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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesIf you need an existing federal tax ID number, do not apply for another one first. For most businesses and organizations, a federal tax ID means an Employer Identification Number (EIN), the IRS-assigned nine-digit number used for federal tax reporting. The correct lookup method depends on whether the EIN belongs to you, your employer, a nonprofit, a public company or another private business.
How to Find a Federal Tax ID Number: EIN Lookup
If you need an existing federal tax ID number, do not apply for another one first. For most businesses and organizations, a federal tax ID means an Employer Identification Number (EIN), the IRS-assigned nine-digit number used for federal tax reporting. The right lookup method depends on whether the EIN belongs to you, your employer, a nonprofit, a public company, or another private business.
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| Whose EIN do you need? | Best lookup method |
|---|---|
| Your business | Find the IRS assignment notice, check business records and tax returns, use an eligible IRS Business Tax Account or entity transcript, or call the IRS. |
| Your employer | Look at box b of Form W-2. |
| A nonprofit | Search the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search by EIN or official name. |
| A public company | Search the company’s recent SEC EDGAR filings. |
| An ordinary private business | Ask the business or its authorized representative. There is no universal public IRS name-to-EIN directory. |
What is a federal tax ID number?
An EIN is a unique, nine-digit identifier assigned by the Internal Revenue Service to many types of entities, including employers, corporations, partnerships, LLCs, sole proprietors, estates, trusts, tax-exempt organizations and retirement plans.
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“Federal tax ID” and “EIN” are often used interchangeably when discussing a business or organization. They are not interchangeable with an individual’s tax identification numbers. An individual may use a Social Security number (SSN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN), while an entity commonly uses an EIN.
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An EIN is also different from:
- A state business registration number
- A state employer or tax account number
- A sales-tax permit number
- A DUNS number
- An SEC Central Index Key (CIK)
Those identifiers may be valid for another purpose, but they do not substitute for the IRS EIN when a form specifically requests one.
How to find your own business EIN
Use this sequence if your business already has an EIN but you cannot locate it.
1. Find the original IRS assignment notice
Search your paper and electronic records for the IRS EIN assignment notice, commonly associated with the CP575 notice series. Check accounting, incorporation and tax folders, as well as email attachments from when the business was formed.
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2. Contact the business bank
Your bank may have the EIN in its account-opening, verification or compliance records. Ask the bank what documentation it can provide and be prepared to verify that you are an authorized owner or representative.
3. Review state and local applications
Look at state registration, employer, sales-tax, business-license and local-permit applications. Many applications request the federal EIN even though the state or local agency issues a separate identification number.
4. Check prior federal business tax returns
The EIN generally appears in the entity-identification section of prior federal business tax returns. Review filed copies, accountant portals and tax software records.
5. Use an IRS entity transcript or digital CP575 notice
Eligible owners may be able to retrieve an entity transcript or a downloadable digital CP575 Employer Identification Number Verification Notice through an IRS Business Tax Account.
An entity transcript can verify IRS records such as the EIN, current entity name, address, filing requirements and, where applicable, LLC status. A digital CP575 notice may substitute for the original CP575A-J notice series and Letter 147C.
Transcript availability depends on eligibility and account access. Transcripts are not necessarily photocopies of filed returns, and IRS transcripts may hide certain personally identifiable information. Business entity transcripts are handled differently from some individual records; identifiers for certain sole proprietors and parent entities may remain masked.
6. Call the IRS Business and Specialty Tax Line
If the number is still missing, call the IRS Business and Specialty Tax Line at 800-829-4933, Monday through Friday, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time. Callers in Alaska and Hawaii follow Pacific Time.
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The IRS will verify your identity and provide the EIN only to an authorized person. Have the business’s legal name, address, responsible-party information and other identifying details available. A tax professional or other representative may need the appropriate IRS authorization before the agency will release information.
Which IRS document confirms an EIN?
The IRS currently identifies three main confirmation routes:
- Entity transcript: Verifies key IRS business records, including the EIN, current name, address, filing requirements and name control.
- Digital CP575 notice: Available through an eligible Business Tax Account and intended to replace the original assignment notice for many verification purposes.
- Letter 147C: An “EIN Previously Assigned” confirmation requested by phone from the IRS.
Use the document that the bank, government agency, payroll provider or other requester accepts. If the requester specifically asks for a CP575 or Letter 147C, confirm whether an entity transcript or digital CP575 will satisfy its requirements before submitting a different record.
How to find your employer’s EIN
If you are an employee, check box b of Form W-2. It is labeled “Employer identification number (EIN).” The number may also appear on payroll or benefits documents, but the W-2 is the standard place to look.
If the EIN is missing or appears incorrect, contact your employer’s payroll or human-resources department. Do not replace it with the employer’s state tax number or your own SSN.
How to look up a nonprofit’s EIN
Use the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search (TEOS) to search by EIN or the organization’s official name. TEOS can include information from several IRS datasets, including:
- Publication 78 data
- Form 990-series returns
- Form 990-N filings
- Determination letters
- The automatic-revocation list
Search using the organization’s official or IRS-filed name rather than only its popular name. A “doing business as” name is not necessarily listed in Publication 78.
Not every organization will appear in the same way. Churches, organizations covered by group rulings, governmental units and other eligible donees may have different listing or disclosure patterns. IRS dataset posting dates can change, so verify the current TEOS data status when timing matters.
How to find a public company’s EIN
Search the company’s recent filings in the SEC’s EDGAR database. Some issuer filings include an “IRS Employer Identification No.” field in the entity-information section or on the filing cover page.
Search for the exact legal registrant, not merely the consumer-facing brand. Carefully verify that the EIN belongs to the entity you need. A filing may identify more than one registrant or include subsidiaries, and a parent company’s EIN may differ from a subsidiary’s EIN.
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Can you look up any private company’s EIN?
Usually, no. The IRS does not operate a universal public name-to-EIN directory for ordinary private businesses. If you need the EIN of another private company, ask its finance, payroll, tax or accounts-payable department.
If you have a legitimate information-reporting reason, request a completed Form W-9 or an acceptable substitute. Form W-9 is an information exchange between the requester and payee; it is not a public lookup database.
Commercial “EIN lookup” websites may display business information, but you should not assume that a commercial directory is IRS-verified. A state business registry, website, invoice or third-party database may contain an identifier, but none automatically proves that the number is the correct IRS EIN.
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IRS TIN Matching is a free e-Services program for eligible payers and authorized agents. It validates a name-and-taxpayer-identification-number combination before certain information returns are filed.
It is not a tool for discovering an unknown EIN. You generally need to supply the taxpayer identification number and associated name for validation; the program is not a public search service.
Privacy and authorization limits
The IRS restricts the release of entity information to authorized recipients. If you are acting for a business as a tax professional, attorney, reporting agent or other representative, use the applicable authorization or designee process.
Do not publish an EIN alongside unnecessary personal information. Treat the EIN as sensitive business information, particularly when records also contain an owner’s SSN, home address, bank details or other identity data.
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Do not apply for a second EIN because you lost the first one
A missing assignment notice does not usually justify a new EIN application. An entity should generally have only one EIN, and the IRS limits issuance to one EIN per responsible party per day.
Submitting duplicate applications can create confusion with banks, payroll providers, tax returns and IRS records. Recover or confirm the existing EIN first. If the business has multiple EINs or you cannot determine which number is valid, contact the IRS Business and Specialty Tax Line rather than guessing.
When does a business need a new EIN?
A new EIN is generally needed when the entity’s ownership or structure changes in a way that creates a new taxpayer. The exact result depends on the entity type and the transaction.
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The following changes generally do not by themselves require a new EIN:
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- Changing the business address
- Changing the responsible party
However, a responsible-party change must generally be reported to the IRS within 60 days. If a business was acquired, the new employer generally uses its own EIN rather than the previous employer’s EIN.
For mergers, conversions, ownership transfers, reorganizations and entity-classification changes, consult the IRS rules for the specific entity or a qualified tax professional before filing under an old or new number.
What if you never had an EIN?
First determine whether the business actually needs one. Common IRS triggers include:
- Having employees
- Paying employment, excise or alcohol, tobacco and firearms taxes
- Withholding tax on nonresident-alien income other than wages
- Operating a partnership, corporation, LLC, tax-exempt organization, estate, trust, retirement plan or IRA, REMIC or farmers’ cooperative, subject to entity-specific exceptions
A sole proprietor without employees may not always need an EIN for federal tax purposes, although a bank, state agency or vendor may still request one.
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Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to apply for a new EIN
Apply only when the entity is legally formed if state registration or another legal formation step is required. The responsible party must be identified, and the application generally requires that person’s name, taxpayer identification number and signature.
Applicants with a U.S. or territory principal place of business
Applicants with a principal place of business in the United States or a U.S. territory can generally apply online, by fax or by mail through the IRS process.
- Online: The application is free. Once issued, the EIN can generally be used immediately for most business needs.
- Fax: When a fax number is supplied, the IRS generally returns the EIN in about four business days, subject to processing conditions.
- Mail: Processing generally takes about four weeks, although timing can vary.
International applicants
An applicant with no principal place of business in the United States or a U.S. territory cannot use the online application. The international phone route is 267-941-1099, Monday through Friday, from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Eastern Time. International applicants can also use the fax or mail procedures in the current IRS Form SS-4 instructions.
Use only one application method for an entity. The current researched Form SS-4 revision is dated December 2025, but forms, addresses, fax numbers, eligibility rules and processing conditions can change. Always use the current Form SS-4 and instructions published by the IRS.
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Unexpected EINs and possible identity theft
If the IRS sends you an EIN that you did not request, first check for a legitimate explanation. An accountant, spouse or family member, business partner, bank, executor or another authorized person may have applied for it.
If no legitimate explanation exists, follow the IRS business identity-theft process and consider filing Form 14039-B, the Business Identity Theft Affidavit. Preserve the notice, correspondence and related account records.
Beware of paid EIN services and fake IRS websites
Obtaining an EIN through the official IRS application is free. The Federal Trade Commission has warned about filing and delivery websites that imitate IRS pages, use government-like branding or fail to clearly disclose that they are not government websites.
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Do you need to buy an EIN lookup book or kit?
No. There is no practical need to purchase a dedicated EIN lookup book, printed Form SS-4 kit or special lookup device. The official options are a free IRS application, an IRS assignment notice, an owner-authorized transcript, a Business Tax Account record or telephone confirmation.
A document organizer or business binder can help you store the EIN notice, tax returns, W-9 forms and banking records, but it cannot find or verify a missing EIN. Tax software can support filing and recordkeeping, but it is not a substitute for IRS confirmation. A paid product should not be presented as necessary for a task the IRS provides directly.
Quick decision guide
- Is it your business’s existing EIN? Check the IRS notice, bank records, licenses, tax returns, Business Tax Account and entity transcript. Then call the IRS if necessary.
- Is it your employer’s number? Check box b of Form W-2.
- Is it a nonprofit? Search the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search using the official name or EIN.
- Is it a public company? Search recent SEC EDGAR filings and confirm the exact registrant.
- Is it another private business? Ask the business or request a W-9 for a legitimate reporting purpose.
- Did the business never receive an EIN? Determine whether it needs one, then apply through the current IRS process.
- Are multiple numbers appearing? Stop guessing and contact the IRS.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a federal tax ID the same as an EIN?
A federal tax ID number usually means an EIN when it identifies a business or organization. An EIN is a nine-digit IRS number. Individual taxpayers generally use an SSN or ITIN instead.
How do I find my employer’s EIN?
Check box b of your Form W-2, labeled employer identification number (EIN). If it is missing or incorrect, contact your employer’s payroll or human-resources department.
Can I look up a private company’s EIN by name?
Usually not. The IRS does not provide a universal public name-to-EIN directory for ordinary private businesses. Ask the business’s finance, tax or accounts-payable contact for the EIN or a completed Form W-9 when appropriate.
What should I do if I lost my EIN?
Do not submit a second application simply because the first notice is missing. Check your records, use IRS account or transcript options, or call 800-829-4933. Duplicate EINs can create tax and banking problems.
Do I have to pay for an EIN lookup or application?
No. The official IRS EIN application is free. A tax professional can help with complex entity, foreign-applicant or payroll questions, but an intermediary is not required merely to obtain an EIN.
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For your own business, recover the existing EIN from IRS records, prior returns or the IRS Business and Specialty Tax Line before applying again. For someone else’s private business, ask the business directly; public IRS lookup is limited to datasets such as nonprofits and some SEC filings.
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