Maine Tax ID (EIN) Number Application Guide

Registering a Tax ID (EIN) Number in Maine? Apply online and receive your Tax ID Number in under an hour by using this Maine Tax ID Application Guide. Most find it surprising to find that you are required to prepare identifying information about each of your partners, even if you own a Corporation, Trust, Non-Profit, Partnership, Estate or multi-member LLC. This simple Tax ID guide will help you through when applying for your official Tax ID (EIN) Number in Maine.


Steps to Obtain your Tax ID (EIN) Number in Maine:

  1. Prepare Required Information
  2. Apply for a Maine Tax ID Online
  3. Apply for a Maine Tax ID by Phone, Mail or Fax
  4. How Do You Get a Tax ID Number in Maine?
  5. Is a Maine Tax ID the Same as a Federal Tax ID Number?
  6. How Do I Get a Maine State Tax ID Number?

1. Prepare Required Information

The tax ID application requires you to answer several questions about your business and your founding members. If you want to get your tax ID as quickly as possible, it’s important to gather up all this required information in advance; that way, you won’t have to waste time looking for it while you’re in the middle of the process.

Start by getting the full legal names and legal addresses of all your founding members, including yourself and all your partners. You’ll also need to get their social security numbers (SSNs). You’ll also need to provide the legal name of your business for registration purposes, so make the final decision if you haven’t yet.

2. Apply for a Maine Tax ID Online

You can apply for your tax ID in one of several different ways, though each of them will follow the same general application process. You’ll answer the same questions about your business in each medium, but some methods are vastly more efficient than others.

Take, for example, the online application process. You can apply for a tax ID online using any digital device with an internet connection, making it far more convenient than trying to find a paper application or waiting for the proper hours to apply over the phone. Once you get started, you’ll find it’s easy to follow the online prompts for the application as well. If you’ve gathered the right bits of information in advance, it should only take you 5 minutes to finish the process.

After you’ve finished the application, you should receive your tax ID via email in under an hour. This makes the online application much faster than any other method, and ideal for any entrepreneur in a hurry to get started.


3. Apply for a Maine Tax ID by Phone, Mail or Fax

It’s possible to apply for your tax ID through one of several traditional methods, even though they’re slower, and usually, less convenient. If you fill out a paper application, you can send it in via mail or fax. If you call a live representative over the phone, you can answer questions related to your business in a kind of interview. The problem with these methods is the time it takes to get your tax ID; in many cases, you’ll end up waiting 4 to 6 weeks to get your tax ID by mail. This is less than ideal if you’re trying to start a company quickly.

4. How Do You Get a Tax ID Number in Maine?

The process for getting a tax ID number in Maine always follows the same general flow, though there are many different application methods to choose from, and the time it takes to complete them can vary tremendously.

In every method, you’ll be required to answer several questions about your company and your business’s founding members, including your business’s name and the names, addresses, and social security numbers (SSNs) of your business partners. It’s advisable to gather these pieces of information in advance, so you can complete the application quicker.

The fastest and most convenient way to complete the tax ID application is to apply online. When you apply online, you’ll be able to complete the application much faster and more conveniently. On top of that, you’ll receive your tax ID faster. Instead of waiting 4 to 6 weeks to receive your tax ID by mail, you’ll get your tax ID by email in less than an hour.

5. Is a Maine Tax ID the Same as a Federal Tax ID Number?

Your business will likely be required to have both a federal tax ID and a Maine state tax ID. Though similar in name, these are two distinct numbers with different purposes and different requirements.

Your federal tax ID number is frequently referred to simply as your “tax ID,” and may also be referred to as an employer identification number, or EIN. This number is required for any business that has multiple members, including partnerships, LLCs, and corporations. You’ll also need one if you’re going to hire any employees, or if you’re going to apply for a business bank account or line of credit. Most business license and permit applications also require you to have a federal tax ID.

Your Maine state tax ID, on the other hand, registers your business with the state of Maine and is used for state-level functions. You’ll need one if you’re going to hire employees in the state of Maine, if you’re selling taxable goods and services in the state, or if you’ll owe excise taxes, which apply to regulated goods like gasoline, alcohol, and tobacco.

6. How Do I Get a Maine State Tax ID Number?

If you need a Maine state tax ID, your first step should be getting a federal tax ID. If you apply for your federal tax ID online, you should be able to receive it in an hour or less.

Once you have your federal tax ID, you can begin the application process for your Maine state tax ID number. In the application, you’ll need to answer multiple questions about your business and your partners, but they should be straightforward if you’ve already completed the federal tax ID application. You’ll have your choice to apply online or apply through a traditional method; as you’ve probably guessed, it’s more convenient and faster to apply online. Just be prepared to wait up to 4 to 6 weeks to get your Maine state tax ID, since it takes a bit longer than your federal tax ID number.