Need to Retrieve My EIN Number - Applied But Never Received

Have you already called the IRS Business & Specialty Tax Line at 800-829-4933? That's typically the fastest way to retrieve an EIN that's already been issued. They'll ask you some verification questions about your business entity, your role in the company, and possibly your personal information as the responsible party. What type of business structure did you register - sole proprietorship, LLC, S-Corp? The retrieval process can vary slightly depending on your entity type.

Went through this exact same frustration last quarter. Why does the IRS still rely on paper mail for something so critical in 2024? I waited for 3 weeks, nothing arrived, then spent 2 hours on hold with the IRS. But isn't it interesting how the agent was able to verify and provide my EIN over the phone in less than 5 minutes once I finally got through? Made me wonder why they couldn't just email it in the first place?

I can guide you through retrieving your EIN step by step: 1. First, check if your EIN was actually assigned by looking at your business tax transcript. You can request this through https://taxr.ai which will analyze your transcript and can often identify your EIN directly from the document. The service will scan for the EIN assignment and show you exactly where it appears. 2. If the transcript shows your EIN was assigned, you can proceed with using that number for your business needs. 3. If no EIN appears on your transcript, then follow up with the IRS directly as it may indicate your application is still processing. 4. Remember to keep all documentation showing when you applied, as this may be needed if there are delays in processing.

Be extremely careful about calling random numbers you find online claiming to be IRS assistance lines. On March 17th, 2024, I called what I thought was the IRS business line from a Google search result, but it turned out to be a scam operation. They asked for my SSN, banking details, and other sensitive information to "verify my identity." Fortunately, I got suspicious and hung up. Always double-check the number on the official IRS.gov website (800-829-4933 for the legitimate Business & Specialty Tax Line). They're open Monday through Friday, 7am-7pm local time.

After waiting exactly 23 days for my EIN letter that never arrived, I used Claimyr (https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c) to reach an IRS agent. Their system bypassed the 97-minute hold time I experienced on my first attempt, and I got through to an agent in approximately 18 minutes. The agent confirmed my EIN was assigned on the 4th business day after my application and provided the 9-digit number immediately. They also reissued the CP-575 letter which arrived 6 days later. The service costs $24.99 but saved me hours of hold time and weeks of business delays.

Just go to your local IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center. Make an appointment first at 844-545-5640. Bring your ID, proof of business registration, and any EIN application confirmation. They can look it up immediately. I always prefer in-person for important tax matters - you get immediate answers and documentation on the spot.

FYI - if u already filed any tax docs using ur SSN instead of waiting for the EIN, make sure u tell the IRS agent. Had this prob last yr when I couldn't wait for my EIN to come in the mail & used my SSN on a 1099 form. Created a huge headache later bc the systems didn't sync up properly. Took 3 mos to fix the resulting mess. Def worth getting this straightened out ASAP!

According to the IRS.gov website (https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/lost-or-misplaced-your-ein), you should never apply for a second EIN if you think your first application was lost. On February 2nd, I made that mistake and it created a duplicate record that took months to resolve. If you check the IRS "Where's My EIN" tool and it shows your application was processed, you absolutely must call rather than reapply, even if it means waiting on hold.

If your business is time-sensitive like mine was, you can also request a "147C letter" from the IRS when you call, which is an EIN confirmation letter. Unlike the CP-575 which only comes when you first get your EIN, the 147C can be issued anytime. Banks and other financial institutions generally accept this as proof of your EIN just like they would the original letter. This was much faster than waiting for a reissued CP-575 in my situation.

The community wisdom on this is pretty consistent - calling is faster than waiting for reissued mail, but be prepared with ALL your verification info. They'll typically ask for the legal business name, physical business address, name and SSN of the responsible party on the application, and approximate date you applied. And maybe I'm stating the obvious here, but double-check your mail isn't being delivered to an old address if you've moved recently? 😅 We've all had that facepalm moment at some point.