Employer Identification Number “EIN” - This is what any US corporation needs in order to open up a bank account, hire employees and do a multitude of other business related activities.

So today I dialed the IRS in order to get an EIN for Silverback Apparel Inc with a lot of reservations about having to deal with the “BIG” and “ScArY” IRS. Well I do have to say that things did not turn out the way I had expected they would have. I did start off by dialing the wrong IRS department, but this was quickly rectified by being transfered over the the Business department, where I was quickly connected to an agent. I am astounded at how friendly, informative, and curtious the gentleman who helped me out was. I was even more amazed by the fact that he told me that I would have my EIN number within 10 minutes. He asked me all the questions that you find on the SS-4 form (the form needed to apply for an EIN) and within 5 minutes of having answered those he had my number. He informed me that an official document (needed to open a bank account) will be sent to Canada for my records and the it would arrive within 2 weeks. All in all I have to say that so far dealing with the US government so far has really been a lot quicker and less painful than I thought it would be. My advice to Canadian business men wanting to do business in the US is to actually phone the IRS because they will help answer your questions right away, as well as expedite you EIN application.

Internal Revenue Service
irs.gov
Telephone Assistance for Businesses
Toll-Free 1-800-829-4933