Common EIN mistakes to avoid
Small mistakes during the EIN process that cause big delays — and how to skip them entirely.
Direct answer
The most common EIN mistakes are paying a third-party site for what the IRS provides for free, applying before the business is legally formed, mismatched legal names, and using the wrong responsible party. All are easy to avoid with a small amount of preparation.
Simple explanation
An EIN application is straightforward, but small errors create real friction: rejected applications, IRS letters that take weeks to resolve, or worse — paying a service for something the IRS provides for free. Knowing the common pitfalls in advance saves time and money.
Mistakes to avoid
- 1
Paying a third-party site
Getting an EIN is free on IRS.gov. If a site charges a fee, it's not the IRS.
- 2
Applying before the business is legally formed
If your business is an LLC or corporation, file your state formation paperwork first. The EIN application asks for your legal name and date — both come from formation.
- 3
Name mismatches
The legal name on the EIN application must exactly match what's on your formation documents. Punctuation and spacing matter.
- 4
Wrong responsible party
The responsible party must be a natural person who controls the entity, not another business or a service provider.
- 5
Forgetting to save the EIN confirmation letter (CP 575)
Save the IRS confirmation letter immediately. Banks and many agencies will ask for it later.
Summary
- •Always apply directly through IRS.gov. It's free.
- •Form your business legally before applying for the EIN.
- •Match the legal name exactly to your formation documents.
- •Save your CP 575 confirmation letter the day you receive it.