download the confirmation letter and start using the number the same day. To apply online, the responsible party needs a valid US Social Security number or ITIN.

What you'll need

• The corporation's exact legal name as filed with Georgia
• The state and date of incorporation
• The name and taxpayer ID of the responsible party (usually a principal officer)
• The corporation's mailing address and the reason you're applying

If you don't have an SSN or ITIN

Non-US founders without a Social Security number or ITIN can't use the online tool, but they can still get an EIN by submitting Form SS-4 to the IRS by fax or mail. It takes longer than the online process, so plan ahead if this applies to you.

A few practical points come up repeatedly when corporations apply for an EIN, and getting the timing right saves headaches.

Apply after the corporation is formed

The EIN application asks for your corporation's legal name and formation details, so it's cleanest to apply after your Articles of Incorporation are filed and approved. Applying too early — before the corporation legally exists — can create mismatches with the name that later cause confusion.

The responsible party

The IRS requires a "responsible party" — a real person who controls or manages the corporation, typically a principal officer. The responsible party's Social Security number or ITIN is used to verify the application. This isn't ownership disclosure to the public; it's the IRS identifying who's accountable for the entity.

Keep the confirmation letter

When your EIN is issued, save the IRS confirmation (the CP 575 letter for mailed confirmations, or the printout from the online application). Banks and other institutions frequently ask for it. If you lose it, you can request a replacement (Letter 147C) from the IRS, but it's much easier to file it away from the start.

One EIN per corporation

A corporation needs only one EIN, and it stays with the entity for its life. You generally don't get a new one when officers change or the business grows. A new EIN is usually needed only in specific situations, such as certain changes in entity structure.

Watch out for EIN scam sites

Because so many new business owners search for how to get an EIN, a whole cottage industry of paid "EIN filing" sites has grown up around it. Some charge substantial fees to do something the IRS provides for free in about ten minutes. Others are outright phishing operations that collect your responsible party's Social Security number. Apply directly through IRS.gov, or through a legitimate formation service you already trust, and never hand your SSN to an unfamiliar site that turns up in an ad. The EIN is free, and the official source is the IRS.

After you have the EIN

Once the EIN is in hand, it flows into the rest of your setup. You open the corporate bank account with it, register with the Georgia Department of Revenue for any state tax accounts you need, and reference it on your bylaws-adjacent records and your first tax filings. If you elect S-corporation status, Form 2553 carries the EIN. Treat the EIN as a permanent piece of the corporation's identity and store the confirmation somewhere you can find it, because you'll be asked for it repeatedly in the corporation's early months.