Who is EIN Responsible Party for a Business Entity?

If you apply for an EIN, aka a Federal Tax ID Number, you will have to provide the IRS with what is known as a Responsible Party. This individual manages, directs and/or controls the entity behind the EIN.

If there is technically more than one person running the entity, you can choose whichever one you want the IRS to consider the Responsible Party, since the IRS only requires a single Responsible Party. For example, in an LLC, the Responsible Party is the person who possesses the authority to oversee and control the finances and assets belonging to the LLC.

Keep in mind that the best choice for an EIN Responsible Party varies from one company to another.

To be clear, the Responsible Party must be an individual. Furthermore, no other person within the entity can make IRS-related changes other than the assigned Responsible Party.

IRS.gov defines the Responsible Party as:

For entities with shares or interests traded on a public exchange, or which are registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission, “responsible party” is (a) the principal officer, if the business is a corporation, (b) a general partner, if a partnership, (c) the owner of an entity that is disregarded as separate from its owner (disregarded entities owned by a corporation enter the corporation’s name and EIN), or (d) a grantor, owner, or trustor if a trust.

For all other entities, “responsible party” is the person who has a level of control over, or entitlement to, the funds or assets in the entity that, as a practical matter, enables the individual, directly or indirectly, to control, manage or direct the entity and the disposition of its funds and assets. The ability to fund the entity or the entitlement to the property of the entity alone, however, without any corresponding authority to control, manage, or direct the entity (such as in the case of a minor child beneficiary), does not cause the individual to be a responsible party.

Another way to think about the Responsible Party is as the contact person for the IRS. All communication (hard copies and digital versions) will be mailed to the Responsible Party listed on the EIN form.

An entity can change its Responsible Party by filling out IRS Form 8822-B on the IRS website.

However, just because you are the Responsible Party does not mean you are liable for any financial or legal issues in which the entity may become involved.

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