Alert: Fixing Problems with Online IRS EIN Applications

This post is an update to a prior post, with updated information about fixing rejected online EIN applications submitted on the IRS's website. Apparently, the IRS no longer allows entities to be the responsible party for an EIN application. According to the latest instructions for IRS Form SS-4, "Unless the applicant is a government entity, the responsible party must be an individual (i.e., a natural person), not an entity."


Previously, it was possible for an entity that had not obtained its EIN online to be the responsible party for a new entity's online EIN application. In recent months, I have become aware that many IRS online EIN applications are resulting in an error page that doesn't include a reference number. The cause of this error page could be identifying an entity as the responsible party. Unless you are a government entity, you'll need to list an individual with a social security number as the responsible party for all online IRS EIN applications. Thanks to Joel in New Jersey for bringing this to my attention.

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