Application for Employer Identification Number in Aurora, Colorado (2026)
You cannot open a business bank account, hire employees, or file your business taxes without an Employer Identification Number (EIN) issued by the IRS. In Aurora, this federal Application for Employer Identification Number (also known as an FEIN or Federal Tax ID) is required for any restaurant that hires staff or operates as a corporation or partnership. The IRS provides this service free of charge, but the application contains 89 fields — ApronPrep automatically populates 74 of them using your business data. Most applicants complete this in under 15 minutes with ApronPrep, which auto-fills 74 of 89 fields.
Analyzed from Application for Employer Identification Number
83% from one compliance interview
Manual entry or document upload required
Why You Need a Application for Employer Identification Number
An Employer Identification Number (EIN) is required by federal law under the Internal Revenue Code (Title 26), specifically § 26 U.S.C. 6109, which mandates tax identification numbers for entities subject to taxation. In Aurora, Colorado, obtaining an EIN is a prerequisite for nearly all restaurant business activities, as the Colorado Department of Revenue and local Aurora agencies use it to identify your business for state tax, local sales tax (lodgers and auto rental tax), and licensing purposes. The application, Form SS-4, is administered by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and you cannot legally open a business bank account, hire employees, or file business tax returns without this federal identifier.
Operating a restaurant in Aurora without an EIN, or filing the application incorrectly, triggers immediate and compounding financial and operational penalties. Consequences include:
- Failure-to-file penalties: The IRS imposes a penalty of 5% of the unpaid tax per month (up to 25%) for late filing of returns that require an EIN.
- Failure-to-pay penalties: A separate 0.5% per month penalty on unpaid taxes, plus interest accrual on the total balance.
- Operational shutdown: You cannot process payroll, leading to immediate inability to hire staff. Banks will reject business account openings, freezing your ability to accept credit card payments or secure merchant services.
- Contract and lease violations: Most commercial leases and vendor contracts require a valid EIN. Without it, you risk default and eviction.
- Criminal prosecution risk: Willful evasion or fraud related to business identification can lead to criminal charges.
Legal code: Internal Revenue Code (Title 26)
Recent update: As of 2026, the IRS has fully retired the fax application option for Form SS-4; all new EIN applications must now be submitted online via the IRS website, by mail, or by phone.
Who Needs a Application for Employer Identification Number?
| Type | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Restaurant (Full-Service) | Required | Any business with employees, incorporated as an LLC or corporation, or required to file specific federal tax forms must obtain an EIN per IRS regulations. |
| Bar / Nightclub | Required | If the business is a partnership, corporation, or pays employees, an EIN is required for tax filing and banking per IRS Publication 1635. |
| Food Truck | Required | A separate EIN is required if the food truck is registered as its own legal entity (e.g., LLC), distinct from any parent company or owner's SSN. |
| Coffee Shop / Café | Required | Required if the business has employees, is structured as a partnership or corporation, or needs to open a business bank account. |
See which restaurant types need this requirement — and which don't.
See Full Requirements →Field-by-Field Guide (89 Fields)
74 of 89 auto-filledMailing address - City, State, ZIP
textEnter the city, state abbreviation (e.g., 'CO'), and ZIP code for the address where you receive business mail, such as statements from the IRS; use a two-letter state code and standard 5 or 9-digit ZIP.
COMMON MISTAKE: Entering the city and ZIP only and omitting the state, or using the full state name (e.g., 'Colorado') instead of the required two-letter abbreviation (e.g., 'CO').
Physical address - City, State, ZIP
textEnter the city, state, and ZIP code for the actual street location of your restaurant's operations, which the IRS uses for correspondence and verification; this must match the principal business address on your local business license.
COMMON MISTAKE: Leaving this blank if it's the same as the mailing address, or using a P.O. Box—the IRS requires a physical street address here unless your business has no physical location.
Sole proprietor - SSN
textIf you are a sole proprietor (owning an unincorporated business by yourself), enter your nine-digit Social Security Number with no hyphens or spaces, exactly as it appears on your Social Security card.
COMMON MISTAKE: Entering an Employer Identification Number (EIN) here instead of the owner's personal SSN, or formatting the number with hyphens (e.g., '123-45-6789') which can cause IRS processing errors.
State of incorporation
textFor corporations (C-Corps or S-Corps), enter the two-letter postal abbreviation of the U.S. state where your business is legally incorporated, such as 'DE' for Delaware or 'CO' for Colorado.
COMMON MISTAKE: Entering the state where the restaurant physically operates instead of the legal state of incorporation, or spelling out the full state name instead of using the required two-letter abbreviation.
Is this an LLC? - Yes
checkboxCheck this box only if your business is legally structured as a Limited Liability Company (LLC) as filed with your state's Secretary of State; if you are unsure, check your formation documents.
COMMON MISTAKE: Checking both 'Yes' and 'No' boxes, or checking 'Yes' for an LLC but failing to complete the subsequent LLC-specific questions on the form about organization location and taxation.
Is this an LLC? - No
checkboxCheck this box if your business is any structure other than a Limited Liability Company (LLC), such as a sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, or nonprofit.
COMMON MISTAKE: Leaving both the 'Yes' and 'No' boxes unchecked, which is a common cause of IRS rejection because the entity type cannot be determined.
LLC organized in US? - Yes
checkboxIf you are an LLC, check this box only if your company was formed under the laws of any U.S. state, territory, or the District of Columbia.
COMMON MISTAKE: An LLC checking 'Yes' here but then incorrectly providing a foreign address in other parts of the form, creating a data conflict that triggers manual review.
LLC organized in US? - No
checkboxCheck this box only if your LLC was legally formed outside the United States, its territories, or the District of Columbia.
COMMON MISTAKE: A domestically-formed LLC accidentally checking 'No,' which requires additional foreign entity forms and can delay EIN issuance by several weeks.
Entity type: Other
checkboxCheck this box only if your business structure is not listed elsewhere in this section (e.g., a trust, estate, REMIC, or other entity specified in the IRS instructions).
COMMON MISTAKE: Checking 'Other' without providing the required clarifying description in the adjacent line on the form, which is a mandatory field for this selection.
Entity type: Other nonprofit organization
checkboxCheck this box if your restaurant is operated by a nonprofit organization that is not a church, school, or other specifically listed type, such as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization running a social enterprise cafe.
COMMON MISTAKE: A standard for-profit restaurant checking this box, which incorrectly identifies the entity for tax purposes and can lead to future IRS notices regarding tax-exempt status.
ApronPrep auto-fills 74 of 89 fields from a single compliance interview — no re-typing, no guessing what the government expects.
Top 5 Application for Employer Identification Number Mistakes
1. Selecting the Wrong Legal Structure
Choosing an incorrect entity type, such as listing a sole proprietorship as an LLC. This mistake invalidates the application, as your EIN will be issued for a non-existent legal entity. You must submit an SS-4 worksheet (which can be auto-populated from your ApronPrep business profile) and start over, adding 2–4 weeks to your timeline.
2. Mismatching Responsible Party Information
Entering the business name as the 'responsible party' or providing a personal address inconsistent with IRS records. The responsible party must be the individual who controls or owns the entity, using the exact name and address on their personal tax return. Applications flagged for this mismatch are delayed by 3–6 weeks while the IRS sends a correction letter.
3. Incorrectly Reporting the Principal Business Activity
Using a vague description like 'food' or 'restaurant' instead of the specific 6-digit NAICS code, such as 722511 for a Full-Service Restaurant. The IRS requires the NAICS code to classify your business for tax purposes. Using an incorrect or overly broad description can lead to a misclassified EIN, causing issues when filing your first business tax return.
Skip the Paperwork on Your Application for Employer Identification Number
ApronPrep auto-fills 74 of 89 fields from one compliance interview.
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Application for Employer Identification Number by City in Colorado
| City | Fee Range | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Aurora | ||
| Colorado Springs | ||
| Denver |
Timeline: 2-4 Weeks (Online)
Gather Required Information
Collect all necessary details before starting the application. You will need your business's legal name (exactly as filed with the Colorado Secretary of State), physical address, mailing address, legal structure (e.g., LLC, S-Corp), and the responsible party's name and SSN or ITIN. Missing or mismatched legal names are a primary cause of IRS application holds.
Submit Form SS-4 via IRS.gov
Complete and submit IRS Form SS-4, the Application for Employer Identification Number. For speed and confirmation, use the online application tool on the IRS website (recommended). You must have all required information ready for the single-session online process, which ApronPrep auto-fills for you using the data from your profile. The IRS issues an EIN immediately upon successful online submission.
Receive Your EIN Confirmation (CP575)
Upon successful online submission, the IRS immediately displays and allows you to download your EIN confirmation letter (CP575 Notice). Save a secure digital copy. If you applied by fax or mail, this step will take weeks. This official IRS document is required to open a business bank account and apply for state/local permits.
Other Requirements You'll Need
This is one of 13 requirements for opening a restaurant in Colorado.
ADA Compliance Self-Certification
federal
Alarm System Permit/Registration
local
Articles of Organization (LLC) or Articles of Incorporation (Corporation)
state
Aurora Outdoor Dining/Sidewalk Café Permit
local
See all co-required forms and how they connect to your compliance dossier.
See All RequirementsThe timeline to receive your Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the IRS varies. Electronic applications submitted online are typically processed immediately upon submission, and you receive your number at the end of the session. Applications submitted by fax usually receive confirmation within four business days, while mailed applications can take four weeks or more, per the IRS website.
The government filing fee for an Employer Identification Number is $0. The IRS does not charge for applying for an EIN. However, obtaining your EIN is just the first step in establishing your legal business entity. You must also file your Articles of Organization (LLC) or Articles of Incorporation (Corporation) with the Colorado Secretary of State, which has its own fees. Not legal advice — verify with the IRS.
No, an Employer Identification Number (EIN) is tied to your specific business entity and does not transfer to a new owner or location. If you move your business, you must notify the IRS of your new address using Form 8822-B. If a new owner purchases the business, they generally need to apply for a new EIN, especially if the business structure changes, as posted on the IRS application guides.
An Employer Identification Number (EIN) is a permanent federal taxpayer identification number and does not require renewal. However, you must keep your associated business registrations current. For example, after obtaining your EIN, you must secure your City Business License/Registration in Aurora, which does require annual renewal. The EIN itself is valid for the life of the business, unless the IRS cancels it due to inactivity.
There is no physical inspection for an Employer Identification Number (EIN). The 'inspection' is a review of your application data by the IRS to verify the business entity's legal name, responsible party, and structure. Your business will face other mandatory inspections, such as for a Building Permit or health permit, but the EIN process is purely administrative and paper-based (or electronic).
About This Data
This guide is generated from ApronPrep's compliance dossier system, which uses 53 parallel AI authority experts to discover requirements, then downloads actual forms and generates field-level intelligence for each one.
For Colorado specifically, we have analyzed compliance dossiers for 3 cities (Aurora, Colorado Springs, Denver), generating Rich FILs (Form Intelligence Layers) with 89 form fields analyzed for this requirement. Fee data is sourced from actual county department fee schedules, not estimates.
Our data is verified against official government sources and updated when regulatory changes are detected. If you find an error, please report it — accuracy is our core commitment.
Sources
- Internal Revenue Code (Title 26)
- Aurora — Department of the Treasury
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