Accidentally received two EINs for my C Corp - how to fix this?

This happens more often than you'd think! When you receive duplicate EINs, you need to contact the IRS Business & Specialty Tax Line at 800-829-4933. Explain that you received two EINs and want to close one of them. They'll help you through the process of "closing" the incorrect EIN. It's not technically a closure but rather they'll mark one as "inactive" since EINs are never actually deleted from the IRS system. Make sure to tell them which one you want to keep (the first one with the correct spelling sounds like your best bet). For your tax concerns, you'll only need to file under the EIN you're keeping as long as you haven't used the incorrect one for any business purposes like opening bank accounts, filing employment taxes, etc. If you have used both, the IRS can help sort out how to consolidate everything under one number.

I actually just went through something similar and found an amazing service that made dealing with the IRS so much easier. I was getting nowhere trying to call them directly (kept getting disconnected or waiting forever). I used https://taxr.ai to analyze my EIN letters and they helped me understand exactly what happened and what to do. Their system can review the documents and tell you the fastest path to resolution. It saved me hours of confusion and probably weeks of back-and-forth with the IRS. What I liked most was that I didn't have to explain my situation multiple times to different people - the system analyzed my documents first and then gave me specific instructions for my exact situation.

I wanted to follow up about my experience with https://taxr.ai since I was initially skeptical. After my concerns about the service, I decided to give it a try since my EIN situation was getting nowhere with direct IRS calls. I'm actually really impressed! I uploaded both EIN letters and within minutes got a detailed analysis explaining that my duplicate EIN was likely caused by a system glitch in the IRS's automated processing. The service outlined exactly what to say to the IRS, which forms would be needed, and even provided a reference to the specific IRS internal procedure for handling duplicate EINs. When I finally got through to the IRS, the representative was surprised I knew exactly what to ask for. The issue was resolved in a single call rather than the multiple attempts I had been making before. Definitely worth it for specialized tax document issues like this!

If you're still struggling to reach the IRS on their Business & Specialty line, I'd recommend trying Claimyr.com. The IRS wait times for business issues are absolutely ridiculous right now - I was trying for WEEKS to get through about my own EIN issue. With https://claimyr.com they basically wait on hold with the IRS for you and then call you when an actual agent is on the line. I was skeptical but you can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c When I finally got connected to a real IRS agent, they were able to resolve my duplicate EIN situation in about 10 minutes. The issue had been dragging on for months simply because I couldn't get through to anyone!

Ok I need to eat my words about Claimyr. After posting my skeptical comment, I decided to try it anyway because I was at my wit's end trying to reach the IRS about a business tax issue. I couldn't believe how well it worked. I got a call back within 45 minutes saying they had an IRS agent on the line. I verified my identity directly with the agent and got my issue resolved in one conversation. The best part was not having to sit by my phone for hours on hold, afraid to even use the bathroom in case they picked up. For anyone dealing with duplicate EINs or other IRS business issues that require actually speaking to someone, this service is a game-changer. I spent 6 HOURS on hold last month with nothing to show for it. With Claimyr, I had my answer in under an hour of total time.

Just want to add that when you talk to the IRS about this issue, ask them to send you a confirmation letter showing that one EIN has been made inactive. I had a similar situation and didn't get written confirmation. Caused problems later when filing because the system showed both EINs as active for my business. Document everything!

Has anyone actually tried calling the Business & Specialty Tax Line lately? I spent 3 days trying last week and kept getting "due to high call volume" messages telling me to call back later. Is there a better time of day to try? Early morning? Late afternoon?

I went through this exact same situation last year! The duplicate EIN issue is more common than you'd think, especially with the IRS processing backlogs. Here's what worked for me: First, definitely call the Business & Specialty Tax Line at 800-829-4933, but be prepared for long wait times. When you get through, have both EIN letters ready and explain that you received duplicates. They'll ask which one you want to keep active - go with the first one since it has the correct business name spelling. The IRS will mark the second EIN as "inactive" in their system. This isn't technically a cancellation since EINs are permanent, but it prevents any confusion going forward. Make sure to ask for written confirmation of this action - you'll want it for your records. For taxes, you'll only file under the EIN you're keeping active, assuming you haven't used the incorrect one for any business activities like payroll, banking, or vendor payments. If you have used both, mention this to the IRS agent so they can help you consolidate everything properly. One tip: if you're having trouble getting through on the phone, try calling right when they open at 7 AM Eastern time on Tuesday or Wednesday. Those tend to be the best days with shorter wait times. Good luck! It's stressful but definitely fixable.

I had this exact same issue happen to me about 6 months ago! It's definitely frustrating but totally fixable. Here's what I learned from my experience: The duplicate EIN situation usually happens when there's a glitch in the IRS processing system or if your original application got "stuck" and then processed twice. Since your second EIN has the misspelled business name, that's actually good evidence that something went wrong on their end, not yours. When you call the Business & Specialty Tax Line (800-829-4933), make sure to emphasize that you only submitted ONE application and that the second EIN has incorrect information. This helps establish that it was clearly an IRS processing error. Have both letters in front of you with the exact EIN numbers and dates they were issued. The representative will mark one EIN as "inactive" - definitely keep the first one with the correct spelling. They should also make notes in your file explaining the situation, which will help if any questions come up later. One thing I wish I had known: ask them to check if there are any other applications or EINs associated with your business information while you have them on the phone. Sometimes these glitches can create more than just two duplicates. For taxes, you'll only need to file under the active EIN as long as you haven't conducted any business activities (banking, payroll, vendor payments, etc.) using the incorrect one. If you have, just be honest about it - they can help sort it out. The whole call took about 20 minutes once I got through, and I received written confirmation about 3 weeks later. Don't stress too much - this is more common than you'd think and the IRS has a standard process for handling it!

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now and this thread has been incredibly helpful! I received my first EIN about a month ago and just got a second one yesterday with slightly different business information. I was panicking thinking I had done something wrong with my application. Reading through everyone's experiences, it sounds like calling the Business & Specialty Tax Line is definitely the way to go. I'm going to try the Tuesday morning at 7 AM approach that several people have recommended. One thing I'm curious about - for those who have been through this process, did the IRS representative ask for any specific documentation beyond just having both EIN letters available? I want to make sure I'm fully prepared when I call so I don't have to go through the wait time again if they need additional paperwork. Also, I haven't used either EIN for anything yet (no bank accounts, vendor setups, nothing), so hopefully that will make the resolution process smoother. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - it's really reassuring to know this is a fixable issue with a standard process!

I just wanted to add one more resource that might be helpful - if you're having trouble getting through to the IRS by phone, you can also try submitting Form SS-4 with a cover letter explaining the duplicate EIN situation. While calling is faster, sometimes the written route works better for people who can't get through during business hours. Make sure to clearly state in your cover letter that you received duplicate EINs, specify which one you want to keep active, and request that the other be marked as inactive. Include copies of both EIN letters with your submission. The downside is that processing takes much longer (usually 4-8 weeks), but it's a good backup option if the phone calls aren't working out. Plus you'll automatically get written documentation of the resolution since they have to respond to your written request. Just another option to consider alongside all the great phone-based advice already shared here!

I just went through this exact situation a few months ago and wanted to share what worked for me! The duplicate EIN issue is definitely stressful, but it's more common than you'd think. Here's what I learned: Call the Business & Specialty Tax Line at 800-829-4933 and explain that you received two EINs but only submitted one application. The fact that your second EIN has a misspelled business name is actually helpful evidence that this was a processing error on the IRS's end, not something you did wrong. The key timing tip that saved me hours: Call on Tuesday or Wednesday right at 7 AM Eastern time. The wait times are much shorter then compared to other days/times. Have both EIN letters in front of you with the exact numbers and dates. The IRS representative will mark one EIN as "inactive" (they don't technically delete EINs, just make them inactive). Definitely keep the first one with the correct business name spelling. Make sure to ask for written confirmation - it usually takes 2-3 weeks to arrive but is crucial for your records. Since you mentioned you haven't used either EIN for business activities yet, this should be very straightforward. If you had already opened bank accounts or set up vendor relationships with either number, it would be more complicated, but in your case it should be a simple 15-20 minute call once you get connected. Don't stress too much about the tax implications - you'll only file under the active EIN going forward. The IRS has a standard process for handling these duplicate situations, so you're definitely not the first person they've helped with this!