TAX ID / EIN APPLICATION (2024)Montana Tax ID (EIN) Number Application Guide
Registering a Tax ID (EIN) Number in Montana? Apply online and receive your Tax ID Number in under an hour by using this Montana 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 of Deceased or multi-member LLC. This simple Tax ID guide will help you through when applying for your official Tax ID (EIN) Number in Montana.
Steps to Obtain your Tax ID (EIN) Number in Montana:
- Prepare Required Information
- Apply for a Montana Tax ID Online
- Apply for a Montana Tax ID by Phone, Mail or Fax
- Do I Need a Montana State Tax ID Number?
- Is a Montana State Tax ID the Same as a Federal Tax ID Number?
- How Do I Get a Montana State Tax ID Number?
1. Prepare Required Information
Before you attempt to complete the tax ID application, it’s a good idea to gather all the information you’ll need to fill out the questionnaire. This will allow you to complete the application much faster, without having to track down those details after you’ve started.
You’ll first need to gather all the legal names and addresses of your business’s founding members, including you and any of your business partners. You’ll also need to gather their social security numbers (SSNs). Finally, you’ll need to decide on a business name if you haven’t already, since this is going to register your business with the government.
2. Apply for a Montana Tax ID Online
When you’ve gathered those details, you’ll be ready to begin the application process for your tax ID. This application can be completed in a number of different ways, but some are strictly better than others. Applying through a traditional method, like over the phone, by mail, or by fax, is possible. However, it’s much faster and more convenient to apply online.
You can access the online tax ID application using any device that has an internet connection. This makes it immediately more convenient than filling out a paper application. When applying, you’ll need to answer a few questions about your business, but this should only take you a few minutes if you’ve already gathered the necessary details outlined in the section above.
When you’re done with the online application, you’ll receive your tax ID via email in less than an hour. This makes the online application much faster than its traditional application counterparts.
3. Apply for a Montana Tax ID by Phone, Mail or Fax
The online application method for getting your tax ID is inherently advantageous. However, you could also apply using one of several other traditional methods. You could, for example, answer the questionnaire over the phone, discussing your answers in an interview format. You could also fill out a paper application, then mail or fax it in. However, these methods tend to be much more time consuming, and they take longer to process than the online application. In fact, you could end up waiting up to 4 to 6 weeks for your tax ID this way.
4. Do I Need a Montana State Tax ID Number?
Your Montana state tax ID number is a specific tax ID number assigned to your business when it registers with the state government of Montana. Most Montana businesses will end up needing one, as it’s used for a variety of purposes, most of which are somehow tax related.
For example, you’ll need a Montana state tax ID number if you’re going to hire employees in the state of Montana. You’ll also need one if you’re selling any taxable goods and services in the state, or if you’re going to owe excise taxes, which apply to alcohol, tobacco, gasoline, and other regulated goods.
Before you get a Montana state tax ID number, you’ll need to get a federal tax ID number. Despite the similarities in name, these are different numbers and serve different purposes. If you’re not sure whether or not your business will need a Montana state tax ID number, it’s better to err on the side of caution and obtain one.
5. Is a Montana State Tax ID the Same as a Federal Tax ID Number?
There are two distinct types of “tax ID” that your business may need. Your federal tax ID number, which is frequently described as a general “tax ID,” is the more common tax ID number since it applies to most businesses in the country. This is sometimes called an employer identification number, or EIN. This number is essential for many businesses, because it serves many purposes.
You’ll need a federal tax ID number if you’re going to hire any employees, or if you’re going to have a business with multiple members, like a corporation or a partnership. You’ll need to have a federal tax ID when applying for business loans and bank accounts, and lines of credit as well. You may need a federal tax ID to apply for business licenses and permits as well. Even if not strictly required, having a federal tax ID is useful to complete business-related applications without using your personal SSN.
Keep in mind, you’ll need a federal tax ID number to apply for a Montana state tax ID number. While some businesses may be able to get by without either number, the vast majority of Montana businesses will need both a federal tax ID number and a Montana state tax ID number to operate legally in the state.
6. How Do I Get a Montana State Tax ID Number?
If you find you need a Montana state tax ID number, there are a few different methods you can use to obtain it. First, you’ll need to get your federal tax ID number. When you have that, you can either apply for your state tax ID number through a traditional method like phone, mail, or fax, or apply online.
As you might suspect, applying for your Montana state tax ID number online is far preferable to any other method. The online application is easy to access and easier to fill out, and should only take you a few minutes if you have all the details on your business at the ready. From there, you’ll be able to receive your Montana state tax ID number via mail in just 4 to 6 weeks.