Using an Employer Identification Number (EIN) for credit purposes is a good way to separate personal credit from business credit. Applying for credit with an EIN will help a business establish a credit file often without the need for the detailed review of a personal credit file. In many cases, having an EIN for an established business will help increase the business' credibility and help the business receive more favorable interest rates on loans and lines of credit.

Things You Will Need

  • Employer Identification Number

  • Articles of Incorporation

  • Business license

See if the business information associated with the EIN is correct. If the company has changed addresses, phone numbers, or officers since the initial application for the EIN, update this information with the IRS. Keeping information current will help prevent situations where potential creditors cannot verify information provided on an application using the business' EIN. Businesses can mail or fax letters on company letterhead to the IRS with current business and officer information.

Internal Revenue Service Stop 343G Cincinnati, OH 45999 Fax Number: 859-669-5748

Place orders with business supply companies and provide the company's EIN when paying for the order. Business supply companies such as Uline, Grainger, and Quill will extend small lines of credit to a business after an initial purchase is made. Establishing these lines of credit using the company's EIN will help improve the business credit rating with Experian and Dun & Bradstreet.

Apply for a business fuel card account. Most major gas station chains such as BP, Sunoco, Citgo, and Shell offer fleet cards and business cards that are backed by major banks. When applying for these lines of credit, only the company's EIN, address, and primary officer information is needed.

Obtain lines of credit with larger companies specializing in computers and other electronics. These companies extend larger lines of credit for the lease or purchase of office equipment. Apple, Best Buy, Dell, HP, Office Depot, and Staples all allow businesses to apply for credit using the company EIN. If the business applying for credit is less than two years old or does not have an established credit history, a personal guarantor's social security number may be required. In certain situations Best Buy, Staples, and Office Depot will waive the personal guarantor requirement if Articles of Incorporation, business licenses, bank statements, and references are faxed to the company's business credit underwriting department.

Apply for commercial credit card accounts backed by Citigroup and GE Money Bank that require an EIN. The company's EIN will be required to review the company’s credit profile. If the company is new or does not have many trade lines--lines of credit-- the social security number of a personal guarantor will be required to extend credit. Some business credit card issuers such as Keybank and GE Money Bank will require a personal guarantor but they will not review the guarantor's personal credit history.