StartEaseHelp / Payroll glossary
What is a FEIN?
A FEIN is the Federal Employer Identification Number, the nine-digit number the IRS gives your business.
What is a FEIN?
A Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN) is the nine-digit number the IRS gives your business, and it is printed on the IRS letter for your business. StartEase requires it and checks that it has 9 digits.
Why does it matter?
A wrong FEIN makes every payroll wrong in the same way, and the IRS or the state then writes to the employer.
A single swapped digit is enough, so it is worth checking against the IRS letter.
The key facts
| Fact | What it means |
|---|---|
| What it is | The number the IRS gives your business. It is on the IRS EIN letter. |
| Length | 9 digits. StartEase requires it and checks the length. |
| Where in StartEase | Company details, Business identity. |
| Stored how | You can type it once. It is stored encrypted. |
| Also uploaded | The IRS EIN letter and, unless you are a sole proprietor, the formation certificate. |
How does it work in StartEase Payroll?
- Open Company details and the Business identity card.
- Type the FEIN exactly as printed on the IRS letter.
- Upload the IRS EIN letter next to it, so the number and the letter sit together.
- Check the number once more against the letter before you save.
Common mistakes
- A digit swapped when typing the FEIN.
- Typing the number from memory instead of copying it from the IRS letter.
- Not uploading the letter, so nobody can compare it with the number.
Related guides
Wrong setup data: your FEIN, state rate or deposit schedule and Employer guide
Sources (government sites)
Next: What is EFTPS?