The IRS has announced that as of May 21, 2012, it will issue only one employer identification number (EIN) per responsible party each day. The limitation applies to all requests online, by phone, fax, or mail.
No idea what this is about, folks, but I have to think it’s related to some kind of effort to curb abuse. According to the IRS web site, the point is “to ensure fair and equitable treatment for all taxpayers” which clears up any confusion… not at all.
It’s also unclear what happens if the IRS – through no fault of the responsible party – receives more than one request on a single day. For example, what happens if the IRS mailbag doesn’t get emptied until the day that you make the request online? Does it get bumped? Delayed? Will they tell you? And if they do, will it be by Notice? I have no answers. I suspect the IRS doesn’t either.
Makes you almost pine for the days when you could get a block of EINs via fax. Anybody else remember those days?