Rhode Island Tax ID (EIN) Number Application Manual

Rhode Island has taken the process to apply for and obtain a Tax ID number and made it easier than ever before. You can do everything now right over the Internet. The online application process to obtain a Tax ID (EIN) Number in Rhode Island is about as seamless as possible. You may be a Non-Profit organization, or an LLC, or even a Corporation and it does not matter. All you need is the necessary information on the business, yourself, as well as other partners within the company. With the information by your side, you can use the Tax ID Number Manual to help you complete the application process with ease.

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

  1. Prepare Required Information
  2. Apply for a Rhode Island Tax ID Online
  3. Apply for a Rhode Island Tax ID by Phone, Mail or Fax
  4. Do I Need a Rhode Island State Tax ID Number?
  5. How Do You Apply for a State Tax ID Number?
  6. How Do I Get a Rhode Island State Tax ID Number?

1. Prepare Required Information

One of your first steps should be preparing all the information that will be required in the tax ID application. Gathering this information proactively, before you formally begin the application, can help you complete the application faster and with fewer hiccups.

To start, get the full legal names and legal addresses of all your business’s founding partners, including yourself. You’ll also want to get their social security numbers (SSNs). Because this process will register your business with the federal government, you’ll also want to have a formal business name in place.

2. Apply for a Rhode Island Tax ID Online

There are a few different ways you can apply for your tax ID in Rhode Island, but one method is objectively the best. While it’s possible to apply for a tax ID via phone, mail, or fax, these methods tend to be time- and effort-intensive, and ultimately take far longer for you to receive your tax ID.

Applying online, by contrast, is fast and convenient. You can access the online EIN application using any device with an internet connection, and the application itself is remarkably easy to understand. If you’ve gathered all the pieces of information listed in the previous section, it should only take you 5 minutes to complete. Once you’re done with that application, you should receive your tax ID in less than an hour. There’s no faster way to get your tax ID number in-hands, which means this is the best application method if you want to start your business quickly and efficiently.

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

That said, there are some other old-fashioned methods you can call upon to get your tax ID number. For example, if you’d prefer to answer the important questions about your business and founding partners in an interview format, you could apply over the phone. If you feel like tracking down and filling out a paper application, you could mail or fax it in. However, all these methods are inferior to applying online. If you choose any of them, you could be stuck waiting 4 to 6 weeks to receive your tax ID by mail.

4. Do I Need a Rhode Island State Tax ID Number?

Is it really necessary to have a Rhode Island state tax ID number? First, let’s clarify some tax ID terminology. In many cases, the general term “tax ID” refers to a federal tax ID number, which is also frequently called an
employer identification number, or EIN. This is a 9-digit number assigned to businesses by the federal government. It’s required of all businesses that have multiple partners or those that plan on hiring employees. You’ll also need one if you’re going to apply for just about anything involving a bank, including a business loan or even a business bank account. It’s also required on most applications for business licenses, permits, and other forms of formal certification.

Your Rhode Island state tax ID, though similar in name, is separate. It’s also a unique number assigned to your business, but it’s assigned through the state government. You’ll need one of these if you’re going to hire any employees in the state of Rhode Island, if you’re selling taxable goods and services in the state, or if you’re going to owe excise taxes on regulated products like alcohol, tobacco, or gasoline. The majority of Rhode Island businesses will need both a federal tax ID number and a Rhode Island state tax ID number.

5. How Do You Apply for a State Tax ID Number?

The application process for getting a state tax ID number in Rhode Island isn’t much different than the process for applying for a federal tax ID number, even though they’re managed at different governmental levels. First, you’ll need to have a federal tax ID in place, which you can get in less than an hour via the online application.

Once you have that, you can choose to apply for a Rhode Island state tax ID number through one of a few different methods. As you might imagine, the best application method is applying online, since it’s faster and more convenient. You should be able to complete the basic questionnaire about your business in just a few minutes. After that, you’ll receive your Rhode Island state tax ID number in just 4 to 6 weeks.

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

You’re going to need a Rhode Island state tax ID number for your Rhode Island business if you’re going to hire any employees in the state, if you plan on owing excise taxes on regulated goods, or if you’re selling taxable goods and services in Rhode Island. If you’re required to have one, the application process is actually pretty simple.

First, obtain your federal tax ID number. If you use the online application and have all information pertaining to your business at the ready, you can have it in an hour or less. With that in hand, you can begin the application for your state tax ID through one of several different channels. While it’s possible to apply for a state tax ID number by phone, mail, or fax, it’s much faster and easier to apply online. You should be able to complete the state tax ID online application in just a few minutes. When you’re done, you’ll get your state tax ID in 4 to 6 weeks.

Written by Maurice Mallory

Gov Easy LLC is an Authorized E-File Provider and helps clients obtain Federal Tax ID Numbers from the IRS. We are a business-to-business (B2B) application assistance and filing service and are not affiliated with the IRS or any other federal or state organizations. We do not provide legal, financial or other professional advice. We are not a law or an accountancy firm nor are we affiliated with either. Users are able to obtain a Tax ID number on their own by working directly with the IRS, but they will not be able to use the streamlined application process or engage with e-mail support.