How to Get an EIN in Georgia: Free, Online, and the Three Separate State Registrations After It

An Employer Identification Number (EIN) is the federal tax ID the IRS assigns to your business. If you are searching for how to get an EIN in Georgia, the core answer is simple: apply directly with the IRS, online, at no cost. The harder part comes after you have the number. Georgia does not register your business for state taxes or employment accounts just because you have an EIN. Those are separate filings, and each one is triggered by a different activity.

This guide covers the federal application, explains who needs an EIN, and then walks through the three Georgia registrations that people often confuse with it.

This article is informational content, not legal or tax advice. For complex situations, such as multi-owner ownership, mixed sales and payroll activity, or tax elections, talk with a qualified attorney or CPA.

What an EIN is, and why it is free

An EIN works like a Social Security number for a business. Banks, the IRS and state agencies use it to identify your entity on tax returns, payroll filings and W-9 forms.

The IRS never charges a fee for an EIN. Any website that asks you to pay $50 to $100 for one is a reseller that files the same free application for you. Some resellers are legitimate, but you pay for convenience and get nothing extra. Apply only on irs.gov, starting from the IRS online EIN application page. For phone, fax and mail options, see the IRS employer identification number page.

Who needs an EIN

You generally need an EIN if your business is:

• An LLC with more than one member
• Any business with employees
• A corporation
• A partnership
• An entity that files certain federal returns that require one

A single-member LLC or sole proprietor with no employees can often use a Social Security number for tax purposes. Many still get an EIN anyway, for two reasons. Your Social Security number appears on every W-9 you hand a client or vendor, and many banks ask for an EIN before they open a business account. An EIN keeps your personal number off those forms and keeps business and personal finances separate on paper.

How to apply online for an EIN in Georgia

The IRS online tool is the fastest route, and it works the same way for Georgia businesses as for businesses anywhere else. Georgia uses Eastern Time, so the hours below match your local clock.

1. Check the hours. The online tool runs Monday to Friday, 6:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. Eastern; Saturday, 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.; and Sunday, 6:00 p.m. to midnight. Plan to apply during these windows.
2. Confirm eligibility. The business must be based in the United States or its territories.
3. Identify the responsible party. The person applying is the responsible party. That person needs a Social Security number or an individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN).
4. Answer the entity questions. The form asks for the legal name, the entity type and the reason you are applying.
5. Get the number. The EIN is issued when the application is completed. Save it in a secure location before you send it to your bank, payroll provider or any agency that asks for it.

For phone, fax and mail options, see the IRS employer identification number page. This guide does not list those numbers, so confirm them there before you use them.

Form the business first

Do not apply for an EIN before the business exists in legal form. The application asks for your legal name and entity type, so the name should match what you file with the state. For an LLC, file the Articles of Organization with the Georgia Secretary of State first. The filing costs $110 total, which is the $100 fee plus a $10 service charge, whether you file online through eCorp or on paper. If you need time to decide on a name, you can reserve it for 30 days for $35.

For the full formation steps, read our guide on how to start an LLC in Georgia, then return here for the EIN.

The Georgia section: an EIN is federal, not a state registration

An EIN does not register your business with Georgia. It is a federal number only. Georgia's tax registrations run through the Department of Revenue's online portal, the Georgia Tax Center, and unemployment insurance runs through the Georgia Department of Labor. Three registrations are separate, and each one is triggered by its own activity. Having one does not give you the others.

1. Sales tax number (Department of Revenue)

Register for a sales tax number if you sell taxable goods in Georgia. Registration at the Georgia Tax Center is free. The state rate is 4%, and combined state and local rates run from 6% to 9% depending on county and city. Atlanta's combined rate is 8.9%.

Georgia issues no separate resale permit. If you buy inventory to resell, you give your supplier Form ST-5, the certificate of exemption. Remote sellers owe collection once they reach $100,000 of Georgia sales or 200 separate transactions. A sales tax number is not a business license. For the full rules, read our guide to Georgia sales tax for new businesses and online sellers.

2. Withholding account (Department of Revenue)

Register for withholding when you have employees. You withhold Georgia income tax from their pay and remit it to the Department of Revenue. This registration is separate from sales tax, so a business that has employees but sells no taxable goods still registers here. Georgia income tax is a single flat rate, 5.19% for 2025 and 4.99% for 2026, but confirm your withholding setup with the Department of Revenue rather than relying on a rate table from another source.

3. Unemployment insurance account (Department of Labor)

Register with the Georgia Department of Labor for an unemployment insurance account when you meet its employer test. The Department of Labor sets that test, so confirm your status with them before you assume you are exempt. For the hiring side of this step, see our guide to hiring your first employee in Georgia.

Workers' compensation and the local occupation tax certificate

Workers' compensation insurance is required once you have three or more workers, and that count includes part-time employees. Georgia has no state paid sick leave or family leave mandate, so the rules that apply to your employees depend on other laws and on your own policies.

Georgia issues no general statewide business license. The Secretary of State issues none, and the sales tax number is not one either. The local license is an occupation tax certificate, often called a business license. It is issued by the city, or by the county for unincorporated areas, under O.C.G.A. Title 48, chapter 13.

Each of Georgia's 159 counties and about 537 cities sets its own formula, deadlines and prerequisites. A business located inside a city pays the city, not the county. More than half of Georgians live outside any city, so for many businesses the county is the issuer. The application usually asks for your EIN, so have it ready.

Private employers with more than 10 employees must file an E-Verify affidavit to get the local certificate (O.C.G.A. 36-60-6). You may also see a $400 figure. That is a ceiling a locality may set for certain listed professions, not a flat fee for every business, so ask your issuer what applies to you.

Occupational licenses for trades such as contractors, electricians, plumbers, cosmetology and real estate come from state boards, usually through the Secretary of State Professional Licensing Boards Division. Those are separate from the local certificate.

Recommended order of steps

1. Form the entity with the Secretary of State. For an LLC, the Articles of Organization cost $110.
2. Apply for the EIN on irs.gov. It is free.
3. Register for a sales tax number at the Georgia Tax Center if you sell taxable goods. It is free.
4. Register for withholding when you hire your first employee.
5. Register for unemployment insurance with the Department of Labor when you meet the employer test.
6. Buy workers' compensation coverage at three or more workers, including part-time.
7. Apply for the local occupation tax certificate from the city or county where the business is located.

For free help with planning these steps, the Georgia Small Business Development Center at the University of Georgia provides support for small businesses.

Disclaimer

This guide is general information, not legal or tax advice. Fees, deadlines and rules change. Confirm current details with the agency named in each section, including the IRS, the Secretary of State, the Department of Revenue, the Department of Labor and your city or county. For multi-owner structures, payroll setup or tax elections, consult a qualified attorney or CPA.