If you are required to withhold any income, social security, or Medicare taxes, you will need an employer identification number for yourself, and you will need the social security number of each employee.

Employer identification number (EIN). The EIN is a nine-digit number the IRS issues. The digits are arranged as follows: 00-0000000. It is used to identify the tax accounts of employers and certain others that have no employees. Use your EIN on all the items you send to the IRS and SSA for your business.

If you have not asked for an EIN, request one on Form SS-4, Application for Employer Identification Number. Form SS-4 contains information on how to apply for an EIN by mail or by telephone.

If you do not have an EIN by the time a return is due, write "Applied For" and the date you applied in the space shown for the number. If you took over another employer's business, do not use that employer's EIN. Make your check for any amount due on a return payable to the "United States Treasury" and show on it your name (as shown on Form SS-4), address, kind of tax, period covered, and date you applied for an EIN.

You should have only one EIN. If you have more than one, notify the Internal Revenue Service Center where you file your return. List the EINs you have, the name and address to which each number was assigned, and the address of your principal place of business. The IRS will tell you which EIN to use.

For more information, see Pub. 1635, Understanding Your EIN, or Pub. 583, Starting a Business and Keeping Records.

Social security number. An employee's social security number (SSN) consists of nine digits separated as follows: 000-00-0000. You must obtain each employee's name and SSN because you must enter them on Form W-2. You may, but are not required to, photocopy the social security card if the employee provides it. If you do not provide the correct name and SSN, you may owe a penalty. Any employee without a social security card can get one by completing Form SS-5. You can get this form at SSA offices or by calling 1-800-772-1213. If your employee has applied for an SSN but does not have one when you must file Form W-2, enter "Applied For" on the form. When the employee receives the SSN, file Form W-2c, Corrected Wage and Tax Statement, to show the employee's SSN.

Note: Record the name and number of each employee exactly as they are shown on the employee's social security card. If the employee's name is not correct as shown on the card (for example, because of marriage or divorce), the employee should request a new card from the SSA. Continue to report the employee's wages under the old name until he or she shows you an updated social security card with the new name.

If your employee was given a new social security card to show his or her correct name and number after an adjustment to his or her alien residence status, correct your records and show the new information on Form W-2. If you filed Form W-2 for the same employee in prior years under the old name and SSN, file Form W-2c to correct the name and number. Advise the employee to contact the local SSA office about 9 months after the Form W-2c is filed to ensure that his or her records have been updated.

IRS individual taxpayer identification numbers (ITINs) for aliens. A resident or nonresident alien may request an ITIN for tax purposes if he or she does not have and is not eligible to get an SSN. Possession of an ITIN does not change an individual's employment or immigration status under U.S. law. Do not accept an ITIN in place of an SSN for employee identification. An individual with an ITIN who later becomes eligible to work in the United States must obtain an SSN.

Verification of social security numbers. The Social Security Administration (SSA) offers employers and authorized reporting agents two methods for verifying employee SSNs. Both methods match employee names and SSNs.

• Telephone verification. To verify up to five names and numbers, call 1-800-772-6270. To verify up to 50 names and numbers, contact your local social security office.
• Large volume verification. The Enumeration Verification Service (EVS) may be used to verify more than 50 employee names and SSNs. Preregistration is required for EVS or requests made on magnetic media. For more information, call the EVS Information Line at 410-965-7140 or visit SSA's Web Site for Employers at www.ssa.gov/employer.

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