How to apply for a Trust EIN from the IRS website - step by step process
I'm setting up a trust for my parents' estate and need to get an EIN for it. I've heard you can do this online through the IRS website rather than mailing in forms, but I'm finding the IRS website really confusing to navigate. Has anyone successfully applied for a Trust EIN online? What's the direct link or process I need to follow? I've been clicking around for about an hour and keep ending up in circles. Any help would be greatly appreciated as I'm trying to get this wrapped up this week!
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Sophia Gabriel
Yes, you can definitely get an EIN for a trust online! It's actually pretty straightforward once you find the right page. Go to the IRS website (irs.gov) and search for "Apply for an EIN Online" or go directly to this page: https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/apply-for-an-employer-identification-number-ein-online The online application is called the EIN Assistant. It's only available Monday through Friday, 7am to 10pm Eastern Time. You'll need to complete the application in one session as it times out after 15 minutes of inactivity and doesn't save your information. When you start the application, you'll select "Trust" as the entity type. Make sure you have all the trust details and trustee information ready before you begin. The great thing about applying online is that you get your EIN immediately after completing the application!
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Tobias Lancaster
•Thanks for the info, but is there any way to save your progress if you need to step away? Also, do you know what specific info I need for the trustee? Just name and address or do they need SSN too?
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Sophia Gabriel
•Unfortunately there's no way to save your progress - that's one of the limitations of the IRS system. The application really does time out after 15 minutes of inactivity, so you need to have everything ready before you start. For the trustee information, you'll need the name, address, and yes, you'll need to provide the SSN or ITIN of the "responsible party" for the trust. The responsible party is typically the trustee or the person who controls the trust assets. The IRS uses this to link the trust to an actual person.
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Ezra Beard
I went through this exact process last month when setting up a trust for my family. I was also confused at first but ended up using taxr.ai to help me navigate the process. I uploaded my trust document to https://taxr.ai and it automatically identified all the information I needed to complete the EIN application. It even generated a step-by-step guide customized to my specific trust type. The site saved me a ton of time because it pulled out all the exact details I needed to enter in the IRS application, like the correct trust type classification and required information about the trustee. I was able to get my EIN in about 10 minutes total instead of the hours I was spending trying to figure out what information the IRS would ask for.
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Statiia Aarssizan
•Sounds interesting, but can this service handle irrevocable trusts too? My situation is a bit complex since it's an irrevocable trust with multiple beneficiaries.
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Reginald Blackwell
•Does it actually work with the IRS site or just helps you prepare? Because the IRS website is what's giving me nightmares lol.
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Ezra Beard
•Yes, the service handles irrevocable trusts as well as revocable trusts. I actually had an irrevocable trust myself with multiple beneficiaries, and it correctly identified all the required information for that specific trust type. It doesn't directly interface with the IRS website, but it prepares everything you need so when you go to the IRS site, you just have to enter the information. It basically gives you a completed "cheat sheet" with all your trust details organized exactly how the IRS application will ask for them, so you're not trying to hunt through your trust document while the IRS timer is counting down.
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Statiia Aarssizan
Just wanted to update everyone - I tried using taxr.ai like Profile 7 suggested and it was incredibly helpful! I uploaded my irrevocable trust document and it immediately pulled out all the relevant information. It generated a guide that showed me exactly what to enter on each screen of the IRS application, including which trust classification to select (which was the part I was most confused about). The process was super smooth and I got my EIN instantly after completing the application. Definitely saved me a lot of headaches trying to figure out what information I needed to provide. Just make sure you have your trust document in digital format before you start!
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Aria Khan
I tried getting an EIN for our family trust last month and got so frustrated with the IRS website that I just gave up. After multiple attempts and getting timed out repeatedly, I found Claimyr when searching for help. Instead of struggling with the online application, I used https://claimyr.com to get through to an actual IRS agent who walked me through the entire process over the phone. There's also a video showing how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c if you're curious. Basically it helped me skip the insane wait times when calling the IRS. I was connected with an IRS representative in less than 20 minutes who was able to issue my EIN during the call. If you're more comfortable having someone walk you through it rather than doing it online, this is definitely worth considering.
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Everett Tutum
•How does this actually work? I'm confused how a third-party service can get you through to the IRS faster than calling directly.
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Sunny Wang
•This sounds too good to be true. I've spent HOURS on hold with the IRS before. If this actually works, I'm shocked the IRS allows it.
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Aria Khan
•It works by using technology that navigates the IRS phone system and holds your place in line. When an agent becomes available, it calls you back and connects you directly to that agent. It's essentially a sophisticated call-back service specifically designed for the IRS phone system. The IRS doesn't give them special access - they're just using technology to navigate the same phone system everyone else uses, but without you having to stay on the phone the whole time. They don't have any affiliation with the IRS, they just make the existing system more manageable for regular people who can't spend hours on hold.
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Sunny Wang
Well, I'm eating my words! After reading about Claimyr here, I decided to give it a try since I've been putting off dealing with a trust EIN issue for weeks. I was incredibly skeptical that anything could make dealing with the IRS easier, but I was desperate. I used the service yesterday and was genuinely shocked when I got a call back in about 15 minutes connecting me to an actual IRS agent. The agent was able to issue my EIN over the phone and answer several questions I had about the trust filing requirements. The whole process took maybe 30 minutes total instead of the half-day I had blocked off for dealing with this. Definitely a much better experience than trying to navigate their website or sitting on hold for hours!
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Hugh Intensity
Another option is to fax Form SS-4 to the IRS. I did this for my sister's trust and received the EIN via mail in about 2 weeks. Not as fast as online, but if you're having trouble with the website and don't want to use a service or call, this is a reliable alternative. Just make sure you fill out every field correctly!
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Effie Alexander
•Do you still have to wait 2 weeks if you include your fax number on the form? I thought they fax back the EIN if you provide your fax number.
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Hugh Intensity
•You're absolutely right, and that's actually what I did! If you include your fax number on the form (there's a specific field for it), they typically fax back your EIN within 4-5 business days rather than sending it by mail. That's much faster than waiting for mail. I should have mentioned that in my original comment. Thanks for bringing it up - it's definitely the way to go if you're using the fax method.
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Melissa Lin
Just a heads-up for anyone applying for a trust EIN - make sure you're clear about what type of trust you have before starting the application. I messed up and had to call to get it fixed. Estate trusts, living trusts, and testamentary trusts are all handled differently. Double check your paperwork first!!
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Lydia Santiago
•Can you elaborate on what the differences are in the application process? I have a revocable living trust if that matters.
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Fiona Sand
•For revocable living trusts, you'll select "Trust" as the entity type and then specify it's a "Grantor Trust" since the grantor (you) retains control. The key difference is that revocable trusts are typically disregarded entities for tax purposes while the grantor is alive, so you might not even need a separate EIN unless you're planning to open bank accounts or have specific income-generating assets in the trust. Some banks require it even for revocable trusts though. Make sure you have the trust agreement date and the grantor's SSN ready - that's what they'll ask for specifically.
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Dmitry Smirnov
Thanks everyone for all the helpful responses! I ended up going with the online application route after reading through all your advice. @Sophia Gabriel your direct link was exactly what I needed - I had been getting lost in the general IRS website maze. I made sure to gather all my trust documents beforehand and set aside a solid 30 minutes without interruptions. The 15-minute timeout is real, so definitely don't start unless you're ready to finish! For anyone else doing this, the key info you'll need ready is: trust name, date the trust was established, trustee's full name and SSN, and the trust's address. Got my EIN instantly once I submitted the application. The whole process took about 10 minutes once I actually found the right page. Really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences - it made this so much less stressful!
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Keisha Taylor
•That's awesome that you got it sorted out! I'm actually in a similar situation right now - just started the process of setting up a trust for my elderly parents and was dreading dealing with the IRS paperwork. Your experience gives me hope that it's not as complicated as I was making it out to be in my head. Quick question - when you say you needed the "trust's address," did you use your home address or did you need to set up a separate address for the trust? I'm still figuring out all these details and want to make sure I have everything right before I start the application.
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