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New EIN: Do You Need New EIN For Filing 2290 Truck Tax?

New EIN - Employer Identification Number

Understanding the role of EIN in 2290 truck tax reporting.

Identification. 

It’s a critical element of your 2290 filing regime, your information returns with the IRS. 

While individuals are required to report their social security numbers (SSNs), business entities are required to report employer identification numbers (EINs). 

If you’ve recently received your new EIN from the IRS, and your 2290 returns keep getting rejected due to “unknown EIN” or “invalid EIN” citations, then there’s a good chance that either your EIN was reported incorrectly. Or your EIN doesn’t exist in the IRS records.

So, what now?

Should you get a new EIN to file your 2290 truck tax forms

Let’s find out. 

Using EINs For Reporting 2290 Tax Information 

Trucking companies, truck businesses, and owner-operator truckers need to prepare and file their 2290 forms, and report the employer identification number (EIN) to indicate unique identification. 

Since 1998, the IRS has been pretty stern about retaining only the employer identification number as the base of identification for HVUT 2290 form filings. 

Prior to that, social security numbers were also accepted. But this isn’t the case anymore.

The IRS does not accept social security numbers as identification for HVUT reporting. 

Getting A New EIN For Your Trucking Business 

If you own a trucking company, you’ve likely been assigned an employer identification number (EIN) by the social security administration (SSA) or the IRS. 

However, if the name of your business has changed over the years or if you have wound up the business, your old EIN can no longer be used for your current 2290 filings. 

If the ownership of your business has changed or if the business was incorporated recently, you need to file for a new Employer Identification Number (EIN) by filing an SS-4 form with the IRS.

Unlike a social security number, EIN is assigned to entities, trusts, and businesses. Not individuals.

The new EIN can be used to file your 2290 returns with the IRS. 

Why The IRS Rejects A New EIN Reported On HVUT Form 2290 

It’s essential to note that a new EIN request takes about 2 weeks to be processed by the IRS. 

Additional 2 weeks time to establish the newly generated EIN/legal name combination in the IRS records. 

So, if you’ve recently received your employer identification number (EIN) and you’ve tried to file your 2290 returns with the IRS, your filing requests could be delayed or rejected. 

This is because the IRS database doesn’t have the new details added to its database yet. 

As and when the new details are added, your EIN and legal name reports will be accepted by the IRS. 

To reiterate, you may need to wait for about 2 weeks before you file your IRS 2290 forms with the new EIN. 

Do You Need New EIN For Filing 2290 Truck Tax?

Not necessarily. 

You don’t need a new EIN to file your 2290 returns if you have valid EIN/name information. 

New or old, every business needs to hold valid and functioning EIN and legal name information (in accordance with the IRS records) to get the IRS to accept your 2290 filings. 

If you’re reporting expired EIN credentials or incorrect EIN/name combinations, the IRS will likely reject your 2290 forms. 

The general rule here is that you need to verify your EIN and name combinations before you report it on your 2290 forms (or any IRS form for that matter) to avoid getting your filings rejected.

Validate your EIN/name information with the IRS TIN Matching system online and report the verified EIN on Form 2290. 

If you’re here, and you’re looking for information to report a valid EIN on your 2290 forms, then there’s a good chance that you care about your 2290 filings. 

HVUT 2290 reporting regime requires you to gather a variety of information, including but not limited to: 

  • Employer identification number (EIN)
  • Business name 
  • Vehicle identification number (VIN)
  • Total number of vehicles
  • Vehicle category 
  • Tax suspension details of vehicles 
  • Month of first use 
  • Mileage use limit 

When you’re dealing with this kind of information, it’s important to choose your eFile providers wisely. 

In the wrong hands, your business information can be fraudulently used, which can result in reputational loss, legal trouble, and even financial liabilities. 

There are many scammy websites out there that claim to be “legitimate” eFile providers, but they could be just bad actors waiting to steal your data. 

eFile your 2290 returns with an IRS-authorized eFile provider like EZ2290

How to check if we’re really authorized by the IRS? 

The IRS publishes a list of authorized eFile providers every year. You can verify it for yourself on the official IRS portal here.

EZ2290 offers: 

  • Easy 3-step eFile experiences
  • Encrypted form completion
  • Secure e-file transmission
  • Automatic tax calculations
  • Bulk 2290 eFile solutions
  • Free VIN corrections
  • Free re-filing for rejected returns
  • 24×7 priority 2290 support

No data compromise.

No paperwork. 

No mess. 

Just seamless e-filing. 

Explore Features

Get Started For Free & eFile Form 2290

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Guide To Understanding Your EIN & Why You Must Have An EIN To File Form 2290?

Guide To Understanding Your Employer Identification Number

Understand the significance of EIN in your Form 2290 filings.

The Employer Identification Number or EIN is a taxpayer identification number (TIN) assigned to self-employed individuals and businesses.

It’s common knowledge that TINs (or EINs in this context) are assigned to businesses by either the Social Security Administration (SSA) or the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). 

When businesses have a designated EIN, it basically represents their “identity”. Hence, the self-explanatory term “employer identification number”. This number or code is assigned to businesses or employers for the sole purpose of identification. 

EINs are used for a variety of purposes. For example, when you file your tax returns or pay your taxes, EINs are used to identify and track the history of filings. 

Similarly, EINs are also used to check the legal standing status of the business per the official records of the IRS.

For example, when you apply for a business loan or sign an agreement with a new investor, furnishing your EIN along with your company’s identification details is mandatory. 

If you’re a trucking company owner or an owner-operator, you will need to furnish the EIN and legal name of the business in IRS Form 2290.

This will ensure that your 2290 tax filings correlate with the taxpayer identification number, and helps the IRS tax a specific business appropriately. 

Without a TIN or an EIN, your 2290 filings  (or any tax filings for that matter) will be rejected by the IRS. 

The following discussion will primarily focus on EIN and its significance in 2290 filings. 

Let’s get started. 

  • EIN In Form 2290 Reporting
  • Advantages Of Reporting EIN On Form 2290 Accurately
  • How To Report EIN or TIN On IRS Form 2290?
  • How To Correct A Wrong TIN Entered In Form 2290?
  • How EZ2290 Helps

EIN In Form 2290 Reporting

The Employer Identification Number or EIN is a nine-digit number assigned to business entities by the IRS. Your good practices should include reporting a valid TIN or EIN on Form 2290 to stay compliant with the IRS. 

Just like any other IRS return, the 2290 form also requires the filer to report the EIN on Form 2290. Without which, the 2290 return stands invalid and will be rejected by the IRS. 

If you’re a preparer, then you probably file IRS 2290 Form for multiple businesses. It’s ideal to rely on Real-Time IRS TIN Matching to prevent reporting incorrect TINs or EINs on your clients’ 2290 forms. 

Advantages Of Reporting EIN On Form 2290 Accurately

  • Helps prevent file rejections. 
  • Helps prevent TIN discrepancy penalties from the IRS.
  • Helps prevent B Notice assessments. 
  • Helps the IRS tax your business appropriately. 
  • Helps identify taxable businesses (if you own multiple businesses).
  • Helps track your filing history easily.
  • Helps correct previously misreported returns. 
  • Helps with managing and tracking refund claims (if any).
  • Helps amend your 2290 tax information appropriately.

How To Report EIN or TIN On IRS Form 2290?

Employer Identification Number is to be reported on Form 2290 and Schedule 1. 

The vehicle information you report on your 2290 tax return, such as the vehicle identification number, month of first use, mileage use limit, tax suspension details, and other information is linked and identified with the employer identification number reported on Form 2290. 

If you have paid HVUT tax on your heavy vehicles, then you’re bound to pay a certain amount of tax. Upon stamping and issuing the Schedule 1 (proof of payment), your tax payment is confirmed by the IRS.

The EIN is reported on both copies of Schedule 1 by the preparer or the filer to confirm and approve the “proof” of payment. 

How To Correct A Wrong EIN Entered In Form 2290?

  • Note that the EIN once assigned to a business entity does not change or renew. 
  • If the entity has been legally dissolved or if the ownership changes, a fresh EIN will be assigned to the entity. 
  • A new EIN issued by the IRS takes about 2 weeks to be added to the IRS database. In the meantime, if you try to report and file your returns with the freshly issued EIN, your returns could be rejected citing “invalid” EIN or “unknown EIN records”. 
  • If the EIN remains unchanged but the name of the business entity changes, then such a name change should be reported by filing a fresh 2290 form. 

If you’ve reported an incorrect EIN on Form 2290 or Schedule 1, then you must correct such a report at the earliest by filing a new Form 2290 and attaching an explanation for the fresh filing, specifying “EIN Correction”. 

You may even need to pay the tax amount again. However, you can request a refund for the same by filing Form 8849 and attaching the necessary proof to back up your claims. 

How EZ2290 Helps

Reporting your EIN accurately is extremely important because it helps you avoid trouble with the IRS. 

Similarly, it is essential to file your 2290 tax returns with an IRS-authorized eFile provider like EZ2290.

This helps you avoid fraudulent schemes designed to steal your business information. 

With EZ2290, you can: 

  • eFile IRS Form 2290 online
  • Pay your HVUT tax online conveniently
  • Amend your 2290 vehicle information 
  • eFile 2290 VIN Corrections for FREE
  • Re-file rejected returns for FREE 
  • eFile 2290 returns in bulk

Get Started Now & eFile 2290 Online

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What Are EIN, VIN, Taxable Gross Weight (TGW), And 2290 Amendments?

EIN, VIN, Taxable Gross Weight (TGW)

Familiarize yourself with the most common terminologies used in HVUT 2290 tax information reporting, such as EIN, VIN, Taxable Gross Weight (TGW), and 2290 Amendments.

The trucking community is one of the most hardworking communities out there. 

That’s a fact. 

Every year, around May-June, trucking companies, self-employed truckers, and large fleet owners prepare and file 2290 forms

This is because the pre-filing season (a specific period allotted to truck tax filers to file their 2290 forms early) begins in May and ends by the end of June of the calendar year.

The actual filing season starts on July 1 of the calendar year. 

If you’re wondering, yes; the IRS follows the July-June cycle for truck tax filings. 

Now, Form 2290 reporting requires businesses to gather a variety of information as follows:

And more. 

If you’re a beginner (Hi! Check out EZ2290), you must be a little confused with all these sound-alike terminologies thrown around. 

But don’t worry, this guide will help you get familiar with all such terminologies and give you the context needed to understand them.

So, let’s get to it.

Table of Contents

  • Understanding Form 2290
  • What is a VIN?
  • What Is EIN?
  • What’s the difference between EIN and VIN?
  • What Is the Taxable Gross Weight of a vehicle?
  • What is a 2290 Amendment?

Before we get to the actual terminologies, let’s understand what Form 2290 is for, and its functions.

Understanding Form 2290: Quick Facts

  • Form 2290 is an IRS return that specifically deals with heavy highway vehicle usage tax or HVUT. 
  • Vehicles that weigh 55,000 pounds or more qualify for HVUT taxes. (More on this later)
  • HVUT Form 2290 reports certain vehicle information, such as the vehicle weight, month of first use, VIN, and more.
  • Form 2290 also reports some basic business details, such as EIN, business address, legal name of the entity, and so on. 
  • This information helps the IRS identify the business, and use the HVUT reports to tax the entities appropriately. 

Now, it’s time to get to the terminologies (the whole reason you’ve clicked on this reading).

What is a VIN?

V = Vehicle

I = Identification
N = Number 

  • VIN or Vehicle Identification Number is a unique combination of letters and numbers. 
  • A VIN is assigned to a  vehicle for the purpose of identification. 
  • It can be used to identify and track the vehicle’s history, right from the date of its manufacturing to its recent traffic records. 
  • It is a unique code assigned to decode the manufacturer details, geographical origin, registered state, and other critical information about the vehicle. 
  • HVUT Form 2290 reports the VIN of the vehicle to help the IRS identify the vehicle and its usage status – based on which the IRS taxes the entity.

What is EIN?

E = Employer 

I = Identification

N = Number 

  • Employer Identification Number or EIN is a tax-paying entity’s identification number assigned by the IRS or the social security administration (SSA)
  • EIN is a unique code used for identifying a business entity 
  • In order to get your returns accepted by the IRS, reporting a valid and correct EIN or TIN (taxpayer identification number) is critical.
  • Incorrect EIN reports could result in IRS TIN Discrepancy penalties. 

What’s the difference between EIN and VIN?

Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)Employer Identification Number (EIN)
VIN assigned to a vehicle.EIN is assigned to an employer or a business.
VIN is necessary for reporting vehicle-related information.EIN is mandatory for all information reporting.
VIN is used for identifying a vehicle and collecting vehicle information and history.EIN is used for identifying a business and collecting its compliance history.

What Is the Taxable Gross Weight of a vehicle?

The total weight of a vehicle, without any prior deductions, is the gross weight of a vehicle. 

In the HVUT context, highway vehicles that weigh 55,000 pounds or more, are taxed per their weight and mileage utility. 

Here’s a table of the taxable gross weights and the qualified tax range that the IRS uses to tax your trucking company. 

What is a 2290 Amendment?

When you file Form 2290, you report all the aforementioned vehicle and business information. However, businesses tend to report information that doesn’t stand valid after filing.

For example, the gross weight of the vehicle could increase after the initial filing has been submitted. Or the mileage use limit of the vehicle could also change. 

Factors like this impact the tax burden on your business. And it’s why the IRS recommends businesses to update their reports by “amending” them. 

Essentially, when you file a Form 2290 Amendment, you’re “amending” the information and updating the records, so you don’t overpay your HVUT taxes. 

Form 2290 Amendment is not a new form, but it must be filed separately. 

Look at the 2290 form capture below.

If you plan on amending your 2290 reports, then you must file a Form 2290 Amendment.

But to do that, you need to select the “Amended Return” box above. 

As you can see, the IRS mandates that 2290 Amendments must be exclusively used for: 

  1. Amending the taxable gross weight of the vehicle 
  2. When the suspended vehicle exceeds its mileage use limit

Note: Suspended vehicles are usually exempt from HVUT as long as they operate within the prescribed miles. However, 2290  filing for tax suspended vehicles is still mandatory.

Where should you eFile Form 2290? 

As HVUT compliance experts, we recommend using a simplified eFiling platform like EZ2290, which enables you to eFile Form 2290 online in just 5 super-quick steps. 

Step 1: Create your free EZ2290 account

Step 2: Prepare your 2290 forms online

Step 3: Validate your 2290 reports

Step 4: Submit Form 2290 to the IRS

Step 5: Get IRS-stamped Schedule 1 instantly!

No more worrying about paperwork. No hidden costs. No mess. 

Get Started For Free to eFile 2290 Now

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