When you set up Check Cherry Payments, your legal business name and EIN are checked against IRS records. If the IRS doesn't recognize the pair, setup shows an error and your tax information stays unverified.
Common causes
- You entered your DBA or brand name. Use the legal name on your IRS letter.
- Punctuation or the suffix is different, such as LLC vs L.L.C. or a missing comma.
- The business type is wrong. It decides which name and tax ID are expected (see the table below).
- Your EIN is new and the IRS records aren't updated yet.
Which name and tax ID to use
| Business type | Name | Tax ID |
|---|---|---|
| Sole proprietorship | Your name | Your SSN, or the business EIN if it has one |
| Single-member LLC owned by an individual | The owner's name | The owner's SSN or EIN |
| Multi-member LLC | The LLC's name | The LLC's EIN |
| Partnership | The business name | The partnership's EIN |
| Corporation | The business name | The corporation's EIN |
| Nonprofit (501(c)(3)) | The name listed in the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search | The organization's EIN |
Stripe has more detail in its guide by business type.
Reading your IRS letter
Some letters list the business and owner together, like ACME LLC THERESA LOPEZ-FITZGERALD SOLE MBR. If you aren't sure which part to use, enter every name line above the address on one line, separated by spaces. Stripe has more examples.
Re-enter your details
If your EIN is new
An EIN issued in the last 3 months often can't be matched yet. Upload your CP 575 when setup asks for a supporting document.
If your EIN is older
If your EIN is more than 3 months old and you've entered it exactly as your letter shows, the IRS may have your business recorded differently.
Still stuck, or don't see a place to upload? Message us through the chat bubble in the lower right. See also how to switch to Check Cherry Payments, updating your payment account after a rebrand or entity change, and Stripe's article on this error.