How to Apply for an Estate Tax ID (EIN) Number

Is an estate tax ID number registration necessary? Absolutely, especially if you need to access the funds of this estate. The tax identification number issued to a to an estate of deceased is known as Employer Identification Number or EIN for short.

The three methods by which you can apply for an EIN – by web, telephone or through the mail will be discussed in this article but first, let us consider when it is necessary for you to use the estate tax ID number application.

When to Apply for an Estate Tax ID (EIN) Number

Here are the most common conditions that would require that you apply for an EIN number

1. If funds from the estate are to be used in finding another business
2. If the estate generates more than $600 annually.
3. If there is a legal trust – if person A holds the property for the benefit of person B. This trust would require the use of some of the estate funds.

Applying for an EIN Number

A random individual cannot apply for an EIN of an estate. Before you can apply, you need to be recognized by the court or by the deceased owner of the estate (such as a named Executor, Administrator, etc) or recognized as a third party applicant. Here is how you can get a tax ID for an estate of the deceased with OR without a third party assistant: 

Applying Online

When applying for EIN number online, the applicant must:

1. Locate or search Google for any third party EIN filing service, such as the Estate EIN  Application located at https://irs-taxid-numbers.com to get to Step 1.
2. Input the names and social security number of the deceased.
3. Provide the date of death of the deceased, address of the estate and the date when the estate was legally funded.
4. Fill out your name again as the third party designee and include your home address and contact details.
5. Finally, provide your electronic signature. You can just enter your name again in the required box.
6. The online estate EIN number application takes less than 5 minutes.

By now, you should have enough information on how to get a tax ID for an estate of deceased .

By Mail

These are the steps to follow in applying for an EIN by mail:

1. Obtain an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Form SS-4 from your local IRS office. You can download the forms from the IRS website too. 
2. Fill your names as the responsible party in the 7a section of the form. Since the EIN is for an estate, check the Estate box on line 9a and enter the social security number of the deceased s next to the box.
3. Fill out your name again as the third party designee and include your home address and contact details.
4. Write your name at the end of the SS-4 form and sign.
5. Package the document and mail it to the IRS office.
6. Wait for a response. The response usually takes up to four weeks.

By Telephone

To apply for an EIN through telephone, here is what you need to do:

1. Call the IRS office and ask that you want to apply for an EIN for an estate via telephone
2. You are now expected to undergo an interview. Honestly answer all the questions asked by the IRS representative. Questions asked would be regarding your details as well as for that of the estate.
3. The interview would end with a confirmation of your application after which you should expect to receive the EIN through telephone.

This process typically takes an average of 45 minutes.

In short, the quickest way to obtain an estate tax ID number is to apply via a third party tax ID obtainment service using an 3-step online application, such as this Estate Tax ID Application.