I just went through this exact situation a few months ago! Got an EIN for a business idea that never took off - literally zero activity, just like many of you have described. After reading through all these helpful experiences, I decided to take the "better safe than sorry" approach that several people here have recommended. I filed a Schedule C with my personal tax return showing all zeros and marked the business as inactive. The whole process took maybe 45 minutes, and the IRS processed it completely normally - no questions, no special notices, just standard acknowledgment that they received and processed the return. Having that official documentation has given me so much peace of mind. Even though everyone's right that it's not technically required when there's zero activity, the small time investment was absolutely worth it to eliminate any future uncertainty. Now I can move forward knowing I have a clean paper trail with the IRS. For anyone else dealing with an unused EIN, this thread really shows how common this situation is and how straightforward the solution can be. The consensus from people who've actually been through this process is incredibly helpful - much better than trying to interpret IRS publications on your own!

I'm in the exact same boat! Got an EIN about 4 months ago for a dropshipping business I was super excited about, but then I realized it wasn't for me after doing more research. Never opened any accounts, never made any transactions - the EIN has literally just been sitting there unused. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been such a huge relief. I was really worried I'd somehow created a tax obligation by getting that number, but the consistent message from people who've actually dealt with this is reassuring. The fact that multiple people have confirmed directly with IRS agents that unused EINs don't create filing requirements when there's zero activity really puts my mind at ease. I'm definitely going to follow the approach that so many of you have taken - filing a zero return even though it's not technically required. After hearing about the normal processing and peace of mind that @Danielle Mays, @Aisha Mahmood, @Anastasia Fedorov and others experienced, it seems like such a smart way to create that official paper trail with the IRS. Thanks everyone for sharing your real-world experiences rather than just guessing - this thread has been incredibly helpful for understanding how common this situation actually is!

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm in a very similar situation - my ex and I alternate years claiming our son, and this year it's his turn. I was resigned to filing as single, but now I understand I can still file HOH since my son lives with me more than half the time. The key insight about HOH and dependency exemptions being separate requirements is a game-changer. I've been keeping detailed records of our custody schedule anyway for other reasons, so I should have the documentation I need. One question though - when you say "more than half the year," is that based on calendar days or nights? Our custody agreement has some specifics about holidays and summer schedules that make the exact count a bit tricky to calculate. Also, has anyone here actually been through an audit on this specific issue? I'm curious how thorough the IRS review process is and what kind of documentation they found most convincing.

Just wanted to add my experience as someone who went through this exact situation last year. I was terrified about filing HOH without claiming my daughter as a dependent, but after reading through IRS Publication 501 multiple times and consulting with a tax professional, I went ahead with it. The key thing that gave me confidence was keeping meticulous records. I used a shared Google calendar with my ex to track every single night our daughter stayed at each house. I also kept copies of school enrollment forms showing my address, pediatrician records with my contact info as primary, and receipts for major household expenses like rent and utilities. When I filed, I included a brief note with my return explaining the custody arrangement and referencing the specific IRS code sections that allow HOH filing in this situation. I never heard anything from the IRS - my return was processed normally and I got my refund without any issues. The financial difference was huge - saved me about $2,800 compared to filing single. If you have your daughter more than half the nights and you're maintaining the household, you absolutely should file HOH. Just make sure your documentation is rock solid and you'll be fine.

I'm in the exact same boat with a 0705 cycle code and have been waiting since March! My transcript shows the 570/971 codes from May 2nd but still no letter has arrived. It's so frustrating because my return is super simple too - just W2 income and standard deduction. I've been checking my transcript every Friday morning like clockwork but nothing changes. Starting to wonder if I should just bite the bullet and try to get through to someone at the IRS directly since so many people here seem to have success once they talk to a real person. This whole process is mentally exhausting when you're waiting on money you're owed!

I'm in almost the exact same situation! Filed in late February, got the 0705 cycle code, and have been stuck with TC 570/971 codes since April 15th with no correspondence received yet. My return is super straightforward too - just W2 income and student loan interest deduction, no dependents or credits. What's driving me crazy is that my "as of" date hasn't changed in over a month, so I have no idea if they're even actively working on it. I've been checking transcripts every Friday morning religiously but it's like watching paint dry at this point. Reading through these comments is both reassuring and terrifying - reassuring that others eventually got their refunds, but terrifying that some waited 4+ months! I'm seriously considering using one of those callback services because the thought of waiting until August or September for a simple return is making me lose sleep. Has anyone noticed if there's a pattern to when the IRS finally processes these 0705 returns? Like do they tend to release them in batches or is it just completely random?

When comparing your situation to other tax scenarios I've seen, you're in a relatively low-risk category. Unlike taxpayers with full-year Marketplace coverage claiming substantial credits, your one-month situation is much simpler. Similar to how a missing 1099-INT for small interest income rarely triggers issues, a brief Marketplace coverage period without premium tax credits typically processes smoothly. In contrast, taxpayers with complex healthcare situations involving multiple family members or significant premium credits face much higher scrutiny. Your Medicare transition is a common life event the IRS routinely processes. While getting the 1095-A is ideal, your refund timing likely won't be affected if you file without it, especially compared to those with more complex healthcare situations.

I went through this exact situation two years ago during my Medicare transition! Had marketplace coverage for just February before Medicare started in March. Here's what actually happened: I filed without the 1095-A because I couldn't get through to the marketplace after multiple attempts. My refund was processed and deposited within 3 weeks - no delays at all. About 2 months later, I did receive a letter from the IRS asking me to verify my healthcare coverage, but it wasn't urgent or threatening. By then I had finally received my 1095-A in the mail (it came late), so I just mailed a copy back to them. Never heard anything more about it, and there were no penalties or additional taxes owed. The key thing that helped me was keeping records of my premium payments and knowing exactly when my coverage started and ended. Even without the official form, having those payment confirmations gave me peace of mind that I could respond to any IRS questions. Since you only had January coverage before Medicare, you're in an even simpler situation than I was. I'd say go ahead and file - your refund will likely process normally, and you can deal with any verification requests later if they come up.

Check your tax transcript for code 570! If you see that, it means there's a hold on your account. Mine was delayed for similar reasons and that's what was happening. You might also see code 971 which means they sent a notice (that you may not have received).

I went through something very similar last year - 8 month delay on what should have been a straightforward refund. The combination of approaches mentioned here is your best bet. Start with requesting your tax transcript online immediately. This will show you if there are any specific codes indicating why it's being held. If you see codes like 570, 971, or 424, at least you'll know there's an active review happening rather than your return just sitting in a pile somewhere. Then I'd recommend a two-pronged approach: contact both the Taxpayer Advocate Service AND your congressional representative's office. The TAS is great for systemic issues and they have more time to work on your case, while congressional offices have those direct IRS lines that can get faster answers. If those don't work within 2-3 weeks, the Claimyr service really does work for actually getting through to the IRS phone system. I was skeptical too but after months of busy signals, being able to talk to an actual agent made all the difference. Don't wait any longer - 9 months is well beyond any reasonable processing time and you have multiple legitimate avenues to escalate this. The key is being persistent and using multiple approaches simultaneously rather than trying one thing at a time.