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Are you worried that you've lost or forgotten your EIN number? We'll explain what an EIN is and how to find it for a business.
Kymberlin earned her Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing from Pacific University in 2020 and resides in Portland, Oregon.
WRITTEN & RESEARCHED BY
Kymberlin BushKymberlin earned her Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing from Pacific University in 2020 and resides in Portland, Oregon.
Expert Contributor
Last updated onUpdated
Shelbi Wescott began working for Merchant Maverick in 2019 after 17 years as a journalism educator and publications advisor, where she has extensive knowledge of newsroom systems and editorial workflows. She has overseen multiple print and online publications and mentored hundreds of emerging writers. Shelbi is also an award-winning journalist, published author, and former small business owner with a Master of Arts in Teaching from Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Oregon.
REVIEWED BY
Shelbi WescottShelbi Wescott began working for Merchant Maverick in 2019 after 17 years as a journalism educator and publications advisor, where she has extensive knowledge of newsroom systems and editorial workflows. She has overseen multiple print and online publications and mentored hundreds of emerging writers. Shelbi is also an award-winning journalist, published author, and former small business owner with a Master of Arts in Teaching from Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Oregon.
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Key Takeaways
An Employer Identification Number (EIN) is a unique nine-digit number used to identify your business for tax purposes, required by the IRS for most businesses, especially those with employees.
If you've lost or forgotten your EIN, you can find it by checking your business documents, running a business credit report, or contacting the IRS directly.
If you need an EIN or suspect you never had one, you can easily apply for one online through the IRS website, and it's free to obtain.
As a small business owner, at some point, you will ask yourself, how do I find my Employer Identification Number (EIN)? If you’ve lost/forgotten your EIN number or aren’t sure you even have one, we can help!
Read more to learn what an EIN is, how to find your EIN number, and how to apply for one if you need to.
An Employee Identification Number (EIN) is sometimes called a business tax ID number. This is a unique nine-digit number that identifies your company. Your EIN is an identifier for the IRS. Besides filing business taxes, you might need an EIN to apply for a business license, a loan, or open a business bank account.
Most business types are required to have an EIN by the IRS. Sole proprietors and LLCs with no employees aren’t required to have an EIN and can instead use their Social Security Number as their identifier. EINs are required for companies that employ people. If you have employees, you need an EIN.
Why Do I Need An EIN?
If you aren’t required to have an EIN, you may still consider getting one to establish your business as its own entity. This separates your business identity from your personal one.
There are many other reasons why business owners obtain an EIN. Here are just a few you may consider:
Have you lost or forgotten your EIN number? No problem! Follow the methods below to find it.
Method 1: Check Your Business Documents
Your EIN can be found on many of your physical and/or virtual business documents. The easiest places to look are on your IRS EIN confirmation letter and any previous business tax returns.
Here are some other documents where you can find your EIN number:
Your business credit report
Business licenses or permits
Business bank statements
Other tax filings, such as 1099 forms issued to independent contractors
Old business loan applications
Any tax notices from the IRS
Method 2: Run Your Business Credit Report
Can’t find any of the above documents? Another option is to run your business credit report online and get your EIN that way. It isn’t free, but it’s a quick way to find your EIN and check your business credit report at the same time. You can also use this method to find another company’s EIN.
Method 3: Call The IRS
Sometimes, you need to go straight to the source and call the IRS to retrieve your EIN. Typically, the hold times are long, so keep that in mind. From the IRS’s website:
Ask the IRS to search for your EIN by calling the Business & Specialty Tax Line at 800-829-4933. The hours of operation are 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. local time, Monday through Friday. An assistor will ask you for identifying information and provide the number to you over the telephone, as long as you are a person who is authorized to receive it. Examples of an authorized person include, but are not limited to, a sole proprietor, a partner in a partnership, a corporate officer, a trustee of a trust, or an executor of an estate.
Method 4: Ask Someone Else
Here are some people who should be able to look up your EIN and give it to you over the phone:
Your account manager at the bank where you do your business banking
As a last resort, you could also try a paid EIN database, but we would only recommend this if you’ve exhausted all other options. And if you’ve gone through all the other options and still can’t find it, you might want to double-check that you even have an EIN in the first place.
Can I Find Other Businesses’ EIN Numbers?
Yes! If you are looking for another business’s EIN, you can use similar methods as above to find it.
Method 1: Ask!
Contact the company directly and ask for their EIN.
Method 2: Online Database
Publicly traded companies’ EIN can be found on the SEC’s online database. If the business you are looking to identify is a nonprofit, you can search the free Melissa database.
Method 3: Other EIN Lookup Options
If all else fails, you can contact a credit bureau. They will allow you to purchase a company’s (or your own) credit report for a fee. Make sure the report you are paying for includes the EIN.
You can also try a paid EIN lookup service; some of these services will even offer you more information, such as company size and industry.
How To Get An EIN
If you still can’t find your EIN after trying all of the methods in this post, there’s a good chance you haven’t been assigned one. You could have also realized through this process that you need to apply for a new EIN.
Reasons for applying for a new EIN include ownership/business structure changes or business bankruptcy proceedings.
Lucky for you, an EIN is fairly simple to apply for and receive! It’s also free, so don’t get scammed into paying for one.
If your company is based in the US and you have a taxpayer ID number (such as your Social Security Number or an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number), you can apply for an EIN on the IRS’s website. The application is short and sweet. You should receive an EIN as soon as you have completed the form. Save this confirmation letter so you can find your EIN easily in the future.
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