How to Get an EIN (Tax ID) Number in Rhode Island
If you’re starting a new business, hiring employees, or need to fulfill specific tax obligations, you need to know how to get a Rhode Island EIN number. Luckily, the process of getting a tax ID number is fairly straightforward in this state. In fact, it’s a two-step process: gather your information and apply, either online or by mail.
How to Apply for a Tax ID Number in Rhode Island
You can apply for a Rhode Island tax ID number by filling out the Form SS-4 and submitting it to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). A tax ID number is also known as an employer identification number, or EIN. An EIN is a 9-digit number assigned to anyone who must pay taxes as an employer, sole proprietor, corporation, partnership, estate, or trust.
Note that even if they already submitted a Form SS-4 and received an EIN number Rhode Island residents must report changes to their address, location, or responsible party by submitting a Form 8822-B within 60 days.
Prepare the Required Information
Before applying for a federal tax ID, you’ll need to prepare all the information you’re about to need for the Form SS-4. That includes (but is far from limited to):
● Legal name of the entity or individual
● Trade name of your business
● Executor, administrator, or trustee name
● Mailing address, street address, and county location
● Limited Liability Company (LLC) information
● Type of entity
You’ll also need some numbers, including:
● The date your business was acquired or formed
● Closing month of your accounting year
● Highest number of employees expected this year
● First date wages were paid
When applying for an EIN number Rhode Island residents should consider whether they want to select a third-party designee. This is a person who can answer questions about the Form SS-4 and the new EIN if you’re not available.
Apply Online
The IRS allows you to apply for a Rhode Island EIN number online as long as you meet certain basic criteria. When applying for an EIN number Rhode Island residents must make sure they qualify for online application. You may apply online if you:
● Have a principal business located in the United States or a U.S. territory
● Have a valid Taxpayer Identification Number
● Have not applied for another EIN on the same business day (you may only apply for one EIN per day as a responsible party)
Then, simply follow the online application, which requires all the same information as a paper application. The application will prompt you through the entire process, making the online application process simple.
You must complete the entire online application in one setting. Since you cannot save the application and come back to it later, make sure you start the process when you have uninterrupted time to work on it. The application times out after 15 minutes and you will have to start over.
When you apply for an EIN online, you receive your Rhode Island tax ID number immediately upon completion.
Submit Your Application Via Mail
To apply by mail, simply print the application and complete it four to five weeks before you actually need the EIN. That’s the amount of time it takes for the EIN to process and travel back to you via mail.
After completing the application, sign and date the application and mail it to the address listed in the “Where to File or Fax” section that accompanies the application. Both possible addresses go to the Internal Revenue Service, but you will need to send the application to a different address if you don’t have a legal residence in the USA or the District of Columbia.
Frequently Asked Questions
An EIN is a 9-digit number that the IRS assigns to employers, sole proprietors, corporations, partnerships, estates, trusts, and certain other entities and individuals. It’s used exclusively for tax reporting purposes. If you operate a business in Rhode Island, then you need an EIN.
As of 2023, EINs for businesses in Rhode Island (and all other states) are issued by the Internal Revenue Service.
Yes, an EIN is the same as a Rhode Island tax ID number. An EIN is a 9-digit number that takes the format 12-3456789. It represents individuals and organizations that must report employer status for the purposes of tax filing.