EIN Guide for a Utah Corporation

An Employer Identification Number, also called a Federal Employer Identification Number or FEIN, is a nine-digit number the IRS assigns to identify a business for tax purposes. Think of it as a Social Security number for the corporation. It's formatted as XX-XXXXXXX and stays with the corporation for its entire life.

Why a corporation always needs one

Some single-member LLCs can get by using the owner's Social Security number for federal taxes. A corporation cannot. A corporation is, by definition, a separate taxpaying entity — even an S corporation, which passes income through, files its own return. That means the EIN isn't optional. You need it to:

• File corporate tax returns (Form 1120 for a C corporation, Form 1120-S for an S corporation)
• Open a business bank account — banks will not open a corporate account without an EIN
• Hire employees and handle payroll tax withholding and deposits
• Elect S corporation status by filing Form 2553, which requires the EIN
• Apply for business licenses and permits that ask for a federal tax ID

In short, without an EIN the corporation exists on paper but can't bank, hire, or file taxes. It's one of the first things to do after the state approves your Articles of Incorporation.

Timing matters more than people expect. Apply for the EIN after your Articles of Incorporation are approved by the Utah Division of Corporations, not before. The IRS asks for the corporation's exact legal name and formation details, and you want those to match the state record precisely. Applying before the state approves the entity risks a mismatch that causes headaches later at the bank.

The online application (fastest)

The quickest route is the IRS online EIN Assistant at IRS.gov. Key facts:

• It's free — the IRS never charges for an EIN. Any site that charges you is a third party adding its own fee.
• The application takes roughly ten to fifteen minutes.
• The EIN is issued immediately at the end. You can download the confirmation letter (CP 575) and start using the number the same day.
• The online tool is available only during IRS business hours and must be completed in one session — it times out after inactivity.

The responsible party

The application asks for a "responsible party" — typically an owner, officer, or someone who controls the corporation. That person provides their name and Social Security number or ITIN. The responsible party must be an individual, not another entity, in most cases.

If you don't have an SSN or ITIN

Non-U.S. owners without a Social Security number or ITIN can't use the online tool. Instead, complete Form SS-4 and submit it by fax or mail. Fax typically returns an EIN within a few business days; mail takes several weeks. This is the standard path for foreign founders of a U.S. corporation.

Gathering a few details in advance makes the application quick and prevents errors that are painful to fix afterward.

Have these ready

• The corporation's exact legal name as it appears on the approved Articles of Incorporation, including the "Inc." or "Corporation" designator
• The corporation's Utah address (principal office)
• State and date of incorporation — Utah and your formation date
• The responsible party's name and SSN or ITIN
• The reason you're applying — usually "started a new business"
• The expected number of employees, if any, in the next year
• The type of entity — you'll select corporation

Double-check the name

The single most common EIN mistake is a name mismatch between the IRS record and the state record. If your Articles say "Wasatch Peak Corp." make sure the EIN application says exactly that — not "Wasatch Peak Corporation" or "Wasatch Peak Inc." Banks cross-check the two, and a mismatch can stall your account opening. Getting the name identical across both records saves real aggravation.

The EIN unlocks the next stage of setting the corporation up to actually operate.

Open a business bank account

Take the EIN confirmation letter, your approved Articles of Incorporation, your bylaws, and a banking resolution to the bank. Keeping corporate and personal money strictly separate is essential to preserving your liability shield, and a dedicated corporate account is the foundation of that separation.

Consider your tax election

With the EIN in hand, you can file Form 2553 if you want the corporation taxed as an S corporation. There's a deadline for making the election effective for a given tax year, so if S treatment is your plan, don't sit on it. Whether an S election makes sense depends on your profit level and situation — a CPA is the right person to confirm it.

Keep the confirmation safe

Store the CP 575 confirmation letter somewhere secure. The IRS issues it once, and while you can request a replacement confirmation (a 147C letter) later if needed, it's easier to keep the original. You'll reference the EIN constantly — on tax filings, payroll, licenses, and financial paperwork — so keep it handy but protected.

One EIN per corporation

A corporation needs only one EIN, and it keeps that number for life. You don't get a new one each year or when you change your address. You'd only need a new EIN in unusual situations, such as certain changes in the entity's structure. For ordinary operations, the EIN you get at formation is the one you use forever.