EIN “Pending” for More Than 7 Days – Here’s What to Do!

Steve Bennett
Business Formation Expert  |   Fact Checked by Editorial Staff
Last updated: 
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A “pending” EIN for more than 7 days is a common issue that many people face while starting their business in the United States. In fact, in some cases, people wait for over a month to receive their EIN. Scary? You bet it is. When you form a business, obtaining an EIN is a MUST. However, if you have to wait for so many days to receive it, it is not only frustrating but also causes lots of issues in business operations.

Key Takeaways
  • Pending EIN might occur for several reasons.
  • Contact IRS asap in case your EIN gets stuck.
  • EIN pending issues can be solved via phone.
  • You need an EIN for banking, taxes, and hiring employees.

Usually, an EIN gets delayed when you apply using Fax or Mail. Online and via phone (international) applications start processing immediately. Via Fax, it takes 4-5 working days, and via mail, it takes 4-6 weeks to process your EIN application. If you applied and sent the Form SS-4 to the IRS via Fax, then you should get your EIN within 5 working days. If not, then start worrying!

IRS home

Possible Reasons Behind “Pending” EIN

Now, before you dial the number and thrash them verbally, make sure to do your homework first. Let’s tick the following checklist and see if the solution lies in your problem.

  • There are no US holidays during those 7 days
  • It is not an IRS rush season
  • There is no mistake or misleading information in your submitted documents
  • Form SS-4 is not incomplete and was properly sent to the IRS as per their instructions
Fast Fact
Most LLCs get an EIN in under 5 minutes using the IRS online assistant — free and instant.

How to Solve “Pending” EIN Issue?

If all the points are ticked on your end and it is still delayed, it is possible that the IRS internal processing has issues, or they are flooded with applications. In such cases, you must contact the IRS as soon as possible. They have several modes of communication, but contacting via phone is most suitable and comparatively faster than the others!

IRS Contact for EIN/Social Security Number Issues

  • Phone number: (+1) 800-829-4933
  • Working hours: 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. (EST) (GMT-5)
  • Best time to call: 3:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. (EST)
  • Who can call: The Responsible Party (signer) mentioned on the Form SS-4
  • What to prepare: Your name (responsible party), your company name, company mailing address (US address), date of incorporation (usually the same as the date of application faxed to the IRS), SSN (social security number), Entity type, and finally your position in the company

If you don’t have a Social Security Number (SSN), you can say “foreigner” if asked. An IRS agent contacts you by phone and asks questions to verify. If there is any other information they need, the agent will inform you. Upon submitting or sharing information, you might get your EIN within 15 minutes. Note down the EIN and request that they fax it.

Did You Know?
The IRS never emails EIN confirmation letters — only downloads or mail delivery.

Final Words

This is the simplest and fastest way to get your EIN updates from the IRS. One thing to note here! The phone number shared here is not a direct desk number, so please expect a wait time and a long list of menu options, as well as pressing numbers to reach an agent. For international business owners, this wait time might cost you a fortune. Please let us know if this fixes your problem. Share your experience with us in the comment section below.

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