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Where in the program are you being asked for an EIN if you have not worked in 16 years? It sounds like you answered something incorrectly if you are being asked for that. What information are you trying to enter when it is asking for an EIN?
I see you are in the Self Employed version. If you have self employment and are filling out Schedule C it might be asking if you have your own EIN for your business. You would need a EIN if you paid employees and took taxes out of their pay. Or you can get a EIN so you don't need to give out your ssn to your clients/customers especially on form W9. Or to enter on a 1099NEC you issue to people you paid. On Schedule C you can either put down your ssn or your EIN.
If you are a small business./self-employed, you can use your SSN or get an EIN for yourself from the IRS. You must have an EIN if you pay employees, but even if you are an independent contractor with no employees, you might want an EIN so that you don't have to give your personal SSN to your clients and vendors.
If you have more than one business, each business needs a different EIN. Also, if you change the type of business (such as from a sole proprietorship to a partnership) you need a new EIN.
Get an EIN here,
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