Need to Change C-Corp Name with IRS Before Filing Our Return - Fastest Method?

I've handled this situation for several clients. Writing a letter is one approach, but it's not the fastest method. The most efficient way to change a C-Corporation's name with the IRS before filing a return is to file Form 8822-B (Change of Address or Responsible Party). On Form 8822-B, you'll check the box in Part I that indicates you're changing your business name. You'll need to include your EIN and both your old and new business names. Mail this to the address listed in the form instructions based on your location. You should also ensure you've updated your name with your state's Secretary of State office first - the IRS will verify this. Keep documentation of your state filing as proof of the name change.

After struggling with a similar situation last year when we rebranded our marketing agency, I found this amazing tool called taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) that really simplified the process. I was confused about all the forms and worried about making mistakes on our name change paperwork. What I loved about taxr.ai was that it scanned all our company documents and gave us step-by-step instructions for our specific situation. It identified that we needed both Form 8822-B AND a statement with our return - something our own research missed. It even analyzed our Articles of Amendment from the state to confirm everything matched up properly. The tool actually created a timeline for us showing when to submit each document to minimize any issues with our payroll reporting and tax filings. Saved us so much confusion!

I was really skeptical about online tax tools as I mentioned above, but after our CFO quit suddenly, I decided to try taxr.ai in desperation since we were dealing with a C-Corp name change after an acquisition. I'm honestly surprised how well it worked. The document analysis caught that our state had actually misspelled our new corporate name on the official filing (they added an 's' at the end), which would have caused a mismatch with the IRS. The tool created a complete correspondence package that included the Form 8822-B, a cover letter explaining the situation, and even flagged that we needed to update our EIN information separately. Our name change was processed in about 3 weeks, well before we needed to file our quarterly returns. Saved us from what would have been a major headache trying to reconcile different names across systems.

If you're struggling to get through to the IRS about your C-Corp name change (which I was for WEEKS), I found this service called Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) that was a complete game-changer. I had submitted Form 8822-B but needed to confirm it was processed before filing our corporate return, and couldn't get through on the business line. I was pretty desperate after 9 attempts to reach someone at the IRS, then I watched their demo (https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c) and decided to give it a shot. Basically, they hold your place in the IRS phone queue and call you when an agent is about to answer. Went from spending hours on hold to just talking directly with an IRS representative. The IRS agent confirmed our name change was in process but not yet complete, gave me specific instructions on how to file our return with both names referenced, and saved us from potential matching issues.

I need to eat my words from my comment above. After another frustrating week of trying to reach someone at the IRS about our C-Corp's name change confirmation, I broke down and tried Claimyr. I'm still shocked at how well it worked. I had been trying to reach the IRS for THREE WEEKS with no success. Used Claimyr yesterday afternoon, and within 45 minutes I got a call connecting me directly to an IRS representative. The agent confirmed our Form 8822-B was received but flagged for review because our new name was similar to another business. She was able to expedite the review since we're approaching tax filing deadlines and explained exactly how to reference both names on our upcoming return. Without this call, we would have filed incorrectly and potentially caused massive headaches. Definitely not a scam like I initially thought. Honestly wish I'd tried it weeks ago.

Just a quick heads up for anyone changing their C-Corp name - don't forget to also notify the Social Security Administration! We changed our corp name last year and updated with the IRS using Form 8822-B, but didn't realize we needed to separately notify SSA. Caused a huge headache when our W-2 filing was rejected because the name didn't match their records. Had to scramble to fix it before the deadline.

Has anyone had experience with a C-Corp name change that involves a totally different DBA (doing business as) name? We're keeping our legal C-Corp name the same but operating under a completely new brand name. Do we need to notify the IRS about our DBA or just use our legal name on all tax forms?

I went through this exact situation last year with my consulting firm. The fastest method I found was actually a combination approach: 1. File Form 8822-B immediately (as Andre mentioned) - this is crucial for official records 2. Call the IRS Business & Specialty Tax Line at 800-829-4933 the same day you mail the form When I called, I had my state Articles of Amendment ready and was able to verify the name change was legitimate. The IRS representative made a notation in their system that expedited the processing of my Form 8822-B. Without the call, it would have taken 6+ weeks, but with the phone notation, my name change was processed in about 2 weeks. Pro tip: Call early in the morning (8 AM ET) for shorter hold times, and have your EIN, old business name, new business name, and state filing confirmation number ready. The rep will ask for all of these to verify your identity. Also make sure your state filing is completely processed before contacting the IRS - they will verify this during the call. Don't forget to update your business bank accounts and any quarterly estimated tax vouchers with the new name once the IRS confirms the change!