Spouse Qualified Joint Venture: Should we use the same EIN number on both Schedule Cs?

Forum|Forum|3 months ago
April 7, 2026
1 reply
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My spouse & are self-employed and file as a spouse Qualified Joint Venture, in which we each file separate Schedule Cs and Schedule SEs. My husband just applied for & received an EIN number because we'll need to report solo 401(k) assets this year. The IRS instructions said for one spouse to apply for the EIN number. Should I use the same EIN number on my Schedule C?

DavidD66

Level 15

Since the business has an EIN I would include on both of your Schedules C.

I'm not clear as to why you applied for an EIN. According to the IRS:

Spouses electing qualified joint venture status are treated as sole proprietors for Federal tax purposes. Using the rules for sole proprietors, an EIN is not required for a sole proprietorship unless the sole proprietorship is required to file excise, employment, alcohol, tobacco, or firearms returns. If an EIN is required, the filing spouse should complete a Form SS-4 and request an EIN as a sole proprietor.

I assume your husband applied for the EIN as a sole proprietor, as only businesses that are owned and operated by spouses as co-owners (and not in the name of a state law entity) qualify for the election. LLCs are not eligible for the election.

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user00Author

Level 2

The form on which you report solo 401(k) assets requires an EIN.

DianeW777

Level 15

Yes, a Solo 401(k) typically requires its own, separate Employer Identification Number (EIN) even if you are a Qualified Joint Venture (QJV), treating your business as a sole proprietorship. While QJV spouses often use Social Security Numbers for business taxes, the 401(k) trust needs a distinct EIN for opening bank accounts and reporting.

Both spouses will use that same EIN for the Solo 401(K).

There is no formal requirement that an EIN be acquired for a Solo 401(k) plan since it is an owner-only plan. Some plan sponsors will use the plan participant’s social security number or business EIN (your EIN is specifically for the Solo 401(k)) as the plan tax identification number. This is what our tax expert @DavidD66 was explaining.

@user00

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