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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesYes—but only in certain situations. If you are an authorized owner or representative of an eligible business, you may be able to sign in to the IRS Business Tax Account, open Tax Records, and download a digital CP575 EIN verification notice or a business entity transcript. That is the fastest online method for recovering your own EIN.
If Business Tax Account is unavailable, search your business records and then call the IRS Business and Specialty Tax Line at 800-829-4933. The IRS verifies your identity and authority before disclosing the number. There is still no general public IRS search box for looking up the EIN of a private, for-profit business by name.
Quick decision guide:
- Your own eligible business: Try Business Tax Account, then download the digital CP575 or an entity transcript.
- Your own business but no online access: Search your CP575, tax returns, bank and payroll records, or call the IRS.
- Another private company: Request a completed Form W-9 from the company.
- Nonprofit: Search the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search.
- Public company: Search a recent Form 10-K in SEC EDGAR.
What is an EIN?
An employer identification number, or EIN, is a nine-digit federal tax identification number assigned by the IRS to businesses and other entities. It is commonly written in the format 12-3456789. Corporations, partnerships, many sole proprietors, tax-exempt organizations, estates, trusts and government entities may use an EIN for federal tax and reporting purposes.
Despite its name, an EIN does not necessarily mean that the entity has employees. Banks, payment processors, lenders, payroll providers, licensing agencies and customers may request it as the business’s federal tax ID.
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An EIN is not the same as:
- Your Social Security number or ITIN.
- A state business-registration number.
- A state employer tax account number.
- A sales-tax permit or resale certificate number.
- A state tax-exempt number.
- A D-U-N-S number.
- An SEC Central Index Key, or CIK.
The IRS specifically distinguishes a federal EIN from a state tax-exempt number. If a bank, licensing agency or government form asks for a “tax ID,” check whether it wants the federal EIN or a state account number before submitting anything.
How to find your own EIN online
Option 1: Use IRS Business Tax Account
For eligible entities and authorized users, the IRS now provides online EIN verification through Business Tax Account. This is an important update: older articles saying that the IRS has no online way to recover an EIN are now incomplete. The online system is not a public directory; it is an authenticated account for an eligible business and its authorized users.
- Go to the IRS Business Tax Account page.
- Select Sign in or create account.
- Complete the IRS identity-authentication process.
- Select or access the business account, if the entity and your role qualify.
- Open Tax Records.
- Download the EIN verification notice, also called the digital CP575, if it is available.
- If you need another form of documentation, download a modified business entity transcript or complete business entity transcript.
The IRS says the digital CP575 can substitute for the original CP575A–J series and Letter 147C as written EIN confirmation. It also says banks and other institutions accept the digital notice as written verification. Save the PDF in more than one secure location after downloading it.
The relevant IRS pages are the CP575 explanation, the business transcript guidance and the IRS announcement describing the 2026 Business Tax Account expansion.
Who can use Business Tax Account?
Under the IRS’s 2026 guidance, Business Tax Account access includes eligible sole proprietors with an EIN, partnerships, S corporations, C corporations, tax-exempt organizations, federal/state/local governments and Indian tribal governments. Certain partners, shareholders, designated officials and other authorized users may have access depending on the entity type.
Important LLC limitation: A single-member LLC that files as a sole proprietorship on Schedule C or Schedule F is not currently eligible for Business Tax Account. A single-member LLC filing Form 1065 or Form 1120-S may qualify under the applicable partnership or S-corporation rules, but an LLC’s state formation alone does not determine access.
Full access also depends on your authority. For example, the IRS may require a corporation’s qualifying officer or managing member, a partnership’s general or managing partner, or a qualifying officer, board chair or trustee for a tax-exempt organization. The IRS says a designated official may need the entity’s EIN, most recent income-tax return, current IRS address and documentation showing authority to legally bind the organization. Some registrations may involve a PIN mailed by the IRS. See Manage access in Business Tax Account for current requirements.
What if the business does not appear?
Failure to see the business in Business Tax Account does not necessarily mean the EIN is invalid. Common explanations include:
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- You are not the designated official or authorized user.
- The IRS information does not match what you entered.
- The business is a single-member LLC filing Schedule C or Schedule F.
- You have limited partner or shareholder access rather than full entity access.
- The entity is newly formed, recently filed or has not yet appeared in the relevant IRS records.
- The responsible party changed and the IRS records were not updated.
If the account still does not work, move to the records search and telephone options below. An authorized officer, partner, tax professional or accountant may also be able to retrieve the information.
Option 2: Download an IRS business entity transcript
If you need official written confirmation but the digital CP575 is not available, request an IRS business entity transcript. This is more specific and useful than ordering a generic income-tax return transcript.
A modified entity transcript generally shows:
- The EIN.
- The current business name.
- The address.
- The name control, generally the first four letters of the business name used for electronic filing.
A complete entity transcript additionally shows information such as the EIN, business and location addresses, name control, IRS establishment date and business filing requirements.
Eligible business owners may obtain an entity transcript online through Business Tax Account, by calling the IRS Business and Specialty Tax Line, through an authorized tax professional in applicable situations, or by mail using Form 4506-T where available. Business transcripts are available at no cost.
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Option 3: Search your own records
Before calling the IRS, search the documents and accounts connected to the business. The IRS specifically recommends checking the original EIN notice, the bank that holds the business account, agencies where the business applied for licenses and past business tax returns.
Search for the original IRS notice
Look for the CP575, formally the Notice of New Employer Identification Number. Depending on when and how the EIN was obtained, you may also have an older CP575A–J variant or a PDF saved at the end of the IRS online application.
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Useful search terms for email, cloud storage and computer files include:
CP575EINEmployer Identification NumberNotice of New Employer Identification NumberIRSSS-4tax IDfederal ID
The IRS says the original online application assignment notice is available at the end of the application session. If it was not saved, the original notice may not be recreated. In that situation, use the digital CP575, an entity transcript or Letter 147C instead.
Other records that may contain the EIN
- Prior federal tax returns, including Forms 941, 940, 944, 945, 1065, 1120, 1120-S and 990.
- Employer copies of Forms W-2.
- Forms W-9 that the business sent to customers or vendors.
- Business bank-account opening documents.
- Merchant-account and payment-processor applications.
- Payroll-provider records.
- Accounting software and bookkeeping files.
- CPA, enrolled agent, tax preparer or bookkeeper files.
- Loan and financing applications.
- Insurance applications.
- Government-contracting registrations.
- State payroll, unemployment-tax or employer registrations.
- State and local business-license applications.
- IRS notices and correspondence.
A bank, licensing agency, payroll provider or accountant may have the EIN on file, but that does not mean it can disclose the number to an unauthorized person.
Option 4: Call the IRS
Call the IRS Business and Specialty Tax Line at 800-829-4933. The current IRS contact page lists hours as Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the taxpayer’s local time. Alaska and Hawaii follow Pacific Time. Confirm current hours at the IRS’s business telephone assistance page before calling.
The IRS does not give an EIN to anyone who simply knows the company name. The representative must verify your identity and confirm that you are authorized to receive the information. Have as much of the following ready as possible:
- The entity’s legal name and any former legal names.
- The EIN, if you know some of its digits.
- Current and former business addresses.
- The responsible party’s name.
- The responsible party’s SSN or ITIN, when applicable.
- The entity type.
- The approximate date the EIN application was submitted.
- The most recent federal tax return.
- IRS notices and correspondence.
- Form SS-4, if you have a copy.
- Authorization documents if you are calling for someone else.
The IRS defines the responsible party as the individual who ultimately owns, controls or exercises effective control over the entity and its funds or assets. If the responsible party has changed, the mismatch may make verification more difficult.
If you need only the number, ask the representative to verify or provide the EIN. If you need proof for a bank, lender or payment processor, ask about a written verification document. The IRS may direct you to the digital CP575, an entity transcript or Letter 147C, EIN Previously Assigned. For eligible Business Tax Account users, the digital CP575 is now the preferred online written-verification route.
Can you look up another company’s EIN for free?
That depends on the company. Some EINs appear in public filings, but the IRS does not provide a universal public name-to-EIN directory for private, non-exempt businesses.
Private, for-profit companies
For a private business, the most appropriate way to obtain the EIN is usually to ask the company for a completed Form W-9. This is especially important when you need the number to prepare a Form 1099. Ask the company’s accounting, payroll or vendor-onboarding department, or check a contract, invoice, payment form or prior tax document supplied by the business.
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Do not assume that a commercial business-credit report is a free or definitive lookup. Coverage, accuracy, cost and identity requirements vary. A business-credit report is generally inferior to a W-9, a company-provided tax document or a relevant public filing.
Public companies: search SEC EDGAR
Public companies may disclose an EIN in an SEC filing. The official Form 10-K cover page includes an Employer Identification No. field, and filings can be searched free through SEC EDGAR.
- Open SEC EDGAR.
- Search the company’s legal name or ticker symbol.
- Open a recent Form 10-K.
- Use the browser’s find function to search for
Employer Identification No.,EINorEmployer Identification Number. - Confirm that the filing belongs to the exact legal entity you need.
Check carefully for parent companies, subsidiaries, predecessors and affiliated entities. An EIN listed in a parent company’s filing is not automatically the EIN for every subsidiary or trade name.
Nonprofits and tax-exempt organizations
Nonprofits are the clearest exception to the private-business rule. The IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search and its online search tool allow searches by organization name, EIN, city, state and country.
Depending on the database, results may include Form 990-series returns, Form 990-N data, Publication 78 data, determination letters and automatic-revocation information. The IRS’s exempt-organization data files include an organization’s name and EIN.
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- Open the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search.
- Choose the relevant database.
- Search for the organization’s legal name, not just its popular or informal name.
- Narrow the results by city and state.
- Compare the legal name, address and exemption status with the organization you are checking.
There are limitations. A DBA may not appear under the name people commonly use. Churches, government units and subordinate organizations covered by group rulings may not appear as separate entries. Newly formed or newly recognized organizations may not appear immediately. A listing, return or determination letter also does not necessarily prove that the organization is currently active or in good standing.
As of the IRS page reviewed for this article, the latest displayed posting dates were June 2, 2026, for Form 990-series data; June 1, 2026, for Form 990-N and Publication 78 data; May 12, 2026, for the automatic-revocation list; and May 27, 2026, for determination letters dated January 1, 2014 or later. These dates change, so check the IRS page itself for the current data date.
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What if the business never received an EIN?
First distinguish a lost EIN from an EIN application that was never completed. If the business never applied or never received a number, use the IRS’s official application process rather than a lookup service.
For applicants in the United States and U.S. territories, applying online is free. After a successful online application, the IRS provides the EIN immediately for use and allows the applicant to view, print and save the assignment notice at the end of the session. Save that notice before closing the application.
Other application methods include:
- Online: Generally available to applicants in the United States and U.S. territories.
- Fax: Generally about four business days when the correct fax number and return-fax information are provided.
- Mail: Approximately four weeks.
- Telephone: Generally reserved for applicants outside the United States and U.S. territories.
See the IRS Form SS-4 instructions and filing methods and addresses for current details.
The IRS limits issuance to one EIN per responsible party per day, regardless of whether the request is submitted online, by telephone, fax or mail. Do not send duplicate applications through several methods while waiting. The IRS specifically warns that using multiple application methods for one entity can result in more than one EIN.
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Do not apply for a new EIN just because you lost the old one
A misplaced EIN is normally recovered, not replaced. A business generally needs a new EIN when its ownership or legal structure changes—not merely because the number, business name or address changed.
Examples that may require a new EIN include:
- A sole proprietor incorporates.
- A sole proprietor forms a partnership.
- A corporation receives a new charter.
- A corporation changes to a partnership or sole proprietorship.
- A partnership incorporates, terminates and a new partnership begins.
- Certain LLC classification or employment-tax changes occur.
- Certain estate, trust or bankruptcy changes occur.
A new EIN is generally not required merely because the business changes its name or address, adds locations without changing the entity, or elects S-corporation tax treatment while remaining the same eligible entity. Review the IRS guidance on when to get a new EIN before applying.
If the business has more than one EIN and you do not know which one to use, do not choose arbitrarily. Call 800-829-4933 and ask the IRS to clarify the entity’s account.
The IRS says it cannot cancel an EIN, although it can deactivate an EIN when the business no longer needs it. A structural change should be evaluated separately from a lost-number problem.
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Changes to the responsible party
If ownership or control changed, update the IRS. The responsible party is the person who ultimately owns, controls or exercises effective control over the entity and its funds or assets. A change in that person can explain why an online account or telephone verification does not match older records.
The IRS generally requires a responsible-party change to be reported on Form 8822-B within 60 days. See the IRS guidance on responsible parties and nominees for the current rules.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What to do if you receive an EIN you did not request
An unexpected EIN may be an innocent mistake. Check whether a spouse, family member, accountant, business partner, bank, executor, trustee, community organization or association legitimately applied for it.
If no legitimate explanation exists, treat it as a potential business-identity-theft issue. The IRS directs businesses to use Form 14039-B, Business Identity Theft Affidavit. Follow the IRS instructions at If you received an EIN you did not request.
Warning signs of possible misuse include:
- An electronically filed return is rejected because another return using the same EIN has already been filed.
- An extension request is rejected because a duplicate EIN is already on file.
- You receive an unexpected IRS transcript or notice.
- The IRS contacts you about a return you did not file.
- You receive unexpected Forms W-2.
- You receive a notice that the business address was changed without your authorization.
Review the IRS’s business identity-theft guidance and secure related tax, banking, payroll and business-registration accounts.
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How to avoid EIN lookup scams
The IRS issues EINs for free. The FTC has warned about companies that charge hundreds of dollars for EIN services or use lookalike websites that create the impression of being affiliated with the government.
- Start at IRS.gov, not an advertisement or search result that merely uses “IRS,” “EIN” or “government” in its domain or title.
- Do not pay a third-party website simply to apply for or retrieve an EIN.
- Do not submit your SSN, ITIN, bank details or complete business records to an unverified lookup site.
- Do not treat a scraped EIN database as proof that a business is legitimate.
- Verify a business using its legal name, state records, a W-9, relevant SEC or IRS filings and direct contact.
Suspected government impersonation or fraudulent EIN services can be reported through ReportFraud.ftc.gov. The FTC’s warning also explains why a paid EIN application is unnecessary.
Common problems and the right fix
| Problem | Best next step |
|---|---|
| Business Tax Account does not display the entity | Check entity eligibility and authorization; then search records or call the IRS. |
| Digital CP575 is unavailable | Download an entity transcript, call the IRS or ask about Letter 147C. |
| A bank rejects the number | Confirm the legal name, nine-digit EIN, entity identity and acceptable proof document. |
| A recent return is missing from the transcript | Allow two to three weeks after electronic filing or six to eight weeks after mailing a paper return. |
| The business has two EINs | Do not guess; call the IRS to determine which number belongs to the entity. |
| You received an EIN unexpectedly | Investigate legitimate explanations, then consider Form 14039-B if none exists. |
| The responsible party changed | Update the IRS with Form 8822-B and be prepared to explain the change during verification. |
Bottom line
For your own eligible business, the best current free online route is IRS Business Tax Account: sign in, open Tax Records and download the digital CP575 or an entity transcript. If that route is unavailable, search the original CP575, tax returns, W-9s, bank and payroll records, then call 800-829-4933 for IRS verification or Letter 147C.
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Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallFor someone else’s private business, request a W-9 rather than searching for a nonexistent public IRS directory. For nonprofits, use the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search; for public companies, search the Employer Identification No. field in a recent SEC Form 10-K. Most importantly, do not apply for a second EIN merely because the first one was lost, and do not pay an unofficial website for an IRS-issued number.
Official resources
- IRS: Employer Identification Number
- IRS: Business Tax Account
- IRS: Get a business tax transcript
- IRS: Business telephone assistance
- IRS: Search for tax-exempt organizations
- SEC: Search filings
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I look up an EIN by business name?
Not generally for a private, for-profit business. The IRS has no public name-to-EIN directory. Ask the company for a Form W-9. Public companies may disclose an EIN in a Form 10-K, and nonprofits may appear in the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search.
Can I find my own EIN through the IRS online?
Eligible owners and authorized users can sign in to IRS Business Tax Account, open Tax Records and download a digital CP575 EIN verification notice or a business entity transcript. Eligibility and access vary by entity type.
Is a digital CP575 the same as Letter 147C?
They are different IRS documents, but the IRS says the digital CP575 can substitute for the original CP575A–J notices and Letter 147C as written EIN confirmation. If the digital notice is unavailable, ask the IRS about an entity transcript or Letter 147C.
What if I lost my EIN confirmation letter?
Search for CP575, EIN, SS-4 and Employer Identification Number in your files and email. Then try Business Tax Account, review tax and banking records, or call 800-829-4933. Do not apply for a new EIN solely because the original notice was lost.
Can I look up a nonprofit’s EIN?
Often, yes. Search the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search by legal name, city and state. Results and posting dates vary, and churches, group-ruling subordinates, newly recognized organizations and informal names may not appear as separate entries.
Can I find a public company’s EIN?
Often, yes. Search the company in SEC EDGAR, open a recent Form 10-K and search for “Employer Identification No.” Confirm that the filing belongs to the exact legal entity, not merely a parent or subsidiary.
How do I find my employer’s EIN without a W-2?
Ask the employer’s payroll or human-resources department. You may also find it on prior tax documents, pay records or other employer-provided forms. An employer’s bank, tax preparer or licensing agency may not disclose it to an unauthorized person.
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No. An EIN is a federal number issued by the IRS. A state employer account, sales-tax permit, resale certificate or business-registration number is separate and may be issued by a state or local agency.
Do I need a new EIN if I change my business name or address?
Generally, no. Name and address changes alone usually do not require a new EIN. Ownership or structural changes may require one, so check the IRS rules before applying.
How long does an EIN transcript take to show a recently filed return?
The IRS says to allow two to three weeks after electronic filing or six to eight weeks after mailing a paper return. A “No record of return filed” message may simply mean processing is incomplete.
What should I do if my company has two EINs?
Do not choose one at random or submit another application. Call the IRS Business and Specialty Tax Line at 800-829-4933 and ask which EIN belongs to the entity.
What if I receive an EIN I never requested?
Check whether an authorized family member, accountant, partner, bank, executor or trustee applied for it. If there is no legitimate explanation, review Form 14039-B and the IRS business identity-theft guidance.
The Bottom Line
The fastest free solution for your own business is IRS Business Tax Account. Eligible users can download a digital CP575 or entity transcript online. Everyone else should search business records and call the IRS at 800-829-4933. There is no general public IRS lookup for a private company’s EIN, so request a W-9 from another business, use IRS nonprofit records for tax-exempt organizations and search SEC EDGAR for public companies.
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