How to fit a street address into the IRS 35-character limit
· 1 min read
The IRS says its EIN system allows 35 characters for street addresses and recommends standard USPS abbreviations. Preserve the street number and the apartment, unit or suite number needed for delivery. Abbreviate familiar street suffixes and unit designators first.
What to check
Use line 4 for mailing information. When a different street address is entered on line 5, use the physical address there, following the instructions for foreign addresses where applicable. Keep the full mailing address in your records and confirm with the recipient that the shortened version still routes correctly.
Example
For a U.S. mailing address, 100 West Harbor Boulevard Suite 408 can be shortened to 100 W Harbor Blvd STE 408. The building number and suite survive the abbreviation.
Before you proceed
- Count the characters in the street address field.
- Preserve the unit number and other routing information.
- Use the foreign-address instructions when they apply.
Can I shorten the country name to make the address fit?
The SS-4 instructions say to spell out foreign country names. Shorten the street entry where appropriate and put the country in the applicable mailing or location field.
Related guides
- Does Form SS-4 ask for a date of birth?
- How to write apostrophes and slashes in an EIN business name
- What Form SS-4 line 9b asks a corporation to enter