FTC warns against paying for EIN scams [Video]

ATLANTA — The Federal Trade Commission wants to set the record straight: You don’t need to pay anyone for your Employer Identification Number (EIN). The IRS gives them out for free—no strings attached.

An EIN is a nine-digit tax ID number for businesses, nonprofits, and other organizations. Most people get one when starting a business, but you might also need one for a nonprofit or even to manage a loved one’s estate.

But as of Tuesday, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is putting on notice businesses that claim to sell EINs, sometimes for hundreds of dollars. The FTC issued a consumer alert and sent out a warning to companies after fielding severalconsumer complaints “of potential deception by EIN filing and delivery services.” The letters caution that some business practices may violate the FTC Act and its Impersonation Rule, …