Here are some other useful information from the website:

Daily Limitation of an Employer Identification Number

Effective May 21, 2012, to ensure fair and equitable treatment for all taxpayers, the Internal Revenue Service will limit Employer Identification Number (EIN) issuance to one per responsible party per day. This limitation is applicable to all requests for EINs whether online or by fax or mail. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

Responsible Party

In order to identify the correct individuals and entities applying for EINs, language changes have been made to the EIN process. Refer to Responsible Parties and Nominees to learn about these important changes before applying for an EIN.

Third Party Authorization

The Third Party Designee section must be completed at the bottom of the Form SS-4. The Form SS-4 must also be signed by the taxpayer for the third party designee authorization to be valid. The Form SS-4 must be mailed or faxed to the appropriate service center. The third party designee's authority terminates at the time the EIN is assigned and released to the designee.

Third party people such as accountants, lawyers, employees of your company, or other people are allowed to get your EIN for you. However, you have to have a signed application for them to do this for you. As stated above they would sign the bottom of the form. The extent of their authority ends when the number is given out.

Also, you do not want the address in line 4a and 4b to match the third party designee's address. Unless the person who you are designating is an employee. Then beside their name print that they are an employee. Or you can send a 2848 or 8821 with the application. To have the address the same, however, you must have more than just "for SS-4 only" on the 2848 or 8821. You must put additional forms on these to have the address the same as an accountant or other third party's address.

Other ways another person can get you your EIN is with the Form 2848 which is the Power of Attorney (POA) or Form 8821, which is the Taxpayer Information Authorization (TIA) form.