Brand

Fix an Unverified brand

About a 3-minute read. This is the most common brand problem.

Unverified means the registry couldn't match your business against IRS records. Two causes account for almost all of it: a legal-name mismatch (very common) or an EIN that's too new (less common). Try the name fix first.

Editing and re-filing a brand is handled by AgentMessage today rather than a self-serve button, so for each fix below, you'll prepare the correct value and send it to support, and we'll update the brand and re-file it with the registry. The work is in getting the value right; that's what this guide is about.

The single most common cause is a legal name entered slightly wrong, a comma, an extra space, or "LLC" added when it isn't on file.

Pull out your CP-575 letter

This is the IRS letter issued when your EIN was assigned. Near the top it shows:

Employer Identification Number:  XX-XXXXXXX

NAME LINE 1
NAME LINE 2   (sometimes)
ADDRESS

The name lines are what matter, the IRS often splits long names across two lines. If you can't find the CP-575, any IRS notice listing the business name and EIN together works (e.g. a 147C). As a last resort, call the IRS Business & Specialty Tax Line at 1-800-829-4933 and request a 147C.

Try this name first

Name line 1 only, exactly as written. Don't add "Inc." or "LLC" if they aren't there, and don't fix typos the IRS made, the registry has to match the IRS database, warts and all. Allowed characters: letters, numbers, spaces, hyphens, and ampersands; strip anything else.

If that fails, try both lines

Join line 1 and line 2 with a single space: NAME LINE 1 NAME LINE 2. Same character rules.

Submit the fix

Send us the corrected legal name (and a copy of your CP-575 if you have it handy) and we'll update the brand and re-file it. Verification usually updates within about 15 minutes of re-filing.

Fix 2: A brand-new EIN (under ~90 days old)

A very recently issued EIN may not be in the IRS lookup database yet, the IRS adds new EINs on a delayed, rolling basis, usually within 60-90 days. A new EIN can fail verification through no fault of yours.

Two options:

  • Wait. Check back in a couple of weeks.
  • Appeal. There's an identity-status appeal that asks the registry to verify the tax ID manually, with your CP-575 as proof. We file this for you, send us a brief note (e.g. "EIN issued on [date], may not be in the IRS lookup yet") and your full CP-575, and we'll submit the appeal. It's reviewed manually, typically within a few business days.

A subset of Fix 1, common enough to call out. The IRS only knows you by the legal entity name on the CP-575, not your "doing business as" name. Put the DBA in the DBA field; the legal name field has to match the CP-575.

Less common: the address doesn't match

Occasionally verification fails because the address doesn't match what the IRS has on file (for example, you moved and never updated the IRS). Sending us the original IRS-on-file address to use on the brand usually clears it.

If none of that works

Contact support with:

  • Your brand name and EIN.
  • A photo or PDF of your CP-575.
  • The names you've already tried.
  • Any reason text the registry returned.

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