Does a Sole Proprietor need an Employer Identification Number (EIN)?
Sole proprietors do not need an EIN, but it may be beneficial for business banking purposes.
If you are a sole proprietor with no employees, you generally do not need an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). A social security number should suffice for most sole proprietorships, but some banks may require an EIN for business accounts.
Please visit the IRS's page on EINs for a comprehensive explanation of a sole proprietor's EIN requirements.