Trying to E-file a LLC and keep getting error Alert: "Filer's EIN & Name Control in the Return Header must match data in the E-file database. Can someone help me with this. I've checked everything & still keep getting the error message.
Call the E-help Desk. They answer the phone on the first or second ring, and they know what the name control associated with that EIN is.
1-866-255-0654
It means that the Spelling of the company you are using does not match the one on the IRS database. Call IRS to confirm, or look at IRS correspondence to the client.
Note also that you can override the Name Control (a 4-letter string) without changing the name on the return, should you feel that's appropriate. Getting the Name Control changed involves sending a bunch of foo-foo to the IRS, but all they care about is the Name Control matching - page 1 of the return concerns them not.
Thanks for everyone who answered my question. I think this is the first time I've had to ask a question but am glad I did. I realized that I got the clients Tax ID # with the name he wanted. Then when I set up his LLC, that name was not available, so I had to add his last name in front of the name he wanted. Now I have to remember one name for Federal and one name for his Texas Franchise Tax, which is no bid deal.
Again, Thanks everyon.
If it were me, I'd file the return using the client's actual legal name, and override the Name Control to prevent the e-file reject. I personally am not a fan of using someone else's name (since the name he got the EIN under wasn't available, someone else probably has it) on tax returns. But I also make clients get their name blessed by the state before I'll get them an EIN, too.
Yes, I plan to do that as well, as soon as 10/15 passes by. I'm still so busy. I wonder if it's possible that the company name that was on his EIN, (that was not available) could have been his old business name, which was a DBA. Just grasping at straws, as the dba and the LLC were both not common names.
Also, since I've never run into this before, How do I "override the Name Control"? I hope this doesn't make me sound stupid, as I have read some very stupid questions on here & wonder if the people asking the questions are really qualified to be preparing tax returns.
