How to write apostrophes and slashes in an EIN business name
· 1 min read
For an EIN application, the IRS says to start with the name on your formation or registration documents. IRS systems allow letters A–Z, numbers, hyphens and ampersands. Remove an apostrophe without inserting a space, and replace a slash with a hyphen.
What to check
For symbols such as a period, plus sign or at sign, the IRS allows spelling out the symbol or using a space. Keep a copy of the formation document and the IRS version of the name so you can explain a formatting difference during account verification.
Example
If the formation document says O’Neil/Harbor LLC, the corresponding IRS formatting is ONeil-Harbor LLC. Keep the original spelling on records that require the name exactly as it appears in the formation document.
Before you proceed
- Copy the entity's legal name from its registration document.
- Apply the IRS substitutions for punctuation.
- Record the submitted version with the EIN application copy.
Does this formatting change my state-registered name?
The substitution is for the EIN application. The legal name remains the name on the registration record until changed through the applicable process.
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- What Form SS-4 line 9b asks a corporation to enter