I've entered my employers state ID number (KY) from box 15 on my W2 and it's saying that my ID number is incorrect. However, it was the same as last year's, which worked.

[austin-neal]

Hello,

I'm trying to file my tax returns but it is saying that my EIN for Kentucky is invalid for electronic filing. I used the same EIN to file last years returns, but it's not working now. Thank you.

[Critter]

Did you get that from the 2017 form W-2 ?  Or off the last year's form ?

[ofmu222]

Off of the W2,  I have 3 family members who work for The Christ Hospital and they all have 63813 as the KY Employer's State ID???

[DanielV01]

Make it 063813 and you'll pass the diagnostic.  KY will accept it this way.

[adamnixon7028]

If it has 8 numbers, can I remove the first 2 zeros

[DanielV01]

Yes.  KY does not recognize the first two zeroes that are entered anyways.

[DanielV01 · Accepted solution]

It depends.  The KY ID in box 15 where it states State employer ID is 6 digits for KY.  But, there are KY companies that only print out five digits on the W-2.  Check to see if your entry is 5 digits instead of 6.  If on the W-2 you only see five digits, then add a zero in front of the number in TurboTax.  KY will recognize the number, and you'll get through the TT diagnostic.

[weslee2310]

Im having a similar problem but my employer's id is nine numbers instead of six any suggestions??

[blagg]

and mine is 11 digits long.

[biloska]

Mine is 6 digits, the same as last year. It tells you to put 3 zeros in front of 6 digit number. It’s rejecting state form says Schedule Ky -2  employer state ID number wrong   Please help me.  
[email address removed]

[RogerD1]

Go back to your W-2 information to edit the KY employer number.  Here are the steps to take:

1. In TurboTax online, go to the left menu under Federal and click Wages and Income
2. Click on Add/Edit for Wages and Salaries (W2)
3. Click Edit by your W-2 on the W-2 Summary Screen.
4. Click Continue on the screen "OK, let's update the info we have for you and your employer"
5. Scroll down to the State taxes area.  For the Employer's state ID number enter three zeros in front of the six digit KY employer state ID number.
6. Click Continue.

If you have other W-2's from KY affected by this error, go back and repeat the steps above for each affected W-2.

[wbrummer]

trying to E-File my KY taxes but the software doesn't accept the 6 digit ID from the W2.  It forces adding 000 to the front of the id but then says it is not valid when trying to E-File.

HELP!!!!

[JamesG1]

Have you received a rejection code?  What is the rejection code?  Please clarify.

IRS Instructions for Forms W-2 and W-3 page 24 states: 

Boxes 15 through 20

Use these boxes to report state and local income tax information. Enter the two-letter abbreviation for the name of the state. The employer's state ID numbers are assigned by the individual states.

This TurboTax Best Answer states:

However, with respect to the Box 15 state number ID issue, it won't really matter what you input in Box 15 Employer ID, as long as the software will accept it (explained below).  Make sure that the state where you work is correctly selected from the Box 15 drop-down menu, if it has not already been pre-populated by the TurboTax program.

Then, simply try leaving the number space entirely blank at first.  If there is any issue with Box 15 that prevents e-filing your return with a blank Box 15, and it absolutely requires some value in the software, then either try using your Federal EIN again here, or enter a "nonsense" value such as 12345 67890 (with a space in the middle, or not).

If the TurboTax program asks you for a state ID number in a specific format, such as needing exactly 9-digits and ending in XYZ,  for instance, then enter a just enter a value that conforms to that format . . . such as 123456XYZ.  This will enable you to bypass the issue and file your return.  In other words, try to be a little creative here, and just give the software some value (even gibberish) that it will accept.

In fact, the IRS computers and your state department of revenue really won't care, as, they're really just looking for the federal EIN, SSN, and relevant wage data.  The State ID is simply a bureaucratic convention for your state; the state can and will still be able to easily and uniquely identify your employer by their federal EIN, even if they have to cross-reference the Federal / State ID numbers in their database.  In other words, this single issue should not affect the processing of your tax return, as long as you can satisfy the software with some acceptable input (or none at all).

@wbrummer 

[wbrummer]

Nope, The software forces me to enter 9 digits on the W-2 entry screen but no matter what I enter I still get the must be 9 digits error when I try to E-File.  Seems to me there is a problem in the software.

[MarilynG1]

If your State Employer ID is not accepted, you can use the Federal ID number instead.  The State ID number is not required to file, but since TurboTax insists on a number, you can use the Federal ID number.

If you're using TurboTax Online, clear your Cache and Cookies and return to the entry.  If you imported your W-2, you could also delete it and re-enter it manually. 

@wbrummer