To find your EFIN number, log into your IRS e-Services account at irs.gov, open the e-file Application, and read the six-digit number off the Application Summary page. That is the fastest route, and it takes about five minutes once you can get in. If the login won’t cooperate or your account is locked, call the IRS e-help desk at 866-255-0654 and they can look up your number or mail a replacement EFIN Acceptance Letter to the address on file.1Internal Revenue Service. FAQs About Electronic Filing Identification Numbers (EFIN)
Retrieving the Number Through E-Services
From the e-Services main menu, click the link labeled “e-file Application.” That opens the Application Summary page, which lists every EFIN tied to your account along with the current status of each application. Your six-digit number sits in the column marked “EFIN.”
Click “Application Status” next to the number for more detail. That pulls up a digital version of your original EFIN Acceptance Letter, showing the issue date and confirming your authorization.2Internal Revenue Service. Become an Authorized E-File Provider Save or print it. Tax software vendors routinely ask for a copy of the acceptance letter or summary when you set up transmission, and having the PDF on hand saves a second trip to the portal.
The same page lets you update business addresses, add or remove responsible officials, and review the provider roles your firm is authorized for. Keep that data current: the IRS requires anyone who files 11 or more covered returns in a calendar year to e-file, and inaccurate application information can put your authorization at risk.3Internal Revenue Service. Frequently Asked Questions: E-File Requirements for Specified Tax Return Preparers
What to Have Ready Before You Log In
You’ll need your IRS e-Services username and password. Access to any e-file tool requires a completed e-file application and active e-Services credentials.4Internal Revenue Service. E-File Provider Services Have the Social Security Number or Employer Identification Number used on the original application handy as well, since the system ties your login to that information.1Internal Revenue Service. FAQs About Electronic Filing Identification Numbers (EFIN)
Clear your browser’s cache and cookies before you load the portal. The site uses session-based security, and stale cached data can cause login failures or display outdated account information.
Verifying Your Identity Through ID.me
The IRS uses ID.me to verify anyone accessing e-Services. New users, or returning users who haven’t logged in since the ID.me switch, will need to create an ID.me account and verify identity before reaching the e-file application tools.5Internal Revenue Service. How to Register for IRS Online Self-Help Tools
You’ll need a government-issued photo ID: a driver’s license, state ID, or U.S. passport. Photograph the document, then take a selfie so the system can match your face to the ID. If the automated match fails, or you’d rather skip it, choose a live video call with an ID.me Trusted Referee. You can select the video option up front without attempting the self-service check first.6Internal Revenue Service. Accessibility and Compatibility Features for Signing In and Creating an Account Video calls are available in American Sign Language.
After verification, you’ll authorize the IRS to access your ID.me credentials, which links the verified identity to your professional account. Future logins skip the document upload and use ID.me directly.7Internal Revenue Service. New Identity Verification Process to Access Certain IRS Online Tools and Services Skip that authorization step, or close the browser before it finishes, and you’ll be sent through verification again the next time.
When the Portal Won’t Work: The E-Help Desk
If you’re locked out or the portal isn’t returning your application, call the IRS e-help desk at 866-255-0654. Hours are Monday through Friday, 6:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Central Time.8Internal Revenue Service. E-Help Desk for Tax Professionals The representative will ask identity verification questions tied to your original application before sharing account details.
If the problem can’t be resolved over the phone, the representative can request a replacement EFIN Acceptance Letter mailed to the address on file. That takes a couple of weeks by mail, so call early in filing season rather than waiting on a deadline. The e-help desk also handles compromised EFINs and discrepancies in the number of returns filed under your number.1Internal Revenue Service. FAQs About Electronic Filing Identification Numbers (EFIN)
Make Sure You’re Looking for the Right Number
Tax professionals hold several IRS-issued identifiers, and confusing them is a common reason people go looking for the wrong one. The EFIN is a six-digit number that identifies the firm authorized to e-file returns. The Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN) identifies you personally as a paid preparer and goes in the “Paid Preparer” section of every return you’re paid to prepare. Most preparers need both, and there is no fee for an EFIN while the PTIN carries a non-refundable application fee.9Internal Revenue Service. Frequently Asked Questions: Do I Need a PTIN?
A third identifier, the Electronic Transmitter Identification Number (ETIN), is a five-digit code you only need if your firm transmits returns directly to the IRS rather than through a third-party transmitter. If you use commercial tax software that handles transmission, the ETIN doesn’t enter your workflow. When software vendors or the IRS ask you to “verify your EFIN,” they mean the six-digit firm-level number.
Confirm the EFIN Is Still Active
An EFIN can go stale. The IRS flags EFINs that haven’t been used in the last two years, and if yours falls into that bucket you’ll have to contact the e-help desk to sort out your status before you can transmit again.1Internal Revenue Service. FAQs About Electronic Filing Identification Numbers (EFIN) Log in at least once a year and check that your application shows an active status. It’s the difference between a five-minute look-up and a filing-season scramble.
You’re also required to update the e-file application whenever business information changes: new office addresses, ownership changes, additions or removals of responsible officials, and shifts in the e-file activities your firm performs. Publication 3112 sets out the full responsibilities for authorized e-file providers and is worth a read if you’re new to e-filing or your firm recently added provider roles.10Internal Revenue Service. Publication 3112