EIN for the business vs. EIN for the 401k

Does the Solo 401k get its own EIN, separate from the EIN of my business?

If I’m a sole proprietor, do I need to get an EIN for my sole proprietorship? I’ve been using my name and my Social Security Number for everything related to my sole proprietorship, like filing taxes.

Your Solo 401k plan documents will list the EIN of the adopting business and the EIN of the Solo 401k.

Solo 401k has its own EIN

The Solo 401k is a separate entity from you and your business. The Solo 401k has its own EIN.

When we create your plan documents, we obtain the Solo 401k EIN for you. The Solo 401k EIN will be listed on your plan documents and included in your set of plan documents.

Your adopting business has its own EIN

• Your adopting business, which represents your self-employment, should have its own EIN
• This is separate from the EIN of the Solo 401k, which we will obtain for you
• We do not obtain the EIN for your adopting business

Sole proprietors need an EIN for their sole proprietorship

If your adopting business is a sole proprietorship, an EIN for the sole proprietorship must be listed on your plan documents.

• The plan documents should not list your Social Security Number as the business number of your sole proprietorship
• The sole proprietorship EIN is separate and different from the EIN for the Solo 401k
• If you are a sole proprietor, and you have used your name and SSN for your sole proprietorship, you can continue to do so as it relates to your business
• When filing taxes for your sole proprietorship, for example, you can continue to list your SSN on the tax return, while noting the EIN of your sole proprietorship in Section D of your Schedule C

Use the appropriate EIN for your business and for your Solo 401k

• When conducting your self-employment business, use the EIN for your self-employment business
• When investing with your Solo 401k, use the EIN for your Solo 401k