An Employer ID Number (EIN) is an important tax identifier for your business. It works in the same way a Social Security number does for individuals, and almost every business needs one. The most important reason for an EIN is to identify your business for federal income tax purposes, but it’s also used to apply for business bank accounts, loans, or credit cards, and for state and local taxes, licenses, and other registrations (like sales tax or a local business license).
When Your Business Needs an EIN
Your business will need an EIN when:
- You have employees
- You are starting a business that is registered with a state, like a partnership, LLC, or corporation
- Your business must pay excise taxes, or you are subject to alcohol, tobacco, or firearms regulations
- You withhold taxes on income, not including wages, paid to a non-resident alien
- You use a Keough Plan or tax-deferred pension plan
- Your business works with certain organizations like nonprofits, trusts, estates, and farm cooperatives
Get an EIN For Small Business Disaster Loans
- Your business will need an EIN to apply for Small Business Administration (SBA) loans, including disaster loans for businesses affected by the public health crisis and economic downturn, as well as the 2021 winter storms.
- The Economic Injury Disaster Loan program is an SBA disaster loan program for businesses with fewer than 500 employees, includingsole proprietors, independent contractors,and self-employedpersons. Check with your local lender to see whether they participate in this program.
How To Get an EIN
You can apply to the IRS for an EIN in several ways: by phone, fax, or mail, or online. Filing online using the IRS EIN Assistant online application is the easiest way. You can get your number immediately using the online or phone option.
It’s a good idea to print out a copy of the application form (IRS SS-4) before you begin the application process. Work through the application questions so you have all the answers you’ll need.
Note
Beware of Fake EIN application sites. They look like the IRS site, but they'll charge you to file the form. The IRS never charges for this application. Here are some ways to tell whether the site is the "real" IRS:
- Look at the URL. It should be irs.gov, NOT irs.com.
- Most IRS pages have the letters "IRS" and a special symbol with a scale of justice.
- Look at the fine print on the bottom of the page. Non-IRS sites are required to state that they're not affiliated with the U.S. Treasury Department or the IRS.
How To Find the EIN for Your Business
More often than not, there will be an instance when you're working through a business document or application, and you come upon a question asking for your EIN. What if you can’t remember it? The three best places to find your business EIN are:
- Your business tax return from a previous year
- The original document of your receipt or the document you received from the IRS when you applied for your EIN
- Your state’s business division website, if you registered your partnership, LLC, or corporation with your state
You could also look for your EIN on other business documents or applications, including:
- A business bank account application
- An application for a business loan
- The application for a business credit card
- A copy of a state or local license or tax permit (a sales tax permit or a fictitious name statement, for example)
- On a 1099-NEC form (or a 1099-MISC form before 2020) you received for your work as an independent contractor or freelancer
- On the 1099-MISC form or 1099-NEC form that you used to report payments by your business
Getting IRS Help To Look Up Your EIN
You can ask the IRS to search for your EIN by calling the Business and Specialty Tax Line at 800-829-4933. This department is open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time, Monday through Friday.
Note
Only the “authorized person” for your business can obtain this information. The IRS will ask for your identification, and you must be able to prove your identity as a sole proprietor, a partner in a partnership, an LLC owner, or a corporate officer.
State Business Tax ID Numbers
You may also need a tax ID number in order to pay taxes to your state. Even states that have no income tax may have other taxes you'll need to pay. Check with your state's department of revenue for more information.
Finding an EIN for Another Business
Getting someone else’s EIN is a more challenging process. Many of the documents with an EIN on them are public documents (available for public information), but there's still an overall concern about privacy and business identity theft.
You can look the business up on the EDGAR Search service on the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) website if it's a public company (with shares traded by the public).
Your search will be more difficult if the company isn't a public company. You might be able to buy a business credit report for the company, or you might be able to find another public document that includes the company’s EIN.
Your Company’s EIN and Business Identity Theft Issues
It’s easy for someone to get your business EIN, and they might be able to use it to steal your business identity. The IRS recognizes that a company’s EIN may be the target of hackers and identity thieves. It suggests some ways to be watchful for identity theft related to taxes. Your business may have been hacked if:
- You receive tax notices about fictitious employees
- Your business tax return is accepted, but you haven’t file for that year yet
- You receive bills for a line of credit or a credit card that you don’t have
The best way to check for business identity theft is to get a copy of your business credit report. Check it in detail for unexplained creditors and inaccurate or out-of-date information.
FAQs
Find a previously filed tax return for your existing entity (if you have filed a return) for which you have your lost or misplaced EIN. Your previously filed return should be notated with your EIN. Ask the IRS to search for your EIN by calling the Business & Specialty Tax Line at 800-829-4933.
How can I look up my employer's EIN? ›
If you work for a publicly traded company (i.e., it has a stock symbol), try an online search for their 10-K. On the 10-K, look for IRS Employer Identification No. or similar. It's usually on the first page. (This might not work if your employer has multiple EINs.)
What is an example of an Employer Identification Number EIN? ›
An EIN is a 9-digit number (for example, 12-3456789) assigned to employers, sole proprietors, corporations, partnerships, estates, trusts, certain individuals, and other entities for tax filing and reporting purposes. Note: Keep the Form SS-4 information current.
How do I prove my EIN number? ›
The only two ways to get an EIN Verification Letter (147C) is to call the IRS at 1-800-829-4933, or to mail the IRS a written request. Recommendation: We recommend calling the IRS between 7am and 10am or between 3pm and 7pm. And don't call on Monday (the busiest day).
What should my EIN number look like? ›
What is an EIN? An Employer Identification Number (EIN) is a nine-digit number that IRS assigns in the following format: XX-XXXXXXX.
How do I get my EIN number? ›
The Internet EIN application is the preferred method for customers to apply for and obtain an EIN. Once the application is completed, the information is validated during the online session, and an EIN is issued immediately.
How to find Employer Identification Number on W-2? ›
The EIN is a 9-digit number, with a dash separating the first 2 digits: XX-XXXXXXX. Your employer's EIN is located in box b of your W-2 form, right above your employer's name and address.
Is EIN the same as employer ID number? ›
Almost all types of businesses need an Employer Identification Number (EIN). An EIN (which is also known as a Federal Employer Identification Number or FEIN) is issued by the IRS and is used to identify a business in much the same way as a Social Security Number (SSN) is used to identify an individual.
Is there a list of EIN numbers? ›
the IRS maintains a list of EINs. Public listed company EINs are available via the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Other EINs may be available by asking the organisation concerned, and are sometimes published on their websites.
Can you reverse look up an EIN? ›
A Reverse EIN lookup is conducted when you already have access to a company's Employer Identification Number but need additional information about the company. If you require information that verifies things like the company name, address, or contact details, then a reverse EIN lookup is the correct process to follow.
Call the IRS.
- The best number to call is (+1) 800-829-4933. ...
- You can call during IRS Business hours: 7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (GMT-5).
- The shortest wait times are typically from 3:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m ET. ...
- Depending on your phone service and where you are located, there may be fees when calling the IRS.
An LLC will need an EIN if it has any employees or if it will be required to file any of the excise tax forms listed below. Most new single-member LLCs classified as disregarded entities will need to obtain an EIN. An LLC applies for an EIN by filing Form SS-4, Application for Employer Identification Number.
Is my SSN my tax ID number? ›
A Social Security number (SSN) is a taxpayer identification number issued by the Social Security Administration. Individuals who are employed in the U.S. must have a Social Security number to file an income tax return. Your Social Security number does not expire.
How can I look up a company by EIN? ›
There are a couple of places that EIN verification lookup tools can draw information from. The most authoritative places are government websites, such as state Secretary of State portals, the SEC's EDGAR system (for companies listed on public stock exchanges), or the IRS itself (for charities and nonprofits).
What is an example of an employer identification number? ›
The two-digit EIN prefix indicates where the number was assigned and the subsequent seven digits identify the entity itself (e.g. XX-XXXXXXX).
What do EIN numbers start with? ›
B. List of Internal Revenue District Codes
| IRD No. | Location | DOC |
|---|
| 33 | California | 972 |
| 34 | Cleveland, OH | 388 |
| 35 | Indianapolis, IN | 455 |
| 36 | Chicago, IL | 485 |
60 more rowsDec 20, 2002
Is an EIN and a state tax ID the same thing? A state tax ID and a federal EIN are two different types of numbers that can be used to identify a business. A federal EIN is used to identify your business for tax purposes. The EIN is issued by the IRS and can be used in the states in which you operate.
Is fein the same as EIN? ›
Note: A federal employment identification number (FEIN) is the same thing as an employer identification number (EIN). The only exception to this rule is when someone uses the abbreviation EIN to refer to a state tax identification number.
How do I check the status of my business EIN? ›
Call the IRS.
- The best number to call is (+1) 800-829-4933. ...
- You can call during IRS Business hours: 7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (GMT-5).
- The shortest wait times are typically from 3:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m ET. ...
- Depending on your phone service and where you are located, there may be fees when calling the IRS.
Contact the IRS Directly
The IRS is the ultimate resource for looking up a tax ID number. There is a business and specialty department reachable Monday-Friday from 7 am – 7 pm EST. Their number is 800-829-4933.
