Verifying Your Business Identity
In order to verify your business identity with the IRS Department of Treasury, we need to know your Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN) as well as your legal business name. These need to match the legal name of the individual who filed, the Doing Business As (DBA) name (if applicable), and legal address you have on file with the IRS. Without ensuring 100% we have the right business, if there was a typo in the FEIN, it could result in your taxes being paid to the wrong account. Likewise, there may be other businesses in the country with the same name as yours, so we need both and we need them both to match what the IRS has on file from when you registered your business.
Why didn't my business name match my FEIN?
Sometimes it's as simple as a typo in the FEIN. Sometimes it's a typo in your business name; could be a wrong letter, or an & instead of the word "and" or an extra period. Sometimes, businesses have a legal name and a "Doing Business As" (DBA) name and you may have entered the DBA name by mistake. There are many, many reasons they may not match.
Why do we sometimes need a copy of your SS-4?
The SS-4 is the document that was sent to you when you registered your business with the IRS. Sometimes this is easy to track down, sometimes you may have no idea where it is, but this is the one document that verifies the FEIN and legal business name you registered with, and is the easiest way to get all of this information to us, especially if you have never filed taxes before.
What if I can't find my SS-4?
While you cannot get a replacement SS-4, you can get other things that can accomplish the same thing. Here's a few options:
Screenshot of EFTPS Account
Log-in to your EFTPS account and get a screenshot of your account page that shows your FEIN along with your legal business name.
Call the IRS
If you have lost your EIN Verification Letter from the Department of Treasury, you can request a new one. To do so, call the IRS Business & Specialty Tax Line toll free at 1-800-829-4933 between the hours of 7am and 7pm in your local time zone . Request a 147c letter when you speak with an agent on the phone. See the IRS website for more details.
Find a past Tax Form (941, 1120, etc)
You will get a Form 941 after successfully filing your payroll taxes if you have run payroll in the past. This document will include your FEIN and legal business name. Most tax returns will also be accepted including a Form 1120.