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What does EIN reference number 101 mean?

EINFormationIRS

Reference number 101 means the IRS's name check found an existing record too close to the name you entered, and the online tool will not issue a number until a person has looked at it. It is the most common reference number and it is not a verdict on your company. The IRS has never said what 101 means. This is the meaning every account of it agrees on.

It does not mean your state filing has a problem. The state cleared your name against its own register when it approved the formation. The IRS checks against a different, national list that includes every entity ever issued an EIN, in every state, dissolved ones included, and its match is looser than the state's. A Meridian Labs LLC formed in Texas this month can collide with a Meridian Labs Inc that closed in Ohio years ago. The IRS wants a human to confirm they are different companies, and that is all.

The fix

Retrying online does not help; the same check produces the same result. Complete a paper Form SS-4 and fax it to the IRS at 855-641-6935, with a copy of the state-approved formation document attached so the reviewer can see the exact legal name and the state that approved it. The IRS's stated turnaround for a faxed SS-4 is about four business days, and the number comes back by fax, so use a fax number someone will check. Post works too but takes around four weeks. Do not keep trying online while the fax is pending, because the IRS allows one EIN per responsible party per day and two routes can produce two numbers.

Written by the lawyers who built Arabella. This is legal information, not legal advice for your situation, and reading it does not make us your lawyers. For a real dispute or a high-stakes decision, talk to a licensed attorney. More questions.