If you are required to report employment taxes or give tax statements to employees or annuitants, you need an EIN.

The EIN is a nine-digit number the IRS issues. The digits are arranged as follows: 00-0000000. It is used to identify the tax accounts of employers and certain others that have no employees. Use your EIN on all the items you send to the IRS and SSA. For more information, get Pub. 1635, Understanding Your EIN.

If you have not asked for an EIN, request one on Form SS-4, Application for Employer Identification Number. Form SS-4 has information on how to apply for an EIN by mail or by telephone.

You should have only one EIN. If you have more than one and are not sure which one to use, please check with the Internal Revenue Service office where you file your return. Give the numbers you have, the name and address to which each was assigned, and the address of your main place of business. The IRS will tell you which number to use.

If you took over another employer's business, do not use that employer's EIN. If you do not have your own EIN by the time a return is due, write "Applied for" and the date you applied in the space shown for the number.

See Depositing without an EIN on page 20 if you must make a deposit and you do not have an EIN.

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