How can I get EIN for a closed daycare facility to claim child care tax credit?
Title: How can I get EIN for a closed daycare facility to claim child care tax credit? 1 I'm in a frustrating situation and need some tax advice. I've been keeping track of all my daycare expenses for 2024 for my son, with a detailed spreadsheet and electronic payment confirmations. The problem is that the daycare facility we used for most of the year suddenly closed down in November, and the owner has completely disappeared - not answering calls, texts, or emails. Now I'm getting ready for taxes and realize I need to fill out Form 2441 for the Child and Dependent Care Credit, but I don't have the provider's EIN (Employer Identification Number) or SSN. We're talking about almost $13,500 in expenses that I need to document properly to claim the credit. I've tried reaching out to other parents to see if anyone has the tax ID from previous years, but no luck so far. Is there any way to track down this information, or an alternative way to document these expenses on my tax return without the provider's EIN? I have proof of every single payment made to "Sunshine Learning Center" but just no tax ID number.
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Nia Jackson
7 You can still claim the credit even if you can't get the provider's EIN, but you'll need to show that you made a serious effort to obtain this information. Here's what you should do: First, send a certified letter to the daycare's last known address requesting their EIN for tax purposes. Keep a copy of this letter and the receipt showing you sent it. Even if it gets returned as undeliverable, this demonstrates your attempt to comply. Then, when you file Form 2441, enter "Provider Closed, Information Unavailable" in the space for the provider's EIN/SSN. On Line 1, include all the other information you have: the provider's name, address, and the amount you paid. The IRS may send you a notice asking for more information later. When they do, respond with copies of your payment records, the certified letter you sent, and any other documentation showing the facility existed and that you paid for services (bank statements, receipts, emails confirming payments, etc.).
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Nia Jackson
•15 Thanks for your response! When you say to put "Provider Closed, Information Unavailable" - does that go in the exact EIN box on the form? Won't the form reject that since it's expecting numbers in that field? Also, will this delay my refund?
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Nia Jackson
•7 For electronic filing, you'll need to enter all zeros (000000000) in the EIN field when the provider won't provide their information despite reasonable efforts. Then attach a statement explaining your situation. The IRS may flag your return for review which could delay your refund, but this is fairly common with missing provider information. Having good documentation of your payments and your attempts to get the EIN will help resolve any questions quickly. Keep all those electronic payment confirmations and your spreadsheet handy in case the IRS requests them.
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Nia Jackson
18 I went through something like this last year - was so stressful! I found that using https://taxr.ai really helped me figure out exactly what documentation I needed to support my claim without the EIN. I uploaded my payment receipts and they analyzed everything, told me exactly what to do with Form 2441, and even created a letter explaining my situation to include with my return. Saved me hours of stress and research.
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Nia Jackson
•4 How accurate was their advice? I'm a little skeptical of online tax tools - did the IRS accept your return without issues?
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Nia Jackson
•12 Does taxr.ai actually help with missing EIN situations specifically? I tried another service last year and they just told me I was out of luck without the provider's tax ID.
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Nia Jackson
•18 Their advice was spot-on! The IRS processed my return without any problems. I got my full credit and didn't get any follow-up questions or audit notices. Yes, they definitely help with missing EIN situations. They have specific guidance for cases where providers have closed or won't respond. They showed me exactly what documentation to keep and how to properly explain the situation on my return. Much better than the other service that told you that you were out of luck - you definitely have options!
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Nia Jackson
12 Just wanted to update everyone - I decided to try taxr.ai after seeing the recommendation here, and wow, it actually worked perfectly! I was nervous about claiming the child care credit without the EIN, but they walked me through the whole process. They analyzed my payment records and helped me create the proper documentation for the IRS. Got my full $4,000 credit with no issues. If anyone else is dealing with a closed daycare situation, definitely check it out!
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Nia Jackson
23 If you need to speak directly with the IRS about this situation, I recommend using https://claimyr.com to get through to an agent quickly. I spent literally days trying to get someone on the phone about a similar issue with missing provider information. After using Claimyr, I got through in about 15 minutes instead of waiting for hours. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c - basically they wait on hold for you and call when an agent picks up. The IRS agent I spoke with confirmed exactly what I needed to do to claim the credit without the provider's EIN.
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Nia Jackson
•10 Wait, so this service actually gets you through to a real person at the IRS? How does that even work? I've literally never been able to talk to a human there.
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Nia Jackson
•5 This sounds like a scam. No way you can just magically skip the IRS phone queue when thousands of people are waiting. And even if you do get through, would they really tell you it's okay to file without an EIN?
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Nia Jackson
•23 Yes, they connect you with a real IRS agent! It works because they use technology to continuously dial and navigate the IRS phone system for you. When they finally reach an agent, they call you to connect. No magic - just automated persistence that saves you from having to sit on hold yourself. The IRS agents absolutely can help with this situation. The one I spoke with explained that this happens fairly often with care providers and confirmed the proper procedure for documenting the situation when you can't get an EIN. They won't tell you to do anything improper, but they will explain the correct way to handle unusual circumstances like this.
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Nia Jackson
5 I hate to admit when I'm wrong, but I need to follow up on my comment! After my skeptical response, I was still desperate to figure out my own childcare tax credit issue, so I tried Claimyr... and it actually worked! Got through to an IRS rep in about 20 minutes who explained exactly how to handle my situation with a daycare that went out of business. They confirmed you CAN claim the credit with proper documentation even without the EIN. Definitely worth it for the peace of mind before filing.
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Nia Jackson
16 Does anyone know if there's a government database where you can look up a business's EIN number? The daycare might have filed taxes in previous years that you could reference.
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Nia Jackson
•9 Unfortunately, there isn't a public database where you can look up EIN numbers. The IRS keeps that information confidential for privacy reasons. You could try checking with your state's licensing agency for daycares - sometimes they require the EIN as part of the licensing process and might be able to help.
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Nia Jackson
•16 Thanks for the info. I'll check with our state's childcare licensing division tomorrow. Didn't think about that angle!
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Nia Jackson
3 Don't forget that if you have an FSA (Flexible Spending Account) for dependent care through your employer, you'll need to coordinate this with your Form 2441. You can't double-dip on the same expenses!
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Nia Jackson
•1 Good point! I do have a Dependent Care FSA through work and used about $5000 through that. So I'd only claim the remaining $8500 on Form 2441, right?
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NebulaNomad
•Exactly right! You can only claim the Child and Dependent Care Credit on expenses that weren't reimbursed through your FSA. So if you used $5,000 from your Dependent Care FSA, you'd report that amount on Line 12 of Form 2441, and then claim the credit on the remaining $8,500. Just make sure to keep good records showing which expenses were paid through the FSA versus out-of-pocket, especially important in your case where the provider information is missing.
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