How to Get an EIN for Your Georgia LLC

An EIN (Employer Identification Number) is issued by the federal IRS, not Georgia. First, file your Articles of Organization with the Georgia Secretary of State (O.C.G.A. § 14-11-204). Once approved, apply for an EIN directly through the IRS at irs.gov/ein. Online applications receive your EIN immediately.

Step 1: File Your Georgia LLC Articles of Organization

Before applying for an EIN, you must legally form your Georgia LLC. File Articles of Organization with the Georgia Secretary of State, Corporations Division (O.C.G.A. §§ 14-11-204 to 14-11-206). The filing fee is $110.

Your Articles must include:

LLC name with "Limited Liability Company," "LLC," or "L.L.C."
Registered agent name and Georgia address
Principal office mailing address
Organizer name and address
Valid email address

File online at https://ecorp.sos.ga.gov/Account for standard processing (about 7 business days). Once you receive your Certificate of Organization, proceed to the IRS.

Step 2: Apply for Your EIN with the IRS

After Georgia approves your LLC, apply directly to the IRS for your EIN. You have three options:

Online (Fastest): Visit irs.gov/ein and complete the application. You'll receive your EIN immediately upon approval—no fee required.

By Phone: Call 1-800-829-4933 during business hours. An IRS representative will process your application and provide your EIN same-day.

By Mail or Fax: Complete IRS Form SS-4 and submit to your local IRS office. Processing takes 4-6 weeks.

What You'll Need

Have your Georgia LLC approval letter and the following information ready:

LLC legal name (exactly as filed with Georgia)
Principal business address
Business activity description
Organizer's Social Security Number or ITIN
Number of employees (if applicable)

Timeline

Georgia LLC approval: 7 business days (standard online filing) Federal EIN issuance: Immediate (online) or 4-6 weeks (mail)

Total time: 1-3 weeks for most applicants using online filing for both steps.

Contact Information

Georgia Secretary of State: (404) 656-2817 or https://sos.ga.gov/

IRS EIN Application: irs.gov or 1-800-829-4933

This is general information, not legal advice.