Getting an EIN for a Washington Nonprofit

An Employer Identification Number (EIN) is a nine-digit number the IRS issues to identify a business or organization for federal tax purposes. It's the organizational equivalent of a Social Security number. For a nonprofit, the EIN is foundational — it's how the IRS, banks, grantmakers, and donors identify your organization.

Why a nonprofit can't skip it

• You need it to open a bank account. No reputable bank will open an account for a nonprofit without an EIN. Keeping the organization's money separate from any individual's is essential, so the EIN comes before banking.
• You need it to apply for tax exemption. The IRS Form 1023 or 1023-EZ requires your EIN. You can't apply for 501(c)(3) status without one.
• You need it for payroll and vendors. If you'll have employees or issue tax forms, the EIN is required.
• It's your identity on federal filings. Your annual Form 990 and any other IRS correspondence key off the EIN.

The EIN doesn't make you exempt

Getting an EIN is not the same as getting tax-exempt status. The EIN simply identifies the organization; exemption is a separate application to the IRS. Every nonprofit needs an EIN, but the EIN alone doesn't make donations deductible or relieve you of tax — that's what 501(c)(3) recognition does.

Timing matters. Get the sequence right and everything downstream goes smoothly.

After formation, before banking and exemption

Apply for the EIN after your Washington nonprofit is formed — that is, after the Articles of Incorporation are filed and the corporation legally exists — and before you open a bank account or apply for 501(c)(3) status. The IRS application asks for the legal name and formation details of an existing entity, so forming first keeps the information consistent.

Get it at the organizational stage

In practice, the board authorizes the EIN application at the organizational meeting, right alongside adopting bylaws and approving a bank account. Because the online application issues the number immediately, there's no reason to delay — get the EIN early so the rest of setup isn't blocked waiting on it.

Only one EIN per organization

Your nonprofit needs exactly one EIN, and it stays with the organization for life. You don't get a new one when directors change, when you move, or when you finally receive your 501(c)(3) determination. If you accidentally apply twice, you'll need to sort out the duplicate with the IRS — so apply once, carefully.

The fastest, cheapest path is the IRS online application. It's free directly from the IRS; be wary of third-party sites that charge for what the IRS provides at no cost.

The online application

1. Go to the IRS EIN Assistant at IRS.gov (search "apply for an EIN online"). Use the official IRS site — not a paid intermediary.
2. Start the application. It must be completed in a single session; it doesn't save partway through, so have your information ready.
3. Select the entity type. For a nonprofit corporation, choose the appropriate option — typically the path that leads to a "view additional types," or nonprofit/other organization classification. Choosing correctly matters, so read the options carefully rather than defaulting to a business type.
4. Enter the responsible party — an individual (with a Social Security number or ITIN) who controls or manages the organization, often a founding director or officer.
5. Provide the organization's legal name exactly as it appears on the Articles of Incorporation, along with the address and formation details.
6. Submit. The EIN is issued immediately on screen.

Save the confirmation

Download and print the EIN confirmation letter (CP 575) the moment it appears — the IRS won't easily reissue it. Store it with your permanent corporate records next to the Articles and bylaws. You'll reference it constantly: at the bank, on the exemption application, and on every 990.

A nonprofit EIN application has a few wrinkles that catch people off guard. Knowing them ahead of time saves a headache.

Match the legal name exactly

Enter the organization's legal name precisely as it reads on the filed Articles of Incorporation. A mismatch between your EIN records and your state formation record can cause friction later — at the bank, with the IRS on your exemption application, and with grantmakers verifying your identity. Consistency across every record is worth the extra care.

Choose the nonprofit classification, not a business type

It's easy to click through to a for-profit entity type by mistake. Select the option that reflects a nonprofit or other organization, not "corporation" in the ordinary business sense. If you realize you selected the wrong type, contact the IRS to correct the record rather than living with an inaccurate classification.

Applying without a Social Security number

The online application requires the responsible party to have a Social Security number or ITIN. If your responsible party has neither, you can still get an EIN by filing Form SS-4 by fax or mail — it takes longer than the instant online path but works for those who can't use the online tool.

Remember it's just the first federal step

Getting the EIN feels like a milestone, and it is — but keep the sequence in mind. After the EIN comes the bank account, the 501(c)(3) application, and, at the state level, Charities Program registration if you fundraise and your ongoing annual report. The EIN unlocks those next steps; it doesn't complete them.