Why would my Employer ID be invalid for Electronic Filing?

[princess-procras]

I am positive I have the correct number. I have tried re-entering it and deleting the whole W2 and putting it back in. If it is a valid employer ID, what would prevent me from E-filing? Will it be rejected by mail?

[Kat]

Are you able to import your W-2?  Sometimes this will fix the error.  Here's the TurboTax FAQ with instructions on how to import.

How do I import or enter my W-2? 

Is this the first time you've filed using this EIN?  If so, you may want to double-check with your employer to confirm that there is not an error on your W-2.  The EIN should contain 9 digits in this format:  00-0000000.

[princess-procras]

Thanks for the suggestions - I cannot import and I work in our HR department and am sure the employer ID is correct. This is the first time I am filing with this company - we are just over 100 employees. I’m not sure if the size affects the ability to eFile.

I just want to try to make sure nothing will be rejected if I have to file by mail. 

[Kat]

@princess-procras Well, you surely should know the EIN.  Maybe try entering it with and without the dash?  

Size of the company should not in any way effect your ability to e-file.

Let me report this to TurboTax Moderators.  I'll see if anyone else has reported a similar problem.  And to answer your question:  If the EIN is valid, you should be able to file by mail without any issue.  But you don't want to do that if you don't have to, right?  

I'll see what I can find out for you.  Just curious?  Is this a NEW company?  Likely not, with that many employees.  But I had to ask.

[Carl]

On a whim, is it possible the employer is using an incorrect/invalid number due to a typo? I know in FL you can confirm a business FEIN at the Florida Division of Corporations website. Can't speak for other states though.

[princess-procras]

@Kat Good question - it’s not a new company and this is the second tax year we will have used the same payroll portal. I’m honestly stumped because I field a lot of tax questions and no one has brought up efiling issues to me. Our W2s have been available since the 7th

[princess-procras · Accepted solution]

@Kat I think I figured out the issue. Our payroll processing is done via Paylocity, who has a contract with a competitor called Taxact. 

[Kat]

@princess-procras Interesting.  So you MUST use TaxAct for tax preparation?  

[princess-procras]

@Kat That was my impression, but after speaking to employees today, some have been able to file on TurboTax with the employer ID with no issue 

[Kat]

@princess-procras I can't imagine what the issue is with your particular filing.  I'm glad to know that a "contract" doesn't limit employees to which service they can use to submit tax returns.

I'll run this by Moderators one more time.  Worst case scenario would be that you'd need to paper file.  But that's just ridiculous, in my opinion.  You may want to wait until a bit later in the filing season to try again.  Updates to the programs (and bug fixes) typically occur on Thursdays, later in the day.

I'm so sorry you're experiencing this!

[Critter-3]

Were you trying to file the company W-2/W-3 forms  thru the TT system ?   If so the COMPANY may need to use the contracted service but this will have no effect on the employees who get the W-2 forms for their personal returns. 

[princess-procras]

@Critter-3 good question! No, I was trying to file my personal W2. The only difference between the employee I talked to and myself was that she has been working for the company longer than I have - she said she’s used TurboTax with no issues for at least three years. I started with this company this year and had two additional W2s on my return.

[Critter-3]

One thing that would  be an issue is if the EIN# was gotten just this month Jan 2022 to use on  the 2021 forms ... the IRS will reject that forcing a paper filing.