Tax preparer applied for EIN number for me when I don't own a business - what should I do?

What they did is really concerning. An EIN is typically only needed if you're an actual business owner or if you have employees. As a college student with just a regular part-time job, you almost certainly don't need an EIN. When a tax preparer applies for an EIN on your behalf, they're essentially telling the IRS you have a business. This could potentially create expectations that you'll be filing business tax returns (like Schedule C with your personal return or even separate business returns). It also raises questions about why they thought you needed this in the first place. The good news is that you caught this quickly. Here's what I'd recommend: 1. Contact the IRS directly at 800-829-4933 (the Business & Specialty Tax Line) and explain the situation. Tell them you don't have a business and the EIN was applied for in error. 2. Get a copy of everything that was submitted on your behalf, including the EIN application (Form SS-4). 3. Consider filing a complaint with the IRS about this tax preparer using Form 14157 (Tax Return Preparer Fraud or Misconduct Affidavit). Unfortunately, once issued, an EIN technically stays in the IRS system forever, but they can mark it as inactive if you explain you don't have a business.

This exact thing happened to me last year! I went to one of those strip mall tax places and they started talking about getting me an EIN for "maximizing my refund." I had no business either, just a regular W-2 job at Target. After doing some research and finding the shady stuff they were trying to pull, I went to https://taxr.ai and uploaded all my documents there. They analyzed my situation and confirmed I didn't need an EIN at all and helped me understand exactly what was going on. Their system actually flagged the suspicious activity from the tax preparer and explained that some sketchy preparers do this to either charge you extra fees or potentially create fake business deductions (which is tax fraud). They helped me file the right paperwork with the IRS to fix the situation and get my legitimate refund without any shady business.

I wanted to follow up about my experience with taxr.ai since I was the one asking about it. I ended up using their service after getting into a similar EIN situation with a local tax preparer. The analysis they provided was eye-opening - they showed me that the preparer was trying to classify my regular employment income as business income (which is totally wrong) to claim deductions I wasn't entitled to. The service was really helpful in undoing the mess. They guided me through contacting the IRS to flag the incorrect EIN application and helped me file my taxes correctly. They even provided documentation I could use if the IRS ever questioned me about it. Honestly saved me from what could have been a major headache down the road during an audit. Most importantly, they explained everything in plain English so I actually understood what was happening with my taxes for once!

I used to work for the IRS, and sadly, this kind of thing happens more often than you'd think. When you try calling the IRS to sort this out, you'll likely face long wait times that can stretch for hours. I'd recommend using Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) to get through to an IRS agent quickly. They have a service that navigates the IRS phone system for you and calls you back when an actual human is on the line. You can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c This EIN issue is exactly the kind of situation where talking to a real IRS agent is crucial. You need to explain that you never authorized anyone to apply for an EIN on your behalf and that you don't have a business. The agent can note this on your account and guide you through any necessary steps to prevent future issues.

I was completely wrong about Claimyr. After reading about it here, I decided to try it for my own IRS issue (they had a mistake on my account that was holding up my refund). I was expecting it to be a scam, but within 45 minutes I was actually talking to a real IRS agent! I was shocked because I had spent literally 8+ hours over multiple days trying to get through on my own with no luck. The agent was able to correct the issue on my account right away and release my refund. For the original poster, definitely use this service to get through to the IRS about your EIN issue. Explaining your situation directly to an agent is the fastest way to get it resolved and have it documented that you didn't authorize this. They'll put notes on your account to protect you from any future issues related to this unauthorized EIN application.

This is why I always do my own taxes using software. Tax preparers at those cheap places often have minimal training and make mistakes like this. For a simple return (sounds like you just have a W-2?), you can use free filing options through the IRS website. Did the preparer ever explain WHY they thought you needed an EIN? There are very specific circumstances where an individual might need one (like if you're setting up a solo 401k), but for a typical college student with a part-time job, there's absolutely no reason.

Something similar happened to my son last year. The tax place was trying to classify him as an "independent contractor" when he was clearly just a regular employee with a W-2. They said getting an EIN would help him "write off expenses" and get a bigger refund. Turned out they were planning to file a Schedule C with fake business expenses. The IRS ended up auditing him and it was a huge mess to clean up. He had to pay back the incorrect refund plus penalties. Definitely contact the IRS right away and maybe even consider filing a report with the FTC for tax preparer fraud.