South Carolina Tax ID (EIN) Number Application Manual

Are you interested in getting your tax ID number as quickly as possible? Most businesses will need to have a tax ID number (EIN) to operate legally, and businesses in South Carolina are no different. Regardless of whether you own a limited liability company (LLC), a partnership, a nonprofit, or some other kind of business entity in South Carolina, you’ll likely need to have a tax ID number in place. In this guide, you’ll learn all about tax identification numbers, including the most efficient methods to apply for yours.

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Steps to Getting a South Carolina Tax ID (EIN) Number

  1. Gather the Required Information
  2. Apply for a South Carolina Tax ID Online
  3. Apply for a South Carolina Tax ID by Phone, Mail or Fax
  4. How Do You Get an EIN for a SC Business?
  5. How Can a Small Business Get a State Tax ID Number?
  6. South Carolina State Tax ID Number: What It Is and How to Get One

1. Gather the Required Information

Though there are many variants to the tax ID application method, every available medium follows a similar high-level process. To get a tax ID number, you’ll need to register with the government, which means you’ll need to provide some information on your business and its founding members. If you want to expedite this process, it pays to gather this information before you begin the application.

To start, you’ll need to offer the full legal names and addresses of all your founding business members, including yourself (and any partners associated with the business). It’s also important to provide their social security numbers (SSNs).

2. Apply for a South Carolina Tax ID Online

Tax ID numbers have been around for a long time, so there are several different methods you can use to apply for one. Unfortunately, many of these methods have become outdated, now that the online application method is available.

The online application method is objectively better than any other available method, in part because of its accessibility. You can pull up the online application at any time, using just about any device with an internet connection. The digital form is easily comprehensible, and if you’ve already gathered the information in the preceding section, you should be capable of finishing the form in just 5 minutes. But the biggest advantage of applying online is how long it takes to receive your tax ID. After submitting the application, you’ll get to receive your tax ID via email in just an hour. Most traditional methods, by contrast, will take 4 to 6 weeks.

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

All business owners in South Carolina are advised to apply for a tax ID using the online application method. However, there are some traditional application methods still available. It’s possible to find a paper application, and fill out the questionnaire by hand; after that, you’ll need to send it in via traditional mail or fax. You could also talk to a representative over the phone, assuming you call in during normal working hours. There aren’t any significant advantages to these approaches, and instead of getting a tax ID in an hour, you’ll have to wait 4 to 6 weeks.

4. How Do You Get an EIN for a SC Business?

EIN is short for employer identification number, which is an alternative name for your federal tax ID number. You may also hear this described simply as your “tax ID.” This is a 9-digit number assigned to your business when it registers with the federal government, and it’s used for a wide variety of different functions, which is why most businesses will end up needing one.

You’ll need an EIN if you’re hiring employees (as the name suggests), or if your business has multiple members. You’ll also need one for many financial purposes, like opening a bank account for your business, applying for a line of credit, or trying to get a loan. In fact, some people get an EIN simply because they want to use it in place of their SSN on business-related applications. There are several ways you can get an EIN for your business, but no matter what, you’ll need to fill out a questionnaire to register with the federal government. It’s advised that all SC business owners use the online application, since it’s faster and easier. With it, you should receive your tax ID in less than an hour, over email.

5. How Can a Small Business Get a State Tax ID Number?

Federal tax ID numbers function at the federal level, but you may also need a state-level tax ID number. In South Carolina, your small business will need a state tax ID number if your business is selling taxable goods and services, or if you’ll owe excise taxes on regulated products like gasoline, alcohol, or tobacco. You’ll also need one for your small business if you’re going to hire employees in the state of South Carolina.

To get a South Carolina state tax ID number for your small business, you’ll first need to get a federal tax ID number. Fortunately, this is quick and easy if you know what you’re doing. Using the online application, you can get a federal tax ID in under an hour; this assumes you have all the correct information for your business. When done, you can apply for a small business state tax ID online.

6. South Carolina State Tax ID Number: What It Is and How to Get One

South Carolina state tax ID numbers are used for identification purposes, and most businesses will end up needing one; you’ll need one to legally hire employees in the state, to sell taxable goods and services in the state, and to manage excise taxes on regulated goods. If you already have a federal tax ID number (which can be obtained in an hour with an online application), you can apply for a South Carolina state tax ID number.

Like with your EIN, you’ll have multiple application options. You can get a state tax ID number via mail, fax, or over the phone, but it’s in your best interest to apply online, like you did for your federal tax ID. This takes a bit longer than the federal tax ID application process (you’ll typically wait 4 to 6 weeks), but applying online is still the fastest and most convenient method.

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.