Ohio Tax ID (EIN) Number Application Guide

Registering a Tax ID (EIN) Number in Ohio? Apply online and receive your Tax ID Number in under an hour by using this Ohio 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 Ohio.


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

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

1. Prepare Required Information

Before you begin the application process, it’s helpful to gather up all the pieces of information you need to answer the questions you’ll face. That way, you won’t have to go scrambling for the information when you’re in the middle of the process.

Fortunately, you won’t need much. You can start by obtaining the full legal name, the legal address, and the social security number of each of your founding members (including yourself). Since the application process is a way to register your business with the government, this information needs to be on file. It’s also important to have a legal business name in mind- so work on finalizing one if you haven’t yet.

2. Apply for a Ohio Tax ID Online

The process for applying for a tax ID isn’t complicated, but there are several options that await you. While traditional methods of application include avenues like phone, mail, and fax, it’s better to apply online. The online application process is available to anyone who’s started a business, and it’s remarkably easy to access. Once you get started, you’ll be responsible for filling out a questionnaire- which should only take a few minutes.

Once you’ve filled out the application completely, you’ll get to enjoy the real benefit of applying online- the wait time. Your application should finish processing in less than an hour. At that point, you’ll get an email with your tax ID, and you can start building your business. If you’re interested in completing the process as quickly as possible, with as few challenges along the way as possible, there’s no better option than applying online.


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

That said, applying online isn’t your only option. If it suits you, it’s also possible to apply for a tax ID over the phone; in this case, you’ll answer most of the same questions about your business that you’d face in the online questionnaire, but you’ll do it live, over the phone. Of course, if you like to fill out paperwork, you can complete your application manually and send it in via mail or fax.

The real problem with these methods is that it takes much, much longer for your application to process. In many cases, it can take 4 to 6 weeks (or longer) before you receive your tax ID in the mail.

4. How Do I Get a Tax ID Number in Ohio?

If you and your business partners are ready to get a tax ID number in Ohio (also referred to as an employer identification number, or EIN), you can obtain it at any time. Getting a tax ID is a way of registering your business with the government, at which point you’ll obtain a unique string of numbers- almost like a social security number (SSN)- tied to your business.

This application is available across multiple channels, but it always asks the same types of questions. You’ll need to report your business name, the names of all your founding members, as well as their legal addresses and social security numbers (SSNs). Depending on how you apply, you could finish the process in mere hours, or be forced to wait days to weeks to get your EIN.

The best way to get your tax ID number in Ohio is to apply online. Not only is it faster and more convenient to fill out the application, it will also process faster. Many business owners will receive an email with their tax ID in as little as an hour after they finish the application.

5. How Do You Apply for a State Tax ID Number?

Depending on the nature of your business, you may also need an Ohio state tax ID number. Even though the names are similar, they are separate constructs, and you may need one, the other, or both for your business- though most Ohio businesses will need both.

Fortunately, the application process for your Ohio state tax ID is very similar to the process you followed to get your federal tax ID. You’ll need to fill out an application to register your business with the state government, just like you created one to register your business with the federal government, and you’ll encounter prompts for many of the same pieces of information.

Like with your federal tax ID number application, the best method is to apply online. You’ll be able to fill out your application relatively quickly, and the processing will be much faster- though for your Ohio state tax ID number, it may take a few days to a few weeks to finish processing.

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

At this point, you may be confused about whether you need a federal tax ID, an Ohio state tax ID, or both. You’ll need to get a federal tax ID if your business involves more than one person. For example, if you have even a single business partner, or if you plan on hiring at least one employee, you’ll need that EIN. You’ll also need an EIN to make it easier to apply for things like business bank accounts, business lines of credit, and even business licenses and permits.

Your Ohio state tax ID is necessary for matters related to the state. You’ll need it if you plan on hiring employees in the state of Ohio, or if you’re going to sell taxable goods and services in the state. You’ll also need it if you’re going to owe excise taxes- in other words, if you’re selling regulated goods like alcohol, tobacco, or gasoline.

Most businesses will end up needing both a federal tax ID and an Ohio state tax ID, so plan your application process accordingly.