IRS issues employer tax numbers online

Businesses can now obtain employer identification numbers online directly from . After completing an application, they receive an EIN that may be used immediately. The IRS announced the capability last week as part of its campaign to provide more taxpayer services online. The online process eliminates sending paperwork to the IRS, as well as the delay that would result from incomplete forms. Once a business has an EIN, it can file tax returns and enroll in the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System to handle payments, an IRS spokesman said. Businesses do not need to preregister before requesting an EIN. And an accountant or tax preparer may use the site to request EINs on behalf of clients. The IRS developed the Internet Employer Identification Number system with contractor support from IBM Corp. as part of the Prime Alliance, a consortium that is modernizing IRS tax systems under prime contractor Computer Sciences Corp.The IRS’ EIN is for business tax use. The Small Business Administration also offers an EIN under a collaborative effort with several states to let new businesses obtain both state and federal tax numbers in the same Internet session, the IRS spokesman said.