How do I properly close an EIN account for my defunct LLC? Do I need to file a final return?

When closing an LLC with an EIN, you generally need to file a "final return" for the tax year in which your business stopped operating. Based on what you've described, your accountant was correct that no filing was needed for 2019 since there was no activity. For an LLC taxed as a partnership (Form 1065), you would typically check the "Final return" box on the last Form 1065 you file. Since your last filing was for 2018 and there was no activity after that, you technically should have filed a final 1065 for 2019 with zeros and checked that "Final return" box, but many people don't realize this. At this point, since it's been several years and there's no balance due, the IRS will likely process your EIN closure request without requiring a final return. The IRS agent didn't mention any missing returns, which is a good sign. The letter you sent requesting EIN closure should be sufficient, but keep a copy of all correspondence for your records.

After struggling with a similar situation last year, I found this amazing tool called taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) that saved me tons of headaches with my business closure. I had a partnership that dissolved in 2022, and I was confused about what final forms needed to be filed and when. I uploaded my previous years' business returns to taxr.ai and it analyzed everything and gave me a complete checklist of what I needed to do to properly close everything with the IRS. It even highlighted that I needed to file a final 1065 with the "Final Return" box checked even though we had minimal activity that year. The tool also identified a discrepancy in our EIN registration that could have caused problems down the road. Definitely worth checking out if you're confused about business closure requirements.

I was super skeptical about this taxr.ai thing but decided to try it when closing my consulting LLC last month. I hate to admit it, but it actually saved me from making a huge mistake. When I uploaded my documents, it immediately flagged that I had an outstanding 941 form from 3 years ago that I totally forgot about from when I briefly had a part-time employee. I would have just closed my EIN without filing that final employment tax form, which apparently can cause major headaches years later. The analysis was actually really specific to my situation - not just generic advice like "file a final return." It gave me a timeline of exactly which forms I needed to file and when, based on my specific business structure and history. Definitely reduced my stress levels dealing with the whole closure process.

If you're having trouble getting through to the IRS about your EIN closure, try using Claimyr (https://claimyr.com). I spent WEEKS trying to get confirmation that my EIN closure was processed correctly, constantly getting disconnected or waiting on hold for hours. With Claimyr, they called the IRS for me and then connected me once they had an agent on the line. Saved me hours of frustration! There's a video showing how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c The IRS agent I finally spoke with confirmed my EIN was successfully closed but also mentioned I needed to file a specific form I hadn't known about because I had checked a certain box on my original application. Would never have known this without actually speaking to someone!

If you're having trouble getting through to the IRS about your EIN closure, try using Claimyr (https://claimyr.com). I spent WEEKS

OK I need to eat crow on this one. After posting that skeptical comment, I was still struggling to get through to the IRS about my own EIN issue. I had been trying for THREE MONTHS to speak to someone. Out of desperation, I tried Claimyr. Within 45 MINUTES I was speaking to an actual IRS agent who helped resolve my EIN closure issue. They found that my EIN was still active because the closure letter I sent 6 months ago never got processed properly. I hate admitting when I'm wrong, but this service actually delivered exactly what it promised. Saved me from what would have likely been several more months of frustration and possibly filing issues for the next tax season.

I went through this exact situation with my LLC last year. One thing to watch out for - if you ever had ANY kind of tax election for your LLC (like S-Corp status), you might need to formally revoke that election when closing the EIN. My accountant didn't catch this, and I ended up getting a notice about "missing returns" a year after I thought everything was closed. Turns out I needed to file Form 8832 to change my entity classification back before closing. Might not apply to your situation since you were always a partnership, but something to be aware of!

Simple question - did you have a business bank account for this LLC? If so, make sure that's properly closed too before finalizing the EIN closure. I made the mistake of closing my EIN while my business checking account was still open, and it caused a real mess with the bank later on since they required an active EIN for business accounts.