Forgive me... this is a rather lengthy description of my situation:
I've had my small business for well over 20 years. I've had my EIN for at least that long, however I cannot find the form I received from the IRS designating my EIN. I have several 1099 workers. Every year, I send 1099's to these individuals and file a form 1096 -Annual Summary and Transmittal of US Information Returns. This summarizes the number of 1099's and the total amount reported as non-employee compensation... you fill out all of the identifying information: Business name, your name, EIN, your SS#. This form is filed by January 31 of the next year. I have filed for 1096 every year... the oldest form I have a copy of is from 2008. Back then, when you ordered forms from the IRS, they would send PRE-PRINTED form 1096 with a label stating EIN, Business name and address.
Move forward to 2024. I recently had a customer ask for a W-9. I provided the form with my business name and the EIN I have ALWAYS used. They notified me that they could not verify my business name or EIN with the IRS. So, I contacted the IRS. They CANNOT FIND MY BUSINESS NAME OR EIN in their system. Apparently I don't exist.
I went and met with an agent and took copies of all the forms I had to verify that I indeed had that EIN and Business name. This included copies of 1096's filed/reported, 1099's that were included in annual summary transmittal... as well as 1099's my clients have sent to my business. He searched and searched and searched. Could not find ANY info with my business name of EIN or any link to my SS#. All he could do is give me a phone number for "businesses" and EIN's. I can't through... always "EXTREMELY HIGH VOLUME" please try back on next business day.
Why hasn't the IRS ever notified me that the 1096's I've sent in every year were invalid? I'm just at a loss...
Suggestions?
