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New Member
posted Feb 11, 2021 3:45:28 PM

My employers EIN is 1 character too long for the website, so it keeps automatically deleting the last character which is making it check as invalid. How can I Fix this?

M empoyers EIN on my W2 has the letter C at the end of it, which is not only not allowed on the website in and of itself, it also makes the EIN 1 character too long for the website. This is causing an enormous headache for me - I'm completely ready to file and even paid the fees already and I can't move forward now.

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1 Best answer
Level 15
Feb 2, 2022 2:52:19 PM


@cindy-doklan wrote:

My employer EIN has a dash in it, format as follows:  NN-NNNNNNN, so 2 numeric, a dash, and 7 more numbers.  Box b truncates the last digit.  When I try to remove the dash, turbo tax it puts it back in.  I have tried to overstrike on the forms, but it keeps reverting back.  The override function does not seem to work. 

 

This is the SAME EIN as 2020 federal tax box b, which was filed successfully with no errors.  The same EIN is in the state portion of the W2 (box 15) in 2021 and it shows correctly.  So it's not the employer that need to correct the EIN.  

 

Please help!  I want my refund!  


That sounds like a web browser issue.  Close your TurboTax window on your web browser.  Change your web browser to either Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox

5 Replies
Expert Alumni
Feb 11, 2021 4:12:26 PM

If your error is in box 15 of the W2 then enter the same EIN as listed in box b.  

 

It both EIN numbers are too long then you need to call your Employer to have the correct number updated.

 

Regarding Box 15-.

The only truly meaningful elements on a W-2 for income tax filing purposes are your employer's federal EIN (Employer's ID number), your own Social Security Number (SSN), and your actual wage data.  If there was a mistake made with any of these items, then that would definitely be something that requires attention.

 

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 Box 15 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).

Returning Member
Feb 2, 2022 2:48:35 PM

My employer EIN has a dash in it, format as follows:  NN-NNNNNNN, so 2 numeric, a dash, and 7 more numbers.  Box b truncates the last digit.  When I try to remove the dash, turbo tax it puts it back in.  I have tried to overstrike on the forms, but it keeps reverting back.  The override function does not seem to work. 

 

This is the SAME EIN as 2020 federal tax box b, which was filed successfully with no errors.  The same EIN is in the state portion of the W2 (box 15) in 2021 and it shows correctly.  So it's not the employer that need to correct the EIN.  

 

Please help!  I want my refund!  

Returning Member
Feb 2, 2022 2:49:33 PM

your solution doesn't work, see my email. 

Level 15
Feb 2, 2022 2:52:19 PM


@cindy-doklan wrote:

My employer EIN has a dash in it, format as follows:  NN-NNNNNNN, so 2 numeric, a dash, and 7 more numbers.  Box b truncates the last digit.  When I try to remove the dash, turbo tax it puts it back in.  I have tried to overstrike on the forms, but it keeps reverting back.  The override function does not seem to work. 

 

This is the SAME EIN as 2020 federal tax box b, which was filed successfully with no errors.  The same EIN is in the state portion of the W2 (box 15) in 2021 and it shows correctly.  So it's not the employer that need to correct the EIN.  

 

Please help!  I want my refund!  


That sounds like a web browser issue.  Close your TurboTax window on your web browser.  Change your web browser to either Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox

Returning Member
Feb 3, 2022 7:45:08 AM

although totally NOT intuitive to me, that worked.  My browser search engine was yahoo.  I changed it to google Chrome and the form itself allowed me to put in the missing EIN digit.

 

thanks for the help