Can you change your business name and keep the same EIN? If you change your name soon after you file your annual tax return, then you can inform the IRS of the EIN number change name through a signed notification. EINs do not expire. Once an EIN has been issued to an entity, it will not be reissued. If you only run one business entity, the IRS will only issue you a single EIN. You will be required to obtain a new EIN if any of the following statements are true. A new LLC with more than one owner (Multi-member LLC) is formed under state law.
Starting a Business and EIN Regulations
You don’t need to register with city or county governments to start a business. If your business is an LLC, partnership, or nonprofit corporation, you need to file for licenses and permits from the city or county. Business owners and other authorized individuals can submit a name change for their business. Applying for an EIN is free and easy, and you’ll only need one number—even if you have multiple DBAs.
A company can use a single EIN across multiple units with multiple fictitious names, as long as those units aren’t set up as legally separate businesses. Although changing the name of your business does not require you to obtain a new EIN, you may wish to visit the Business Name Change page to find out what actions are required if you change the name of your business.
How to Update the IRS
To change the name of your LLC or corporation and keep your existing EIN, you will need to submit an application to the IRS. Normally business name change applications are mailed to the IRS branch where you send your tax returns. Additionally, contacting your bank to find out if the existing business bank account’s name can be changed to the new DBA, or if it will require opening a bank account for the new DBA, is necessary. You must also check with local authorities to find out if business licenses and permits must be updated or obtained for the new DBA.
The name of a general partnership or proprietorship is the same as the business owner, and they can file for a DBA (Doing Business As) for marketing. For an LLC or Corporation, the options are to either abandon the existing name in exchange for a new one or keep the existing name and get another one for marketing purposes. An LLC will need an EIN if it has any employees or if it will be required to file any of the excise tax forms listed below.
Does the EIN Have to Match the Business Name?
The IRS typically takes two months to register a business name change. A name change can be costly in supplies and legal liabilities. Make sure the EIN name fully reflects the official corporate name. When you file a return, the EIN only has to match the name control, which is normally the first four characters of the name. A partnership only needs one EIN, not separate ones for each partner. Call the IRS to update your records immediately after submitting a name change.