How to find someones tax id number

An employer identification number (EIN) identifies a business to the IRS the way an individual is tagged by his Social Security number. Where an individual writes down his Social Security number on a return, a business uses an EIN. Corporations, which are legally separate from their owners, need EINs; sole proprietorships do too if they have employees. If you need to look up your own or another company's EIN, it's simple enough.

Lost Your EIN?

If you lost your EIN it shouldn't be difficult to recover it when you need it:

• Find your last tax return and look up the EIN there.
• Dig through your paperwork and find the original IRS notice assigning your EIN.
• If you used your EIN on your business bank account, the bank will have it on file.

If none of those approaches work, you can call the IRS and recover your EIN over the phone. As you'll have to prove your identity so the IRS knows you're legitimate, this might take longer.

Finding Someone Else's EIN

If you have a legitimate business need to know another company's EIN just call and contact them. Once you show you're not a scammer, there's no reason for them not to tell you.

Businesses registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission – corporations that sell shares, for instance – have to include their EINs on their paperwork. You can search for free in the SEC's Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval (EDGAR) system. That will give you plenty of information, including the company's EIN. The biggest challenge might be sifting through all the documents the SEC has on file to find one with the number.

If the company's not in EDGAR, it takes a little more work. If the company has used its EIN on any forms filed with your local city or county government – taking out a business license, for instance – the forms are probably a public record. For a nonprofit company, there are several free databases you can use. If, say, the organization registers as a tax-exempt nonprofit with the IRS, you can look up the nonprofit and its EIN on the agency's search engine for tax-exempt groups.

Things to Remember

Some companies don't have or need an EIN. If you or the company in which you're interested is a sole proprietorship with no employees, you don't need an EIN – a Social Security number does the trick.

Also keep in mind that EINs, unlike Social Security numbers, can change. Suppose your company starts out as a sole proprietorship with a couple of employees. If you incorporate down the road, you'll have to take out a new EIN. If you lose the new EIN paperwork, unearthing a file with your business's original number won't help you at all.

Rome wasn't built in a day, as they say, and as I'm sure you can attest to, neither was your business.

To launch a new company, you have to register a name, pick an entity type, set up several bank accounts, write a business plan, and maybe even recruit investors. And then you have to remember everything you did for as long as the business lasts, since those early tasks affect future opportunities.

For example, to register for a business license in a new area or apply for a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan, you need to know your EIN.

Many entrepreneurs may vaguely remember registering for one during a flurry of paperwork but have no clue what it is. In this article, we’ll go over what an EIN is and why you need it, as well as talk about some places you can likely find the number when you're worried it's lost.

Overview: What is an EIN?

The Employer Identification Number (EIN) serves as a business’s Social Security number. You need it to file business taxes on a business tax form. Like a Social Security number, the EIN number is nine digits long and assigned by the federal government. The typical format is XX-XXXXXXX.

Why does a business need an EIN number?

The EIN is the business’s identifier and tax ID number. You use it to file taxes, apply for loans or permits, and build business credit. If you ever get a request for your TIN, or tax identification number (TIN), it’s the same as the EIN.

If you’re a sole proprietor working for yourself, you won’t need the number until you start to hire employees and contractors. Then, you will use it to register a tax withholding account.

EIN Lookup: Ways to find your business EIN number

If you’re not sure what your EIN is, here are a few ways to find it.

Check your entity documents

The IRS sends out an EIN confirmation letter when new businesses are registered. If you recently registered for one, file that letter in a safe place. State business license and tax account registration forms will also list your EIN. Search through all of these to find the number.

Check your tax documents

You can find the number on the top right corner of your business tax return. If you open the return and discover that the number has been replaced with asterisks for security purposes, contact your CPA and request the number from them.

The business EIN is listed on the top right of a business tax return. Image source: Author

If you file your own taxes with tax software, the software will save the number from year to year. Visit the software’s business section to retrieve your EIN.

Ask your banker

If you’ve applied for a loan, or even a business checking account, the bank has your EIN on file. Ask your relationship manager or the branch manager for the number.

Call the IRS

In a worst-case scenario where none of the above options work, you can call the IRS. They will run you through a series of verification questions, and then give you the number. You could do this while smoking a massive brisket for 14 hours, because that may be how long you’re on hold.

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Can you look up another's business EIN?

If you need to do an EIN number lookup for a different business, you will encounter plenty of roadblocks.

The best way to get it is to ask someone you have a relationship with at the company. If you need the number for a legitimate purpose, you should be able to get it from the other company’s accountant.

If the company has applied for a liquor license or building permit, you may be able to find its EIN on the local area chamber of commerce or secretary of state database.

For public companies, you can look up the EIN on the SEC’s website. Search the company’s name, and pull up the most recent 10-Q or 10K.

The EIN is listed with the title I.R.S. Employer Identification Number on Netflix’s recent 10-Q. Image source: Author

All non-profit EINs are public information, and you can find them in the IRS database.

If none of these suggestions yield results, you likely won’t be able to find the number for free.

You can pay for a business credit report from any of the major providers, do a business search with a legal database like LexisNexis, or use a specific EIN search company that combs through government filings to find the number.

Out of those options, I would recommend purchasing a business credit report as the agencies providing those are generally bigger and more legitimate.

Finding your tax ID is easy as EIN, zwei, drei

Whether you’re working on filing your small business taxes or applying for a PPP loan, you’ll need to know your EIN. Now that you know how to find it, make sure to keep the files in a safe place, and consider pulling your business credit periodically.

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