If you received an EIN you didn’t request

If the IRS assigns you an EIN but you didn’t request it, check to see if someone requested it on your behalf for a legitimate business purpose. This could include:

• Spouse or other family member
• Community club or association
• Accountant
• Business partner or associate
• Bank or executor of a trust

Examples of legitimate business purposes to get an EIN are to:

• Pay for home health care or other services in your household
• Join a partnership or create a company
• Prepare a community association’s tax returns
• Create a trust or other fiscal entity through a bank or executor

Report identity theft if you rule out a legitimate cause for receiving the EIN

• You can submit Form 14039-B, Business Identity Theft Affidavit online by accessing an existing or creating a new ID.me account.
• If you are unable to submit Form 14039-B, Business Identity Theft Affidavit PDF online and you have received a letter about the fraudulent EIN, mail or fax the form to the address or fax number provided in the letter. If you have not received a letter, you can fax the form to 855-807-5720 or mail it to Internal Revenue Service, Ogden UT 84201.

Report identity theft for your business