topic My whole EIN doesn't fit in the box. Why and how do I correct this? in Get your taxes done using TurboTax

My whole EIN doesn't fit in the box. Why and how do I correct this?

markkmurray — Mon, 23 Feb 2026 10:22:22 GMT

Re: My whole EIN doesn't fit in the box. Why and how do I correct this?

AnnetteB6 — Tue, 24 Jan 2023 15:09:48 GMT

The IRS Employer Identification Number (EIN) is a standard format and length starting with 2 digits, a dash, and then 7 digits (XX-XXXXXXX).

If the EIN shown on your W-2 or other tax paperwork does not fit this format, then you may be looking at the wrong field or the employer or issuer may have made an error. Double-check that you are entering the correct number. If the EIN does not fit the standard format, contact your employer or issuer for a correction.

Re: My whole EIN doesn't fit in the box. Why and how do I correct this?

Thax — Thu, 23 Feb 2023 15:00:08 GMT

This answer is incorrect/outdated. Even the IRS From 2441 shown within TurboTax itself tells you to input the EIN (nn-nnnnnnn), allowing for 7 digits after the hyphen. IRS.gov says they are 9 digits, not 8 and a hyphen. My provider has an EIN that is that long (9 digits). TurboTax software does not allow you to input this many characters because it requires the hyphen, so you are stuck at smart check.

Please fix the software.

UPDATE:

Quirk of the software - selecting and deleting the entire line and just retyping the entire EIN worked. Editing what was present would not, because it would still cap at 9 total characters and give an error.

Re: My whole EIN doesn't fit in the box. Why and how do I correct this?

TeresaM — Thu, 23 Feb 2023 15:10:04 GMT

Thank you for that information. Backspacing over fields that have errors can clear out invisible formatting characters from copy and paste or stray typos. We don't want those transmitting on an e-file and doing unexpected things.

I was able to enter 9 characters in both TurboTax Online and Desktop, so that form seems to be working.

Re: My whole EIN doesn't fit in the box. Why and how do I correct this?

Critter-3 — Thu, 23 Feb 2023 15:22:54 GMT

Sorry but the federal EIN is and always has been only 9 digits long presented in this fashion : XX-XXXXXXX

Are you looking at a STATE EIN ? Those can be anything and even include letters.