Trust ID Numbers

[Guest taj32z]

I have a client that had called the IRS to ask a question regarding withholding taxes - it came up in conversation with the IRS agent that the Trust ID Number that the client had was not attached to their plan. I called the IRS to see if they could research the number, which they did and sent a letter to the client that stated that the client does not have a separate EIN for their plan. "You simply use your admin EIN with the alpha character P at the end of your EIN". I had never heard of this before so I called the IRS again, this time they were able to find the Trust ID Number or reactivate the number. This IRS agent told me that on the asset accounts the employer should be using the Employer ID Number with a P after it, however on the Form 945, 1099R and when remitting withholding taxes the client should use the Trust ID Number. The agent told me it was a new rule. This does not make sense to me - has anyone else heard of this?

Thanks for any feedback!