Get your EIN after your Pennsylvania LLC is approved — not before. Your LLC needs to legally exist before the IRS can assign an EIN to it. The good news: the online application takes about 15 minutes, and you get the number immediately.
Why You Apply After, Not Before
An EIN (Employer Identification Number) is how the IRS identifies your business — the business version of a Social Security Number. The IRS assigns the EIN to your LLC as a legal entity. If you apply before your LLC is approved by Pennsylvania, the EIN gets attached to you personally, not to your company, because the LLC doesn’t legally exist yet.
This creates a real problem: an EIN tied to you as an individual is an EIN for a sole proprietorship, not for your LLC. You’d need to contact the IRS to get a new EIN properly linked to your LLC — an avoidable headache. Save yourself the trouble and wait until Pennsylvania approves your filing.
The Right Sequence
The EIN Field on the Docketing Statement
The PA docketing statement has an optional field for your EIN. Leave it blank — you almost certainly don’t have one yet at the time of filing, and that’s completely fine. Pennsylvania doesn’t require you to have an EIN before approving your LLC. The Department of Revenue will still create your tax account and issue your PA Revenue ID number.
Does Your PA LLC Actually Need an EIN?
It depends on your LLC structure. Here’s when an EIN is required vs. optional:
| Situation | EIN Required? |
|---|---|
| Multi-member LLC (two or more owners) | Yes — required |
| Single-member LLC with employees | Yes — required |
| Single-member LLC filing taxes as an S-Corp or C-Corp | Yes — required |
| Single-member LLC with no employees, taxed as sole proprietor | Technically optional, but strongly recommended |
Even if you’re a single-member LLC with no employees, getting an EIN is worth doing. You’ll need it to open a business bank account, apply for business credit, and avoid giving out your Social Security Number every time a vendor or client asks for a tax ID. It’s free, it takes 15 minutes, and it protects your personal information.
EIN vs. PA Revenue ID — These Are Two Different Numbers
First-time LLC owners often confuse these. They are not the same thing:
| Number | Issued By | What It’s For |
|---|---|---|
| EIN (Federal Tax ID) | IRS (federal government) | Identifies your LLC to the IRS and federal agencies |
| PA Revenue ID | Pennsylvania Department of Revenue | Identifies your LLC in Pennsylvania’s tax system |
You apply for the EIN yourself at IRS.gov after your LLC is approved. The PA Revenue ID is automatically assigned by the Department of Revenue when it processes your docketing statement — you don’t apply for it separately. You’ll receive it in a welcome letter within 3–4 weeks of LLC approval.
How to Get Your EIN (Step-by-Step)
The online application is only available Monday–Friday, 7am–10pm Eastern time. If you don’t have a Social Security Number or ITIN (for non-US residents), you’ll need to apply by mail or fax using Form SS-4 — expect a 4-week wait.
What You Can Do Once You Have Your EIN
Frequently Asked Questions
Most banks won’t open a business account without one. Get your LLC approved, then apply for the EIN online — you’ll have it within 15 minutes. Then you’re ready to bank.
Contact the IRS Business & Specialty Tax Line at 1-800-829-4933. Explain the situation — they can help you either cancel the incorrect EIN or reassign it to your LLC once approved. This is more common than you’d think.
Online: immediately (15 minutes total). By fax with a fax number provided: about 4 business days. By mail: approximately 4 weeks. Apply online.
No. Pennsylvania doesn’t have a state-level EIN. You have a federal EIN from the IRS and a separate PA Revenue ID from the Department of Revenue — but neither is called a “state EIN.” The PA Revenue ID comes automatically through your docketing statement.
No. The IRS does not charge for EIN applications. If you see a service charging you for an EIN, they’re just acting as a middleman for a form you can complete yourself for free.
Yes. Non-US residents who don’t have an SSN or ITIN cannot use the online application. They must file Form SS-4 by mail or fax. The IRS processes these in approximately 4 weeks. No physical US presence is required to get an EIN.
Previous 
