Illinois Tax ID (EIN) Number Application

Applying for a Tax ID (EIN) Number in Illinois? Learn more about how to apply online using this short 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 Illinois.

 

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

  1. Prepare Required Information
  2. Apply for an Illinois Tax ID Online
  3. Apply for an Illinois Tax ID by Phone, Mail or Fax
  4. What Is the Illinois State Identification Number?
  5. What Is an Illinois IDOR Number?
  6. How Do I Get an Illinois State Tax ID Number?

1. Prepare Required Information

If you need a tax ID number to start your business, it’s in your best interest to obtain it as quickly as possible. If you’re not prepared, the application can take an inordinate amount of time, delaying your business’s development. Fortunately, you can hasten this process by preparing all the information you’ll need for the application in advance.

You’ll need some personal information from all your business’s founding members, including yourself and any/all business partners you have; make sure you record their full legal names, legal addresses, and social security numbers (SSNs). Because the application will also register your business with the government, you’ll want to decide on a legal business name as well.

2. Apply for an Illinois Tax ID Online

Once you’ve gathered those pieces of information, you’ll be ready to begin the application process. You have a few options here, including traditional methods like filling out a paper application. However, the best method by far is applying online.

Everything is faster and more convenient through the online application process. You can access the online application form using any device with an internet connection, making it one of the most accessible methods. It’s easy to fill out the form as well; if you’ve gathered all the right pieces of information in advance, it should only take you 5 minutes to complete. It’s hassle-free and intuitive.

One of the best benefits of applying online is the wait time you’ll face for your tax ID. After you finish your application, you should receive your tax ID via email in under an hour. Getting your tax ID faster means starting your business and generating revenue faster, so it works in your favor.

 

3. Apply for an Illinois Tax ID by Phone, Mail or Fax

Applying online is the best possible method for getting your tax ID. However, there are alternative application methods for those willing to seek them out. For example, you could apply for your tax ID using a paper application, assuming you can track one down. It will take longer and may be less convenient, but when done, you can fax or mail it in to get your tax ID. You can also apply over the phone. Again, this method takes longer, but it is possible to complete. If you follow any of these traditional methods, you’ll be forced to wait 4 to 6 weeks to receive your tax ID by mail, making it much slower than applying online.

4. What Is the Illinois State Identification Number?

There are multiple different types of identification numbers that your business might require. The most prominent is your federal tax ID number, also known as a general “tax ID.” You may also hear this number referred to as an employee identification number, or EIN. This number is required for most businesses because it’s necessary if you have any business partners, or if your business intends to hire employees. You may also need a federal tax ID number if you’re going to open a business bank account, or apply for any kind of business loans or credit. If you need to apply for any business licenses or permits, you’ll also need a federal tax ID. However, your federal tax ID isn’t the only ID number you may need. If you’re starting a business in Illinois, you may also need an Illinois state identification number. This number is a unique identifier like your federal tax ID, but is used for different purposes – specifically for adhering to state requirements.

5. What Is an Illinois IDOR Number?

Your Illinois state tax ID number may also be called an Illinois IDOR number, or an Illinois sales tax number. The latter name comes from the fact that this number is used primarily to register Illinois businesses for sales taxes.

You’ll need an Illinois state tax ID under several different situations. You’ll need one if you’re going to hire any employees in the state of Illinois, and if you’re going to sell taxable goods and services in the state. You’ll also need one if you plan on owing excise taxes, which apply to regulated goods like alcohol and tobacco. Suffice it to say, your business will almost certainly need a state tax ID.

Like a federal tax ID, your Illinois state tax ID number is a unique identifying number, but it’s distinct from your federal tax ID; you won’t get one automatically just because you have a federal tax ID, nor can you use a federal tax ID for these purposes.

6. How Do I Get an Illinois State Tax ID Number?

Your business will probably need both a federal tax ID number and an Illinois state tax ID. If you want to get a state tax ID in the state of Illinois, you’ll first need to have your federal tax ID number in place. Applying online is the fastest and most efficient way to get this number.

Once you have your federal tax ID, you can apply for your IDOR number in one of several different methods. You can choose a traditional method, like applying with a paper form or over the phone, but as you might suspect, it’s much more efficient to apply online. Like with your federal tax ID, you’ll need to answer several questions about your business, but this shouldn’t take long. Do be aware that it will likely take longer to get your state tax ID than it did to get your federal tax ID; it may take up to 4 to 6 weeks to receive it.

Written by Maurice Mallory