To fax IRS Form SS-4 from your phone, fill out and sign the form, scan it with the ClearFax app, enter the IRS fax number for your location, and send. You don't need a fax machine, a subscription or an account. You pay once for that fax.
Before you send
- Get the current form from irs.gov. The IRS says the SS-4 downloaded from IRS.gov is fillable and suitable for faxing.
- Fill it out and sign it.
- Find your fax number in the "Apply by fax" section of the IRS Instructions for Form SS-4. The number depends on whether your business is in the 50 states or D.C., or outside them.
- If you want the EIN faxed back, write a fax number that can take incoming faxes on the form. ClearFax only sends.
Fax Form SS-4 with ClearFax
- Open ClearFax and scan the form with the camera, or import the PDF from Files.
- Check the page order. Remove any page you don't want to send.
- Enter the IRS fax number. ClearFax checks the number before you pay.
- Check the pages and the price, then send.
- Follow the fax network's status as it sends.
- When it goes through, a receipt PDF lands in your history.
What the IRS says about faxing
From the IRS's own pages. Check them before you send, because they can change.
- Fax-TIN numbers can only be used to apply for an EIN.
- Fax-TIN is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
- The fax numbers may change without notice.
- Provide your fax number so the IRS can fax the EIN back to you.
- The IRS also takes EIN applications online and by mail.
Sources: Instructions for Form SS-4 and Employer identification number on irs.gov. For how long the IRS takes, see those pages. ClearFax can't speak for the IRS.
Authorizing a tax professional instead? See how to fax Form 2848 or 8821.
What you get
- A receipt PDF for every fax that goes through.
- It shows the destination, page count, when the fax was sent and completed, the fax network's result, and a support code.
- Share it, print it, or file it with your records.
A successful send means the fax network reported the transmission complete, not that a person read or accepted it.
If the fax fails
- If the fax network reports a failed or partial send, your purchase is not used up.
- Every purchase includes at least two attempts. The app shows the exact number before you pay.
- You can fix the fax number and resend at no extra charge, with the same pages.
- If every attempt fails, the purchase ends and the app shows your job ID.
Questions
What fax number do I send Form SS-4 to?
It depends on where your business is. The IRS lists one fax number for applicants in the 50 states or D.C. and different numbers for applicants outside them. Check the "Apply by fax" section of the IRS Instructions for Form SS-4 before you send. The IRS says the numbers may change without notice.
Can ClearFax get the EIN faxed back to me?
No. ClearFax only sends faxes. It cannot take incoming faxes and does not give you a fax number. If you want the IRS to fax your EIN back, put a fax number that can take incoming faxes on the form.
Does a successful send mean the IRS has my application?
A successful send means the fax network reported the transmission complete, not that a person read or accepted it. What happens next is up to the IRS.
Can I fax other IRS forms with ClearFax?
Yes, if the IRS office takes that form by fax. ClearFax sends any pages you scan or import, up to 50 pages plus a cover page.
