There may be a variety of reasons for you, as a business owner, to want to change the name of your organization. It’s possible that you desire to rebrand your firm or that it has merged with another one. No matter the cause, it’s important to know how it will affect your Employer Identification Number (EIN) and whether you’ll need to file for a new EIN.
Let’s first define what an EIN is. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issues each business an EIN, which is a special nine-digit number used for tax purposes. For your company, it functions like a Social Security number. If you hire people, conduct business as a partnership or corporation, or submit certain tax returns, you must obtain an EIN.
You do not need to register for a new EIN if you are a sole owner with no workers and you alter the name of your company. The EIN you were given when you initially registered your firm with the IRS can be used indefinitely.
However, you will need to file for a new EIN if you run a partnership, corporation, or LLC and you have changed the name of your company. This is so that the EIN, which is linked to the entity and not the owner in these commercial entities, which are thought of as independent from their owners.
How do you obtain a new EIN if you fall under the latter category? The IRS website offers online and postal applications for new EINs. Your present EIN, the new name of your company, and any additional pertinent information asked by the IRS must be provided.
It’s crucial to remember that if you change your company name, the IRS will not instantly update its records. Through the submission of Form SS-4, Application for Employer Identification Number, you must inform the IRS of the name change.
Therefore, if you operate as a sole proprietor without any workers, you do not require a new EIN if you change the name of your company. However, you will need to file for a new EIN if you run a partnership, company, or LLC. You must submit Form SS-4 to the IRS in order to inform them of the name change. You can ask the IRS directly for help if you have any queries or concerns.