Have a Redacted (masked) transcript?  
If you want to e-file a tax return, you must know the EFIN number for the employers/payers that need to be entered from the Wage & Income Transcripts. With out having the correct number, the return will need to be paper filed. There are ways to get the information you need.  

Sometimes the taxpayer had the same employer/payer in the prior year and still has their W2s or 1099s with the EIN and company name.

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SW Florida-Click Image to see all the EINs entered at our SW FL VITA sites. Every year we update the list at the end of tax season. Search by the Last 4, then by the name.

Other ways to get EIN Numbers:

• Does the taxpayer know the name of the employer/payer shown on transcript?
  • Search Google for company name and last 4 of EIN
  • Use this Search Tool: search using partial or full name --then compare last 4 of EIN #.  ​cotaxaide.org/tools/EIN%20Search%20Tool.html   this tool has helped me a lot!
  • Another site to try: https://eintaxid.com/
  • Can the taxpayer call/contact the employer/payer?
  • Request a new transcript-"unmasked"

Remember, the name and Last 4 should match. On a masked transcript, the first part of an address also appears. If the transcript is a few years old, though, the address may have changed. Sometimes I put the company name and partial address in Google Search to get the full correct address that matches the transcript.

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The State of Florida has a business directory that lists EIN #s for businesses operating in Florida:  Florida SunBiz Directory is also a good resource for businesses in Florida. (Perhaps other states do as well).

Still can't figure it out? Well, it is not the end of the world! 
I have a generic number I have been using for years--this will help you enter the information--BUT YOU CANNOT E-FILE THE RETURN AND DO NOT PRINT ANY W2s or 1099Rs from Taxslayer to give the client. The use of this number allows you to complete your data entry, print the return, and give to client to sign and mail.

• My Made-Up # is: 36-2111555; Make Believe, 123 Imaginary Lane, Lehigh Acres, FL 33936
• BUT YOU CANNOT E-FILE THE RETURN AND DO NOT PRINT ANY W2s or 1099Rs from Taxslayer to give the client
• It will reject!!!!
• This is just a place holder so the return can be completed.

I cannot tell you how often my team and I have used this Make Believe EIN#.  

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Again, if these resources/ideas do not work, no worries, just print an extra copy of the tax return for the taxpayer to sign and mail in to the IRS. It is NOT the end of the world. (It just delays processing of the return).

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I recommend every program generate your own EIN database. Many of your taxpayers will return year after year, and you will get new taxpayers-- these EIN numbers are going to be mostly from local employers as well as companies that manage retirement accounts.  
What we have done is run an EIN report for every Taxslayer account we have, then compiled them into one spreadsheet and removed duplicates. Every year we re-run the reports and add to our existing EIN spreadsheet and remove duplicates. 

For Program Managers--- If you are not sure how to run an EIN report in Taxslayer for your VITA/TCE program, please see below:

• Main Menu--> Report-->  Other Data Reports--> EIN Report

If you do not see EIN Report on this screen--you need to configure it in. See below

• Configuration--> Report Customization--> In the report type field type EIN--> Select EIN Report--> Click Save
• Go Back to the Main Menu--> Report-->  Other Data Reports--> EIN Report

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 Census Bureau EIN#s (had a lot of issues finding these numbers after the last census so I am leaving them here.
Here is a list of some Employer Identification Numbers (EIN) for the   Regional Offices, so you could use the following if you don’t have other information: (got off Reddit.com post-not verified)
Atlanta 580708638
Chicago 362409412
Denver 840484686
Los Angeles 952037286
New York 135673128
Philadelphia 231538444

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