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How Do I Get an EIN for an Estate Account?

Banks require an EIN — the estate's federal tax ID number — to open an estate account. This tool pre-fills IRS Form SS-4 with estate-specific answers. Free.

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About the Person Who Died

Information about the person whose trust or estate needs an EIN.

Settling an estate?Checklist, accounting, and forms in one plan.→

The IRS needs this to link the new tax ID to their records. This stays in your browser and is never stored or transmitted.

FREE & PRIVATE: This form is free—no account or credit card required. Your document contents and generated PDF never leave your browser—SimplyTrust does not transmit or store them. Contact details you provide (name, email, phone, state) are transmitted only to send the updates you agree to receive at download. You are responsible for saving your completed document.

SELF-HELP SERVICE: SimplyTrust provides a self-help document preparation service. We are not a law firm and cannot provide legal advice, select forms for you, or tell you how to complete forms. Our role is limited to providing a platform where you input your own information into document templates.

NOT LEGAL ADVICE:This document was created entirely based on your selections. SimplyTrust does not review, analyze, or verify your entries, nor do we verify your identity, capacity, or authority to act. You are solely responsible for determining whether this document meets your needs and for completing all required execution formalities (signatures, witnesses, notarization, or recording) in accordance with your state's laws. For any legal questions, consult a licensed attorney in your state.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Banks cannot open an estate account under the decedent's Social Security Number. The estate needs its own EIN from the IRS — this is the number the bank is asking for when it requires a "tax ID for the estate."

Yes. EIN (Employer Identification Number), federal tax ID number, and estate tax ID all refer to the same nine-digit number the IRS issues to the estate. One EIN covers the estate bank account and the estate's income tax return (Form 1041).

Yes. If the estate will earn income, open a bank account, or file a tax return (Form 1041), it needs its own EIN. The executor or personal representative applies.

As soon as the executor is appointed. An estate EIN is needed to open an estate bank account, pay bills, collect debts owed to the estate, and distribute assets.

If you apply online through the IRS EIN assistant, you receive the EIN immediately. The assistant is available Monday through Friday, 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM Eastern.

No. The IRS does not charge for EIN applications. Any service that charges you is charging for convenience, not the EIN itself.

The decedent's legal name, Social Security Number, date of death, and a valid SSN or ITIN for the executor or personal representative.

Why You Need an EIN to Open an Estate Account

When someone dies, their estate becomes a separate tax entity. The executor or personal representative cannot use the decedent's Social Security Number to open an estate bank account or file the estate's tax return — banks require the estate's own EIN, sometimes called the estate's federal tax ID number.

One EIN covers everything: opening the estate checking account for paying bills and distributing assets, filing IRS Form 1041 (the estate income tax return), and corresponding with the IRS about estate matters.

The IRS issues EINs for free through their online assistant, but the form asks questions most people have never seen before. This tool fills in the answers for you based on a few simple questions about the estate.

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