Pennsylvania Tax ID (EIN) Number Application | How to Apply Online

Looking to obtain your Tax ID (EIN) Number in Pennsylvania? This short Pennsylvania Tax ID Application Guide will walk you through the basic steps you need to follow to apply for your Tax ID (EIN) Number in the state of Pennsylvania. Whether you own a Partnership, multi-member LLC, Corporation, Non-Profit, Trust or Estate, this guide will help you learn what you need to know to obtain your official IRS Tax ID Number within minutes.

Steps to Obtain your Tax ID (EIN) Number in Pennsylvania:

1. Prepare Required Information
2. Apply for a Pennsylvania Tax ID Online
3. Apply for a Pennsylvania Tax ID by Phone, Mail or Fax
4. What Is a Pennsylvania Revenue ID Number?
5. How Do I Get a PA Tax ID Number?
6. How Do I Get a Pennsylvania State Tax ID Number?

1. Prepare Required Information

The best thing to do is gather your required information first. During the application process, you'll need to answer several questions about your business partners and your business, so you can complete the process much faster if you have all that information prepared in advance.

At a minimum, you'll need the following:

• Partner names and home addresses. You'll need information from all your founding members, including yourself and all your business partners. To start, you can gather your full legal names and addresses.
• Social security numbers. You'll also need to gather their social security numbers (SSNs).
• A business name. Finally, you'll need to decide on a business name if you haven't yet. This process will register your business with the government, so it needs to be in place.

2. Apply for a Pennsylvania Tax ID Online

When you're ready to apply for a tax ID, you should know there are several methods available to you, but one method is demonstrably better than the others. It's possible to apply for your tax ID through one of several traditional methods, such as over the phone or by mail, but it's better for any business owner to apply online.

When you apply online, you'll be able to fill out the application form digitally, using any internet-connected device. This is noticeably more convenient than with any other method. And assuming you've gathered all the right bits of information on your business and founding partners, it should only take you 5 minutes to complete the application.

Once you've completed the application, you'll need to wait for your tax ID to be delivered, but if you apply online, this waiting time is minimal- you'll be receiving your tax ID via email in less than an hour. That enables you to start your business faster.

3. Apply for a Pennsylvania Tax ID by Phone, Mail or Fax

Even though the online application is faster and, overall, superior, you can apply through one of several traditional methods as well. For example, you can apply over the phone by answering the same questions about your business in an interview-style format. You can also apply through a traditional paper application if you send that application in via mail or fax. These methods tend to take a bit longer to complete, but the real disadvantage is the long waiting time; it can take up to 4 to 6 weeks to receive your tax ID via traditional mail with these application methods.

4. What Is a Pennsylvania Revenue ID Number?

If you're starting a business in Pennsylvania, you might have heard that you need a Pennsylvania revenue ID number. But what is this number, exactly, and is it any different from the tax ID number we've been talking about?

Let's clarify the terminology here. First, there's your federal tax ID number, which is what most people refer to when they use the general term "tax ID." You may also hear this number referred to as an employer identification number, or EIN. You'll need it to register your business with the federal government, and it's a requirement if your business has more than one partner. You'll also need one of these if you're going to hire employees, or if you're going to apply for things on behalf of your business like a bank account, a loan, or various licenses and permits.

Your Pennsylvania revenue ID number, or Pennsylvania state tax ID, is a similar identification number, but one that's used for state-level functions. You'll need one if you're going to hire employees in the state of Pennsylvania, if you're going to owe state or local sales taxes, or if you're going to owe excise taxes on taxable goods and services.

5. How Do I Get a PA Tax ID Number?

How does a business owner go about obtaining a Pennsylvania tax ID number? First, determine whether or not you need one. Most businesses in Pennsylvania will need both a federal tax ID and a Pennsylvania state tax ID, but this isn't always the case. You'll need a state tax ID number if you plan to hire employees in the state of Pennsylvania, if you're going to sell taxable goods and services in the state, or if you're going to owe excise taxes.

If you need a Pennsylvania state tax ID, you'll need to get your federal tax ID (EIN) first. Once you have that, you'll be able to apply through a traditional method, or apply online. Like with the federal tax ID, it's always better to apply online. You'll answer several questions about your business, which shouldn't take long, then you'll need to wait to receive your state tax ID- which could take up to 4 to 6 weeks, even if you apply online.

6. How Do I Get a Pennsylvania State Tax ID Number?

Remember, you'll need a federal tax ID number if you're going to hire employees, if your business has multiple partners, or if you're going to apply for business credit or a business license or permit. You'll need a Pennsylvania state tax ID number if you're going to hire employees specifically in Pennsylvania, or if you're going to owe one of several types of local and state-level taxes.

The application method for both these tax ID numbers is straightforward, and in both cases, applying online is much simpler and faster. Answer the important questions about your business, which shouldn't take long, then wait to receive your tax ID. Your federal tax ID should be ready in an hour, but your Pennsylvania state tax ID may take up to 4 to 6 weeks.