When do I need to change my EIN number?
Do You Need a New EIN - Changing the name of your business does not require you to obtain a new EIN. Businesses need a new EIN when their ownership or structure has changed. The information below provides answers to frequently asked questions about changing your EIN.
Sole Proprietors
You
will be required to obtain a new EIN if the following statements are true.
- You are subject to a bankruptcy proceeding.
- You incorporate.
- You take in partners and operate as a partnership.
- You purchase or inherit an existing business that you operate as a sole proprietorship.
You
will not be required to obtain a new EIN if the following statements are true.
- You change the name of your business.
- You change your location and add other locations.
- You operate multiple businesses.
Corporations
You
will be required to obtain a new EIN if the following statements are true.
- A corporation receives a new charter from the secretary of state.
- You are a subsidiary of a corporation using the parent's EIN or you become a subsidiary of a corporation.
- You change to a partnership or a sole proprietorship.
- A new corporation is created after a statutory merger.
You
will not be required to obtain a new EIN if the following statements are true.
- You are a division of a corporation.
- The surviving corporation uses the existing EIN after a corporate merger.
- A corporation declares bankruptcy.
- The corporate name or location changes.
- A corporation chooses to be taxed as an S corporation.
- Reorganization of a corporation changes only the identity or place.
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Partnerships
You
will be required to obtain a new EIN if the following statements are true.
- You incorporate.
- Your partnership is taken over by one of the partners and is operated as a sole proprietorship.
- You end an old partnership and begin a new one.
- 50 percent or more of the ownership (measured by interests in capital and profits) changes hands within a 12-month period.
You
will not be required to obtain a new EIN if the following statements are true.
- The partnership declares bankruptcy.
- The partnership name changes.
- You change the location of the partnership or add other locations.
