How To Get An EIN For A Virginia LLC (Mar. 2026)

Your Virginia Limited Liability Company (LLC) is officially created once your Articles of Organization have been approved by the Virginia State Corporation Commission. Following this, you must obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN) for federal identification and tax purposes. You also need this to carry out several important operational functions.

To obtain your Virginia LLC EIN, you must apply directly through the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) website. In this article, I’ve taken you through how to get an EIN for your Virginia LLC. You’ll learn about the different application processes, the importance of obtaining one, and the risks of attempting to operate without one.

What Is A Virginia EIN?

A Virginia EIN is a nine-digit federal identification number assigned to your LLC by the IRS. This number is used to identify your business in the same way that a Social Security Number (SSN) is used to identify an individual.

Your LLC can perform the following functions after obtaining an EIN:

• Hire LLC employees.
• Open a dedicated business bank account.
• File its local, state, and federal tax documents.
• Apply for the required business licenses.

Obtaining your EIN from the IRS is completely free. Your approval timeline depends on your chosen filing method, according to the IRS:

• Online application: Approval is issued instantly, usually within 10–15 minutes.
• Fax application: Typically processed within 4 business days.
• Mail application: Usually takes 4–6 weeks to process.

1. EIN Synonyms

An EIN may be referred to by several different names, with each one referring to the same thing. I’ve listed the main ones in the table below so you won’t get confused when completing your application process.

How To Get An EIN For Your Virginia LLC

I highly recommend finalizing the number of LLC members before obtaining your EIN. This is because changing from a single-member to a multi-member LLC (or vice versa) requires additional paperwork with both the IRS and the state. This is required as it changes your tax classification.

Additionally, in order to obtain your EIN, your LLC must first be approved by the Virginia Secretary of State. If you try apply before this, your application may be delayed.

You have two main ways to obtain your EIN from the IRS, depending on your U.S. residency status.

1. How To Get An EIN For Your Virginia LLC Online

You can obtain your EIN online directly using the official IRS website if you’re a U.S. resident with an SSN or ITIN. The application process takes around 15 minutes, and your EIN will be issued immediately after the application process.

Read my article on How To Get An EIN Online for step-by-step guidance.

2. How To Get An EIN For Your Virginia LLC Without An SSN Or ITIN

You must complete Form SS-4 and send it to the IRS if you’re a foreigner without an SSN or ITIN. Your processing time depends on your chosen filing method, as stated above:

• Fax: Send your completed form to 855-215-1627 (within the U.S.) or 304-707-9470 (outside the U.S.).
• Mail: Send your form to the Internal Revenue Service (Attention: EIN Operation), Cincinnati, OH 45999.

Read my detailed guide for more information on how to complete your form and the different processing times: How To Get An EIN Without SSN Or ITIN.

The EIN Approval Process (EIN Confirmation Letter)

Once your EIN has been issued by the IRS, you’ll receive an official approval letter. This is known as the EIN Confirmation Letter (Form CP 575).

How you receive it depends on your chosen filing method:

• You can download your EIN Confirmation Letter at the end of the application process if you apply online.
• The IRS will mail your EIN Confirmation Letter if you mail or fax your completed Form SS-4.

I recommend keeping your letter securely with your official business records since this will only be issued once.

1. How To Find Your EIN Number Online

As I’ve stated above, you can NOT get your EIN confirmation letter again if you lose it or forget to download it. The IRS only issued this once and will NOT provide a copy.

If you do lose your letter, you must request an EIN Verification Letter (147C) directly from the IRS. Call them directly at 1-800-829-4933. You can request your EIN Verification Letter by mail or fax once you’ve answered a few security questions to confirm you own your LLC.

Who Needs To Get A Virginia EIN?

The IRS classifies LLCs based on their member number for federal tax purposes, unless the owners choose a different tax election:

• Single-member LLCs: Automatically classified as disregarded entities.
• Multi-member LLCs: Automatically classified as partnerships.
• LLCs can choose to be taxed as a C-Corporation or an S-Corporation by filing the appropriate forms with the IRS.

I’ve explained the different EIN requirements for each tax classification in the following sections.

1. Single-Member LLCs Taxed As Disregarded Entities

Single-member LLCs are not strictly required to have an EIN at the federal level. Generally speaking, they can file and report taxes using their SSN or ITIN.

However, this is operationally inefficient and can cause issues. As explained by the IRS, single-member LLCs require an EIN once they start hiring employees or become subject to Federal Excise Taxes.

2. Multi-Member LLCs Taxed As Partnerships

If you are a Multi-member LLC, you are required to get an EIN. This requirement is set out under 26 Code of Federal Regulations (C.F.R) § 301.6109-1(a)(1)(ii)(C).

With more than one owner, your LLC is NOT allowed to use any individual member’s SSN or ITIN as its federal tax ID. Instead, your LLC must obtain an EIN to be officially recognized, track tax obligations, and process required filings.

3. EIN Requirement For LLCs Taxed As A Corporation

As I’ve stated above, your LLC can elect to be taxed as an S-Corporation or a C-Corporation by filing the correct IRS forms. Once completed, this changes how the IRS treats your LLC for tax reporting purposes.

Under 26 C.F.R. § 301.6109-1(a)(1)(ii)(C), an LLC electing corporate tax treatment must use an EIN as its taxpayer identification number. Because of this, you generally need an EIN before filing to be taxed as a corporation.

Why Do You Need An EIN For Your Virginia LLC?

The reason behind needing an EIN for your Virginia LLC (whether you’re technically required to obtain it or not) doesn’t come from Virginia law. It stems from the second-hand EIN compliance requirements, such as making tax payments, submitting regulatory forms, and meeting reporting obligations.

I’ve explained the three most common reasons why your Virginia LLC needs an EIN below.

1. To Comply With State Requirements

Most Virginia LLCs, including single-member LLCs, must register with the Virginia Department of Taxation for at least one type of tax account. The most common one is the Sales Tax, which applies to most retail sales of tangible personal property. Examples include electronics, clothing, furniture, and packaged products.

However, as required by the Virginia Department of Taxation, you must have an EIN to register for your Virginia Sales Tax Certificate.

Attempting to operate in Virginia as a dealer without a Sales Tax Certificate is seen as a Class 2 misdemeanor under the Code of Virginia § 58.1-613.(E). This is punishable by the following:

• A fine of up to $1,000.
• Up to six months in jail (Code of Virginia § 18.2-11.(b)).

2. To Avoid Federal Tax Compliance Risks

Operating your LLC without an EIN causes significant federal compliance risks. These involve federal tax filing and payment, taxpayer identification, and payroll and withholding obligations.

a. EIN-Related Reporting Violations Under Federal Tax Law

Your filing may be seen as noncompliant if your LLC is required to file federal tax or information returns but doesn’t provide a valid EIN.

Example: You must complete Form 1099 reporting payments when working with independent contractors. You face two separate penalties under the Internal Revenue Code if you try file without a valid EIN:

1. Filing incorrect or incomplete information returns (IRC § 6721).
2. Failing to provide accurate payee statements (IRC § 6722).

These penalties are assessed per return. Therefore, the IRS adjusts the amounts each year.

b. Failure To File Returns and Pay Federal Taxes

Your Virginia LLC may not be able to complete several core tax functions without a valid EIN. These include:

• Filing your required federal tax returns.
• Issuing or receiving reportable payments.

Furthermore, under IRC § 6651, you may face further penalties if you fail to file your required returns or pay federal taxes. These penalties apply separately from those tied specifically to any EIN reporting violations.

c. Failure To Comply With Federal Withholding Obligations

Without an EIN, your LLC cannot properly:

• Pay employment taxes.
• Report withholding amounts.
• Set up payroll tax accounts.

If you fail to withhold or remit the required employment taxes, you expose yourself to severe penalties. In serious cases, this may lead to criminal consequences. This is set under IRC § 6672.

3. To Prevent Operational Limitations

Obtaining your EIN ensures that your LLC can function within the U.S. tax and financial systems. Your EIN is used by lenders, banks, and government agencies to identify your business for reporting, credit, and accounting purposes.

Without one, many LLCs need to use personal workarounds. Examples include a personal bank account for business transactions or using personal credit for business financing. Doing this increases your compliance and audit risks, blurs the separation between yourself and your LLC, and weakens your limited liability protection provided by your LLC.

Contacting The IRS About Your EIN

You can contact the IRS if you need help resolving an issue, have any questions about your application, or need to verify your business information. Note that they can only assist with EIN-related issues, not state-specific tax guidance and legal advice.

Use their main contact details below:

• Telephone: 1-800-829-4933
• Operating hours: Monday to Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. (ET)

Follow these steps to talk to a live agent:

1. Press “1” for English.
2. Press “2” for Spanish.
3. Press “1” again for EIN inquiries.
4. Press “3” if you have an EIN but can’t locate it.

Frequently Asked Question