Q: For my EIN filing, should I put my physical address or can I use my registered agent’s address?
Thanks to one of our Northwest customers for this great question! When it comes to filing paperwork for a new company, many business owners are concerned with how this might impact their own personal privacy—and rightfully so. However, EIN filings are different from state filings. Here’s what you need to know when providing an address to the IRS:
Will the address I use in my federal EIN application become part of the public record?
No. The information you provide to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for your EIN application will not be made public.
Privacy is typically more of an issue at the state level. When you file Articles of Organization or Articles of Incorporation with your Secretary of State (or equivalent office), the information you provide often becomes part of the public record. (Though it depends on the state.) This means whatever information you include—like your name and/or home address—will be searchable online in connection with your business. Many businesses, particularly sole proprietors, use a service like Northwest so they don’t have to use their home address on their business formation papers.
Can I use my registered agent’s address when applying for an EIN for my business?
No. You may only list your entity’s mailing address and (if different) street address. If you have a designated person who accepts tax documents on behalf of your business, you may enter their information instead of your business address. A designated person is typically a certified public accountant, corporate accountant, or attorney—not your registered agent.
Can I update my address with the IRS?
Yes. In fact, if the address associated with your EIN ever changes, you SHOULD update that address with the IRS. You may change the address associated with your business’s EIN filing at any time by submitting Form 8822-B, Change of Address or Responsible Party – Business.
If you are the person who obtained the EIN for your company and thus included your name in the EIN application, you’re what’s known as the “responsible party.” You can use Form 8822-B to change your company’s address, or to change the person on-file as your company’s “responsible party.”