How to Get an EIN for Household Employment (Free, in Minutes)
An EIN (Employer Identification Number) identifies your household as an employer to the IRS, the same way a Social Security number identifies a person. You can get one free, instantly, through the IRS's own EIN Assistant — no third-party service or fee required.
What an EIN is for
An EIN is what goes on your household employee's W-2 and your Schedule H, instead of your personal Social Security number. It's free and takes most people under 15 minutes online.
How to apply
- Go to the IRS EIN Assistant directly on irs.gov — never pay a third-party site for this
- Choose "Household Employer" (sometimes listed under "Sole Proprietor" or "Individual") as your entity type
- Enter your name, address, and Social Security number — this is the only place your SSN is needed in this entire process
- Answer a few questions about when you started paying household employees
- Get your EIN immediately on-screen — save or print the confirmation letter
The application is only available Monday–Friday, 7am–10pm Eastern, and must be completed in one sitting — it times out after inactivity.
Common mistakes
- Paying a third-party "EIN filing service" — the IRS never charges for this
- Applying for a business EIN when you meant to apply as a household employer — the categories are different
- Losing the confirmation letter — write the number down somewhere safe; there's no simple way to look it up online later
What if you're not sure you need one yet
If you're not sure you've crossed the household employer threshold, check in 15 seconds first. If you're close but not sure, you can start the application process and hold off on filing until you're certain — but don't wait until tax season to find out.
Frequently asked questions
Does getting an EIN cost anything?
No. The IRS issues EINs for free. Any site charging a fee for this is a paid intermediary, not the IRS.
What if I don't have an EIN yet but need to pay my employee now?
You can start paying them and apply for the EIN in parallel — just don't delay past when you'll need it for tax filing.
Can I use my Social Security number instead of an EIN?
For most household employers, no — the IRS expects an EIN for household employment tax reporting, separate from your personal SSN.
Related guides
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Schedule H Explained: The Household Employment Tax Form
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This guide is general information, not tax or legal advice. Rules vary by state and change over time — confirm anything specific to your situation with a licensed professional or your state's labor department.