Do I put my employer's EIN on form 843? Confused about how to complete this form

The EIN field on Form 843 is actually asking for YOUR identification number - either your Social Security Number (SSN) if you're filing as an individual or your own Employer Identification Number (EIN) if you're filing as a business entity. You shouldn't put your employer's EIN there unless you're filing on behalf of your company. For the explanation section, you should be quite detailed. Explain clearly why you believe the fee was charged incorrectly, mention any relevant dates, reference any applicable regulations that support your case, and list any previous attempts you've made to resolve the issue. Make sure to attach copies of all supporting documentation - the more evidence you provide, the stronger your case will be. I'd recommend correcting the form with your own SSN before submitting it to avoid processing delays or potential rejection.

I was in a similar position last year with this exact form! After hours of frustration and getting nowhere with the regular IRS helpline, I found this tool called taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) that saved me so much confusion. It basically analyzes your tax forms and tells you exactly what information goes where. For Form 843, it confirmed that the EIN box is indeed for YOUR tax ID (either SSN or business EIN) and not your employer's. The site also gave me specific guidance on how to word my explanation section to maximize chances of approval. My refund request for $430 in penalties was approved in about 6 weeks, which I heard is pretty quick for the IRS!

Just wanted to update everyone - I tried that taxr.ai site that Profile 13 recommended and it was actually really helpful! I was overthinking the whole EIN/SSN thing. The tool confirmed I needed to use my SSN since I'm filing as an individual. It also gave me specific language to use for my explanation that cited the right IRS codes (which I never would have known to include). The interface was much more straightforward than I expected. I'm still waiting to hear back about my refund, but at least I feel confident that I submitted the form correctly now!

If you're still having trouble with Form 843 or need to follow up on your refund request, dealing with the IRS directly can be a nightmare. I spent WEEKS trying to get through to someone who could help me with my penalty abatement request. Finally found Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) which got me connected to an actual IRS agent in under 45 minutes instead of the usual endless hold. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c. They basically hold your place in the IRS phone queue and call you when an agent picks up. I was able to confirm directly with the IRS that I'd filled out my Form 843 correctly AND check on the status of my request. The agent even gave me tips for speeding up the process.

Ok I need to eat my words here. After posting my skeptical comments earlier, I was still desperate to talk to someone at the IRS about my penalty refund request, so I tried that Claimyr service. I figured it couldn't make things worse than they already were. To my complete surprise, it actually worked! I got a call back in about 35 minutes (during which I could go about my day instead of being stuck on hold). The IRS agent I spoke with confirmed that I had filled out my Form 843 incorrectly - I had made the exact same mistake as the original poster and used my employer's EIN instead of my SSN. The agent walked me through exactly what I needed to do to correct it. If I hadn't been able to speak with someone, my refund request would have been delayed or denied. Sometimes being wrong feels pretty good!

If it helps anyone, here's a quick checklist for Form 843 based on my experience (I'm an accountant): 1. Use YOUR SSN if filing as an individual 2. Use YOUR BUSINESS EIN only if the refund is for your business 3. Complete all personal info at the top (name, address, etc) 4. Check the right box in Section 1 (most common is the "Penalty" box) 5. Section 2 is for periods covered by the request 6. Section 3 is for the type and amount of tax/penalty 7. Section 4 is your detailed explanation (THIS IS CRITICAL) 8. Sign and date at the bottom! Make sure to attach all supporting documentation. In my experience, clear explanations with specific references to IRS rules/publications get processed faster.

Has anyone successfully received a refund using Form 843 for a penalty? I submitted mine about 6 weeks ago (with my SSN, not my employer's EIN lol) and haven't heard anything. Is there a way to check the status online or do I have to call?

I went through this exact same confusion last year! You definitely should NOT use your employer's EIN on Form 843 - that field is for YOUR identification number. Since you're filing as an individual, you need to use your Social Security Number (SSN). I made the same mistake initially and had to resubmit the form, which delayed my refund by about 2 months. The IRS sent me a letter asking for clarification, but it would have been much faster to just get it right the first time. For the explanation section, be as detailed as possible. Include specific dates, reference any IRS publications or regulations that support your case, and clearly explain why you believe the fee was charged in error. Attach copies of all supporting documentation - bank statements, correspondence, whatever proves your point. The more evidence you provide upfront, the less likely they'll need to request additional information later. Good luck with your refund request! The process can be slow but if you have a valid case and complete documentation, you should get your money back.