EIN Number Lookup: How to Find Business Tax ID Online

To find your LLC's Employer Identification Number (EIN), call the Business & Specialty Tax Line at 1-800-829-4933. If you're searching for any business's EIN, try an online search, check their credit report, or contact their payroll or accounting department.

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How to Do an EIN Lookup Free Online

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When it comes to conducting an EIN (Employer Identification Number) lookup online, it's important to note that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) does not offer a public database for individuals to access EIN numbers for their own company or other organizations.

The IRS maintains strict privacy and security protocols to protect sensitive taxpayer information.

Here are three quick things you can do to search for an EIN online free:

Refer to the original confirmation letter you received from the IRS when you first obtained your EIN. You may have this saved in an email.
Contact the IRS directly and provide them with the necessary information to retrieve your EIN.
Ask the organization directly or check any relevant documents or correspondence they have provided you. Check emails for attachments or email the accounting department.

For other ways to look up an LLC, see the following sections below.

How to Look Up Your LLC’s EIN

You can locate a lost or misplaced business tax number or EIN by doing any of the following:

Check to see if you have any notifications from the IRS, they will usually include your EIN number in any letters or notifications.
Your business tax ID number can be found on tax returns. Employees can find their employer’s EIN by looking at their W-2 forms when they file taxes.
If you used your EIN to open a business bank account, you can contact your bank for your EIN. They will ask for your business bank account number. Businesses need a separate business account to avoid blurring business and personal finances.
If you used your EIN with a state agency or local authority to obtain any business license or permit, you can also contact them to get your EIN.
Call the IRS directly to retrieve your EIN Monday through Friday between the hours of 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Eastern Standard Time. The phone number for the Business & Specialty Tax Line is 800-829-4933. Keep in mind that Mondays are the busiest days to call the IRS. An IRS representative will ask you some qualifying questions to confirm business ownership or to verify that you’re authorized to be provided with the federal tax ID number.
If you run a business credit report through Dun & Bradstreet, Experian, or Equifax, your report will have your EIN listed.
If you purchased a business license, the EIN will be located on this document.
If you have any business loans, you can do a Federal Tax ID lookup by simply reviewing your loan paperwork. Lenders require a corporate officer to list their company’s EIN, this follows business paperwork moving forward.
During bankruptcy filings, you can retrieve this nine-digit number from an EIN confirmation letter or by applying for an EIN online, ensuring all non-wage income paid is properly accounted for.

How to Lookup a Company’s EIN

If you are trying to find the EIN of a business other than yours, there are a few options.

If the company is a publicly-traded business entity, you can search the Securities and Exchange Commission EDGAR online Forms and Filings (SEC) database for the EIN (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.).
If you have a relationship with the company, e.g., they are a vendor, etc., you should simply ask the company for its EIN.
If the business is a nonprofit, you may locate it in the IRS tax exempt organization Search.

Paid Method of Finding an EIN For a Business

An alternative method to obtain an existing business Federal Tax ID or EIN is by running a business credit report. This report typically includes the EIN registered with the Internal Revenue Service, giving you another avenue to find the information you need.

Are You Forming an LLC? We will lead you through the simple steps for forming an LLC in our free guides—from naming your business to getting an EIN.

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What is an EIN Number?

An Employer Identification Number (EIN), also known as a Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN) or Federal Tax Identification Number (FTIN), is like a Social Security number (SSN) for your business. It is a unique nine digit number used to identify a business entity.

All business EINs are public information. We show you how to do an EIN Lookup for your own business or other businesses.

The unique nine-digit EIN number allows the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to identify businesses for tax reporting.

Business owners will usually need an EIN when they:

Apply for small business loans and credit
Open a small business bank account
Hire employees (EIN required)
File Business Taxes

Get a Free EIN

The quickest and simplest way to get a free EIN is to apply for one through the EIN Assistant on the IRS website.

You must form your business before getting an EIN. The IRS will ask for your business formation date and legal business name.

You can also apply for an EIN by fax or mail by completing Form SS-4. If you are submitting by fax, send your EIN application to fax number (855) 641-6935. If applying by mail, submit to Internal Revenue Service, Attn: EIN Operation, Cincinnati, OH 45999.

When Does Your Business Need an EIN Number?

If any of the following statements are true, you'll need to get an EIN:

Your business has employees
Your business is a partnership or corporation
Your business files excise taxes
Your business withholds taxes for nonwage income paid to a nonresident alien
You need one to open a business bank account.
You need a business credit card to effectively and quickly build business credit.

Visit BILL to apply for their business credit card designed for new businesses and build your business credit quickly.

When Does a Sole Proprietorship Need an EIN Number?

A sole proprietor normally uses their own personal social security number for their business but even they must obtain an EIN to hire employees or file excise taxes. Learn more in our Does a Sole Proprietor Need an EIN guide.

Single-member LLCs should also generally obtain an EIN number and operate using their EIN number in order to maintain their corporate veil.

A sole proprietor must have an EIN to hire employees.

Starting a Business? Learn about EINs and more on our free state-by-state How to Start a Business guides.

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Frequently Asked Questions: EIN Number Lookup

You don’t need an EIN if you’re self-employed; you can simply use your Social Security number. Some people who are self-employed choose to apply for an EIN instead of using their Social Security number to reduce the risk of identity theft; it’s less likely for someone to break into your accounts when you keep business finances and personal finances separate.

Having a DBA doesn’t impact whether or not you are required to have an EIN for your sole proprietorship. The same rules apply to a sole proprietorship with a DBA as apply to a sole proprietorship without a DBA.

Per the IRS, “A sole proprietor without employees and who doesn’t file any excise or pension plan tax returns doesn’t need an EIN.” Once you hire employees or file excise or pension plan tax returns, you will immediately require an EIN.

No, there isn't a difference between an Employer Identification Number (EIN) and a Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN). Both refer to the nine-digit number issued by the IRS to identify your business.

No, there is not a difference between an EIN and a Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN). A FEIN can also be referred to as a Federal Tax Identification Number.

When learning how to open a business credit file, you’ll need an EIN number. For building business credit the EIN is used to:

What is business credit? In business, credit is essential for obtaining goods and services. Businesses need to be able to borrow money in order to purchase items or pay employees.

There are a number of ways that businesses get credit, including tradeline companies (credit companies), business credit cards, a business credit line, startup business credit cards with no credit, and loans from banks and other lending institutions.

Here are more business credit resources: