SBA has established an automated system to allow small firms to register their business at the state level and apply for and receive their Federal Employer Identification Number at the same time.  The application can be found at http://businesslaw.gov/template.cfm?catid=10044, by clicking on “Integrated State Register & Federal EIN Application.”

Georgia and Illinois are the first states to participate, with others expected to join soon, the agency said.

The site will streamline the state and federal application processes by automating the exchange of data between states and the federal government. Any participating state can quickly and easily offer a seamless state registration and federal EIN tool that, in addition to saving time and money, reduces the burden to the business owner.

Businesses will be able to supply required information simultaneously for both state and federal applications without completing separate forms. 

The new service was developed by SBA in partnership with the IRS through a contract with EzGov Inc. of Atlanta, a major e-government technology provider.