Square Checking - EIN Verification

[witchywoowooLLC]

Hello,

I just created our LLC and obtained our EIN number same day (1.6.25). From my understanding on the IRS web page I should be able to obtain a checking account right away while the IRS does what they need to do to have us officially registered. However, when I apply for the square checking account it says it's unable to verify the business. My guess is the EIN number. Is there a timeframe in which I should wait? Thank you for your assistance!

Warm Regards,
Nicole

[mitin]

HI @witchywoowooLLC  I am not sure if they do any instant verification with the IRS or so, but I assume waiting for a day might help, they might be doing a nightly upload or such

Mitin

[Ashley0629]

Hi, I'm in the same boat. EIN was created a couple days ago. How long did you have to wait before Square was able to find/confirm your EIN? 

Thanks in advance! 

[djmcfit]

Hi @Ashley0629 I'm new here, but got my Single Member LLC EIN on 01/05/26. After two weeks of trying to update it in the Tax Forms section on Square without any success, I contacted Square help through their chat messaging system.

After attaching a PDF my CP-575 (the official IRS doc with my EIN information) in the message, the help staff said "after talking with my supervisor" they said it can take 4-6 weeks for an EIN to be recognized by Square's verification system and that the process cannot be expedited.

Everywhere else I looked (regarding EIN processing,including the IRS website) said  "up to 2 weeks" or "2-3 weeks". I've never seen 4-6 weeks mentioned anywhere (in Square's help/forum or general internet search.

This coming Monday (2/2) will be 4 weeks for me, but my EIN still has not been recognized/verified yet.

I think Square isn't interested in telling users that information up front because they're afraid it will deter them from using the service if they know they'll have to wait 1-2 months to start receiving payments with their new business EIN.

Not ideal...but if and when my EIN is finally verified, I'm going to come back to this thread and post how long it actually took for it to clear, so that others don't almost lose their mind like I did.

[Ashley0629]

Thank you so much! It's unfortunate but I appreciate you letting me know because I agree, I was thinking 2, maybe 3 weeks. Poor verification process if there's no clear standard communicated and to not accept an alternate form of verification in the meantime (like the IRS doc). Thanks again. 

[Ashley0629]

Hi, just wanted to follow up to let you know I emailed support - they indicated they had everything they needed. I knew that wasn't true lol so when I logged in and it asked for verification again and I clicked try again I did get a different screen this time, where I could upload by CP-575 for verification. The message now says it could take 1-3 for review and response but I'll follow up again when I find out if that worked or not! Not sure if that's something you tried already but wanted to share. 

[mitin]

@djmcfit @Ashley0629 This is so strange, when I signed up it was done in a day,  I am not sure if you have a sales person you worked with but I would definitely reach out to them.  The sales team can help push this through.  
is there a reason you're going for Square checking account, I mean if they're taking this long, consider other options. 
If you have all the proper paperwork, there should be no reason for you to wait so long. 

[djmcfit]

@mitin I do not have a specific sales person I worked with.  When you call the support number, they send you a special link to a proprietary "chat" service, which opens a new browser and you're texting with support through a special messaging panel. 

The support person told me three times I had to wait 4-6 weeks. He asked me to message him my CP-575 as an attachment in the chat, had his supervisor review it, and then returned saying his supervisor said "Yes, I must wait 4-6 weeks and that they are not able to expedite the process".

That was actually the second time I contacted support about the delay. A week earlier, I some how I was able to bypass the chat service thing and got through to person on my phone. At that point, it had been just over 2 weeks, they told me to wait a few more days and try again, but they didn't think the 2+ week wait was unusual.

I'm not going for Square Checking, my business is an LLC, so if I use my own SSN to receive payments, then payments made to my business through Square go toward my personal taxes, negating the point of having an LLC. With an LLC you should never mix your business assets/money with your personal assets/money and vice versa.

I know I could use Stripe or Paypal Business to do the same thing, but I've used Square for past 9 years for another business I own, know it very well, and love it! That's why this situation and their response almost drove me bonkers!

[mitin]

Hi @djmcfit Thank you for the details, I can see its a frustrating situation especially not getting a concrete update from Square on this. 
Personally I have never had a good experience with Square support, I feel like I get scripted responses. 
I think the time they're asking you to wait is unreasonable, especially if they are unable to provide an exact reason for the delay. Especially if you have other businesses.  I hope they figure it out soon