EIN for Your Tennessee LLC — Federal Tax ID

An EIN is your Tennessee LLC's federal tax identification number. Apply free at irs.gov. You need it for banking, Tennessee Department of Revenue registration (franchise & excise tax), hiring employees, and filing tax returns. For formation and compliance.

Why Your Tennessee LLC Needs an EIN

• Open a business bank account (Tennessee banks require it)
• Register with Tennessee Department of Revenue (for F&E tax, sales tax)
• File franchise & excise tax return (Form FAE 170)
• Hire employees (withholding registration)
• Invoice clients (1099 reporting)

How to Apply

Online at irs.gov (free, instant):

1. Select "Limited Liability Company"
2. Enter number of members
3. Enter LLC name as filed with Tennessee SOS
4. Enter Tennessee address
5. Receive EIN immediately

After Getting Your EIN

Register with Tennessee DOR:

• Franchise & Excise Tax: All Tennessee LLCs must register (even single-member)
• Sales Tax: If selling taxable goods (7% state + local)
• Withholding: If hiring employees

Register at tntap.tn.gov (Tennessee Taxpayer Access Point).

FAQ

Does an EIN cost money?

No. Free from the IRS.

Do I need one even as a single-member LLC?

Tennessee's franchise & excise tax requires an EIN for entity-level tax returns (Form FAE 170). Effectively yes — all Tennessee LLCs need an EIN.