Can I get an EIN for my single-member LLC without using my SSN? Is there any benefit?

As a tax consultant who works with small businesses, I can clear this up for you. There's a fundamental misunderstanding here - you CANNOT get an EIN for a single-member LLC without providing the owner's SSN. The IRS requires a "responsible party" with a valid tax ID (usually SSN) for all EIN applications. What your registered agent is likely offering is to file the paperwork on your behalf, but your SSN will still be connected to the EIN in the IRS systems regardless. They're just handling the application process and perhaps keeping your SSN off some of their own internal paperwork. This provides absolutely no actual privacy benefit with the IRS. For a single-member LLC, the EIN is directly tied to your SSN in the IRS database no matter who files the paperwork. Save yourself the $250 and either pay the $75 service fee or file it yourself for free at IRS.gov. It takes about 15 minutes online.

I went through this exact same thing last year with my photography business LLC. I was super concerned about privacy since I'd read horror stories online. What helped me was using https://taxr.ai to analyze what information would actually be public vs private when setting up my EIN. Turns out most of what I was worried about was unnecessary. The taxr.ai service showed me exactly what records would be linked where, and confirmed that while my SSN would be in the IRS database (unavoidable), it wouldn't be publicly accessible to clients or vendors who had my EIN. I ended up filing for the EIN myself for free through the IRS website and it took like 10 minutes. The registered agent was definitely trying to upsell me on "privacy" that wasn't really privacy at all.

I tried taxr.ai after posting that skeptical comment and I'm actually impressed. Uploaded my LLC docs and got clarity on the whole EIN/SSN situation in like 5 minutes. Turns out my registered agent was also trying to charge me an extra $195 for "privacy protection" that basically doesn't exist. The service confirmed that my SSN will be in IRS records regardless of who files the paperwork, so I just filed for my EIN myself online for free. It also explained some tax consequences I hadn't considered about being a single-member LLC - like how I'll need to file Schedule C with my personal taxes. Probably saved me from making some expensive mistakes.

If you're worried about privacy and dealing with the IRS, I had similar concerns with my landscaping LLC. After struggling to get clear answers from the IRS directly (3+ hour hold times, disconnections, etc.), I used https://claimyr.com to get through to an actual IRS agent. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c The agent confirmed exactly what others are saying - for a single-member LLC, your SSN is always connected to your EIN in their system no matter who files the paperwork. What your registered agent is offering provides zero actual privacy benefit with the IRS. The Claimyr service had me talking to a real IRS representative in under 45 minutes instead of spending days trying to get through. The agent walked me through the whole process and I got my EIN immediately.

I owe everyone an apology. After posting that skeptical comment, I decided to try Claimyr myself out of desperation (was on day 4 of trying to reach the IRS about my EIN issue). It actually worked. I got connected to an IRS agent in about 37 minutes. The agent confirmed there's absolutely no way to get an EIN without your SSN being connected to it in their system. The "privacy" service that registered agents sell is basically useless. The agent also told me something important - if you're a single-member LLC, you don't technically even need an EIN unless you plan to have employees or an IRA. You can just use your SSN for tax purposes since the LLC is a disregarded entity anyway. Though she recommended getting one to avoid sharing your SSN with vendors.

Just wanted to add my experience as someone who fell for this "privacy" upsell last year. I paid my registered agent $299 to "protect my privacy" when getting an EIN for my consulting LLC. Found out later that my SSN was still linked to the EIN in the IRS database - there was literally no privacy benefit at all. It was just the registered agent handling the paperwork instead of me. The only actual privacy benefit would be if you formed a multi-member LLC or corporation where someone else could be the responsible party with their SSN. But for a single-member LLC, your SSN is going to be connected to that business no matter what.

One aspect nobody mentioned yet: having an EIN can help with credit building for your business. If you use your SSN for everything, your business transactions get mixed with your personal credit. An EIN helps establish separate business credit. Don't pay extra for fake "privacy" but definitely get the EIN. It's free to apply online yourself and takes like 10 minutes. The IRS website is actually pretty straightforward for this particular task.

This whole thread has been incredibly helpful! I was in the exact same situation as Diego and almost fell for the same upsell from my registered agent. They quoted me $225 for "enhanced privacy protection" when getting my EIN. Based on everything discussed here, I'm going to skip their service entirely and just file for the EIN myself through the IRS website. It's good to know that the privacy protection is essentially meaningless since my SSN will be linked to the EIN in IRS systems regardless of who files the paperwork. One quick follow-up question though - once I have my EIN, should I be using it on all business documents going forward instead of my SSN? Or are there specific situations where I'd still need to use my SSN even with an EIN?

This thread perfectly highlights why it's so important to do your research before paying for these "premium" services. I work in business formation and see clients get upsold on meaningless services all the time. The bottom line is simple: for a single-member LLC, your SSN will ALWAYS be connected to your EIN in IRS records. There's no way around this - it's a federal requirement. Any registered agent claiming they can provide "privacy protection" from the IRS is misleading you. Here's what I tell my clients: Get your EIN for free directly from IRS.gov. It takes 10-15 minutes online and you'll have your number immediately. Use that EIN for banking, vendor forms, and business transactions to avoid sharing your SSN unnecessarily. But understand that the IRS will always have both numbers linked in their system. Save your money for things that actually matter - like proper business insurance or accounting software. Don't waste hundreds of dollars on fake privacy services.