Just like every individual has a Social Security Number, every business (for-profit or nonprofit) needs a federal Employer Identification Number or EIN. The EIN identifies your organization on all federal documents.

An EIN is requested online using the IRS EIN system. Obtaining an EIN requires a board member’s Social Security Number to represent the organization. Like the Articles of Incorporation, the EIN requires a physical street address. The IRS does allow a P.O. Box used as a mailing address in addition to the physical street address.

While defining the organization as tax-exempt when requesting an EIN is necessary, this alone does not provide federal tax-exempt status. It is merely a step in the process, as you will continue to learn through the course of this guide.