EIN application by phone - who can apply, and what to do instead

Can you do an EIN application by phone? Only if your business has no legal residence, principal place of business or office in the United States or a U.S. territory - then the IRS takes the application at 267-941-1099. The IRS no longer issues EINs by phone to US businesses: they apply online, by mail, or by faxing Form SS-4, which you can do from your iPhone with HonestFax.

Below: who can use the phone line and how the call works, how to fax Form SS-4 when the online tool isn't an option, and which IRS number to call about an EIN you already applied for.

EIN application by phone: who can use it

The phone option is for international applicants only. In the IRS's words in the Form SS-4 instructions, "The IRS no longer issues EINs by telephone for domestic taxpayers."

If your business is outside the US, here is how the line works:

• Number: 267-941-1099. It isn't toll-free.
• Hours: 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Eastern time, Monday through Friday.
• Who calls: the person on the phone must be authorized to receive the EIN and answer questions about Form SS-4. If someone calls for you, fill in the Third Party Designee section of the form and sign it - the designee's authority ends once the EIN is assigned.
• Have the form in front of you. The questions follow Form SS-4, so fill it in before you call.
• One EIN a day. The IRS issues one EIN per responsible party per day, whether you apply online, by phone, fax or mail.

International applicants can also fax Form SS-4 instead of calling: 855-215-1627 from inside the US, or 304-707-9471 from outside it.

No phone option? Fax Form SS-4 from your iPhone

For a business in the US, the IRS points to the online application first: it's free and gives the EIN right away. When the online tool doesn't fit - it can't be saved and times out after 15 minutes of inactivity, or someone else is applying for you - faxing Form SS-4 is the next fastest way. With HonestFax you don't need a fax machine:

1. Fill in and sign Form SS-4. Download it from irs.gov. An unsigned form is sent back.
2. Write a return fax number on the form. The IRS faxes the EIN back, generally within 4 business days, so the form needs a number that can receive faxes. No fax number? A HonestFax 7-Day Pass gives you a personal US or Canada fax number for 7 days for $9.99, once, with no subscription - see how to receive a fax on iPhone.
3. Install HonestFax and tap Scan document to photograph each page, or attach the filled-in PDF from Files.
4. Choose United States and type 855-641-6935 - the SS-4 fax number for a business in one of the 50 states or DC.
5. Check the price and send. The page count and price show above the Send fax button before anything is charged: your first page is free, and a fax of up to 3 pages is $2.99. If the fax can't be delivered, the credits come back automatically.

A cover sheet isn't required, but one with your name, phone number and "Form SS-4, EIN application" helps the page reach the right desk - our fax cover sheet maker makes one in the browser. The full walkthrough, with what to do if the EIN doesn't come back, is in how to fax Form SS-4 to the IRS.

All the ways to get an EIN

Use one method only for each business, so it doesn't end up with two EINs. Fax numbers for other IRS forms are in IRS fax numbers by form.

Calling the IRS about an EIN you already have

A different line handles questions once you've applied. The IRS's Business and Specialty Tax Line, 800-829-4933, covers EINs and business accounts, Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. your local time (Alaska and Hawaii follow Pacific time). The SS-4 instructions say to call it to verify a number or to ask about the status of an application sent by mail. It's also where you can ask for Letter 147C, the IRS letter that confirms an EIN it already assigned.

Frequently asked questions

Can I apply for an EIN by phone? Only if your business has no legal residence, principal place of business or office in the United States or a US territory. Then call 267-941-1099, 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Eastern, Monday through Friday. US businesses apply online, by fax or by mail.

What is the IRS phone number for an EIN application? 267-941-1099, for international applicants only. It isn't a toll-free number.

Why can't I get an EIN over the phone in the US? The IRS stopped issuing EINs by phone to domestic taxpayers. The fastest way for a US business is online; if that doesn't work for you, fax Form SS-4 to 855-641-6935 and the EIN comes back by fax, generally within 4 business days.

Can someone else apply for my EIN by phone? Yes, for an international applicant, if you name them in the Third Party Designee section of Form SS-4 and sign the form. Their authority ends once the EIN is assigned.

What number do I call about my EIN after applying? 800-829-4933, the IRS Business and Specialty Tax Line, Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time.

Checked on November 4, 2026: "Instructions for Form SS-4" (Rev. December 2025, page last reviewed or updated 30-Apr-2026) - phone option for international applicants only, 267-941-1099, hours, third party designee, Fax-TIN numbers and 4 business days, 800-829-4933 to verify a number. "Employer identification number" (updated 17-Jul-2026) - ways to apply, mail time of about 4 weeks, one EIN per day. "Get an employer identification number" - online tool rules (one session, 15 minutes of inactivity). "Telephone assistance contacts for business customers" (updated 02-Jul-2026) - 800-829-4933 hours. All on irs.gov. HonestFax prices, the free first page and the 7-Day Pass as shown in the app and on the HonestFax pricing section.