EIN Reference Number Lookup
Last updated September 22, 2026 · Maintained by the EIN Registration filing team
Every reference number
| Code | Meaning | What to do | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 101 | Name conflict. The business name, or something close to it, already exists in IRS records, often in another state. | The online tool will not resolve it. File Form SS-4 by fax with the name exactly as the state approved it. | Fix on your side |
| 102 | The responsible party's SSN or ITIN does not match the name the IRS has for it. | Use the exact legal name on the Social Security card. One careful retry, then fax. | Fix on your side |
| 103 | Same family as 102: an existing EIN and entity name entered on the form do not match IRS records. | Check the prior EIN and the legal name against the CP 575 or a 147C letter, then retry once. | Fix on your side |
| 104 | The third-party designee's address or phone number is the same as the applicant's. | Remove the designee section and apply yourself, or give the designee's own contact details. | Fix on your side |
| 105 | Too many attempts. The tool has locked the responsible party out for the day. | Stop retrying. Wait until the next day, or fax the SS-4 instead. | Stop, do not retry |
| 106 | A single-member LLC with employees is applying without the owner's existing EIN on record. | Call the IRS business line; the tool cannot untangle it. | Fix on your side |
| 107 | The single-member LLC already has more than one EIN on file. | Call the IRS business line to close the extras before applying again. | Fix on your side |
| 109 | Technical failure on the IRS side, usually at final submission. | Wait, retry once during open hours, then fax. | IRS-side |
| 110 | Technical failure on the IRS side, often after a session times out. | Same as 109: wait, retry once, then fax. | IRS-side |
| 112 | Technical failure on the IRS side, commonly when the tool is overloaded. | Try at a quieter hour, then fax. | IRS-side |
| 113 | Technical failure on the IRS side. | Wait, retry once, then fax. | IRS-side |
| 114 | An EIN was already issued to this responsible party today. | Your earlier attempt probably succeeded. Recover the number with a 147C letter instead of applying again. | Stop, do not retry |
| 115 | Social Security records show the responsible party as deceased. | For an estate, put the executor on Line 7, not the person who died. If you are alive and flagged, the SSA record has to be corrected first. | Fix on your side |
Codes 108 and 111 exist in the tool but have not appeared on a real application we handled in the last year. Treat any unlisted number as an IRS-side failure and follow the 109 steps.
Let us file it instead
A faxed Form SS-4 goes to a person at the IRS, who can clear a name conflict and is not subject to the once-per-day limit. Pick your entity type and our specialists prepare it, file it and follow it through to the EIN.
Why the code matters more than another retry
The codes fall into three families, and only one of them is worth retrying. Anything from 101 to 107, and 115, means the application conflicts with something the IRS already holds, so the same answers fail the same way every time. The 109 to 113 range is the IRS system itself failing, where one retry at a quieter hour is reasonable. A 105 or a 114 means stop: a 105 is a lockout that clears on its own, and a 114 usually means an EIN was already issued, so applying again creates a duplicate that then has to be closed. The full reference-number guide walks through each family.
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Answer a few questions in about 5 minutes. Our specialists prepare your IRS Form SS-4, file it, personally handle any rejection or name conflict along the way, and get your EIN to you, typically within 2 to 4 business days, or 7 to 10 when the IRS requires the application by fax. One flat $197 service fee. No upsells, no subscriptions.
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Related guides
EIN Registration is an independent document preparation and filing service and is not affiliated with the IRS or any government agency. You can also apply for an EIN directly with the IRS at irs.gov at no cost.