Washington Tax ID (EIN) Number Application

Applying for a Tax ID (EIN) Number in Washington? Learn more about how to apply online using this short Washington Tax ID Application Guide. You will need to provide some personal information about each of your partners, even if you’re a Non-Profit, Corporation, Estate of Deceased, Trust, Partnership or multi-member LLC. Get more guidance on applying for your official Tax ID (EIN) Number in Washington.

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

1. Prepare Required Information
2. Apply for a Washington Tax ID Online
3. Apply for a Washington Tax ID by Phone, Mail or Fax
4. Is an EIN Number the same as a Tax ID Number?
5. How Do I Get a Tax ID Number?
6. How Do I Get a Washington State Tax ID Number?

1. Prepare Required Information

Your first step will be one of the easiest, since it’s a simple matter of asking a few questions and taking some notes. The process for getting a tax ID number involves answering lots of questions about your business, so it’s helpful to gather the requisite information before you begin that process. You’ll need to have your business’s name figured out, so take the time to do this now if you haven’t already.

You’ll also need the personal information of all your founding business members, including yourself and your partners. You’ll need their full legal names, legal addresses, and social security numbers (SSNs).

2. Apply for a Washington Tax ID Online

You can apply for a tax ID number in a variety of different ways. However, if you’re interested in making the process as fast and as easy as possible, there’s only one real option: applying online.

The online application process for a tax ID is easily the most straightforward, and the one that takes the least time to complete. You’ll access the application with your standard computer or mobile device, so long as you have an internet connection, and answer an assortment of questions about your business (including the information listed above). This section shouldn’t take you long, as long as you have the right information on standby.

Then, you’ll need to wait for the application to process, but this process is fast when you do it online. In many cases, the processing will complete within an hour, and you’ll get an email with a confirmation- including your tax ID.

Apply for a Washington Tax ID Number

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

There’s simply no beating the online application method in terms of simplicity or speed, but there are other options for those who choose to seek them.

For starters, you can fill out the application manually; it’s almost identical to the application you’ll fill out online, but you’ll complete it with pen and paper. When you do, you’ll be forced to mail it or fax it in. You can also answer these questions over the phone if you prefer an interview format. Either way, the biggest pain point with these methods is the wait time- it can take 4 to 6 weeks for your application to process, at which point, your tax ID will be mailed to you.

4. Is an EIN Number the same as a Tax ID Number?

You may have heard references to an EIN and a tax ID number, wondering whether they’re the same thing.

The short answer to this question is yes, they refer to the same number. Your employer identification number (EIN) is a unique, nine-digit number assigned to your business by the federal government, similar to a social security number, but for a business. Because of the federal nature of this number, it can also be referred to as a federal employer identification number (FEIN).

People can also call this the “federal tax ID number” or federal tax ID, since it’s used for tax purposes at the federal level. Again, this is all the same number. You may also hear references to a general “tax ID,” and in most of these cases, it’s safe to assume they’re referring to the EIN.

That said, there’s also another type of tax ID you may need for your business- a state-level tax ID. You may hear this number referred to as a Washington tax ID or state tax ID, but it’s different than a FEIN.

5. How Do I Get a Tax ID Number?

Any current or prospective business owner can get a tax ID number, whether they’re looking for a FEIN or a Washington state tax ID. In all cases, the process is generally similar; you’ll fill out an application, which will register your business with the government, the application will process, then you’ll receive your tax ID so you can begin operations.

No matter which tax ID you’re trying to get, or what the nature of your business is, the easiest way to get a tax ID is with an online application. The online application process is fast, intuitive, and accessible to pretty much everybody. On top of that, it allows your application to be processed faster- your federal tax ID may take as little as an hour to process, and your state tax ID could be processed in a matter of days to weeks. Though traditional application processes, like applying over the phone or via mail or fax, are available, they don’t offer any advantages, and therefore aren’t usually worth the time.

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

You may be confused about whether you need a federal tax ID, or a Washington state tax ID, or both. The shortest answer here is that most businesses in the state of Washington will need both a federal tax ID and a Washington state tax ID to legally operate.

You’ll need a federal tax ID if your business has multiple members- for example, if you’re in a business with multiple founding members, or if you’re going to hire any employees. You’ll also be using your federal tax ID for accounting and banking purposes, as well as for applying for business licenses and permits.

You’ll need a Washington state tax ID if you’re going to hire employees in the state of Washington. Since this is also used for tax tracking, you’ll need one if you’re selling taxable goods and services in the state, or if you’re going to owe excise taxes on goods like alcohol or gasoline.