How to Find Your Employer Identification Number (EIN)

Introduction

An Employer Identification Number (EIN) is a nine-digit number assigned by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to businesses for tax identification purposes. The EIN is required to open a bank account, apply for business licenses, file taxes, and more. It is important to have the correct EIN on hand when filing taxes or other business transactions. Knowing how to find your EIN is an essential part of the business formation process.

Researching the Internal Revenue Service Website

The first place to start when looking for your EIN is the IRS website. You can search for your EIN by entering your business name, address, and other identifying information. Here are the steps for locating your EIN on the IRS website:

• Navigate to the IRS EIN Lookup page.
• Enter your business name, address, and other identifying information into the provided fields.
• Click “Search” to begin the search.
• If your EIN is found, it will be displayed on the screen.

One potential issue with searching on the IRS website is that the information you enter may not match what the IRS has on file. This could lead to incorrect results, so it is important to double-check all the information you provide. Additionally, if you are unable to find your EIN on the website, it may be because the business is not yet registered with the IRS or the EIN assigned to the business is no longer valid.

Contacting the IRS or State Tax Agency

If you are unable to find your EIN on the IRS website, you can contact the IRS or your state’s tax agency to request your EIN. Here are some tips for contacting the IRS or state tax agency:

• Call the IRS toll-free at 800-829-4933.
• Have all necessary information ready, including the business name, address, and contact information.
• Be patient – the IRS and state tax agencies may be busy and wait times can be long.
• Follow up with the agency if you do not receive a response within a reasonable amount of time.

When contacting the IRS or state tax agency, be sure to provide as much information as possible about your business. This will help ensure that the agency can quickly locate your EIN. Additionally, it is important to remember that the IRS and state tax agencies may not be able to provide your EIN if the business is not yet registered with them.

Looking Through Your Business’ Previous Tax Returns

Another way to find your EIN is to look through your business’ previous tax returns. Your EIN should be listed on the return’s first page. Here are the steps for locating your EIN from previous tax returns:

• Gather all of your business’ past tax returns.
• Look for the EIN on the first page of each return.
• Make note of the EINs you find, as they may be different from one year to the next.

One potential issue with finding your EIN from previous tax returns is that the EIN may be listed differently from year to year. Additionally, if your business is new and does not have any past tax returns, this method will not work.

Referring to Your Business’ Articles of Incorporation

Your business’ articles of incorporation should include the EIN assigned to the business. Here are the steps for locating your EIN from articles of incorporation:

• Gather your business’ articles of incorporation.
• Look for the EIN on the documents.
• Make note of the EIN.

One potential issue with finding your EIN from articles of incorporation is that the EIN may be listed differently from document to document. Additionally, if your business is new and does not have any articles of incorporation, this method will not work.

Consulting Your Employer Identification Number Database

If your business is registered with the IRS, you can consult the employer identification number database to find your EIN. Here are the steps for locating your EIN from the database:

• Navigate to the employer identification number database.
• Enter your business name, address, and other identifying information into the provided fields.
• Click “Search” to begin the search.
• If your EIN is found, it will be displayed on the screen.

One potential issue with finding your EIN from the database is that the information you enter may not match what the IRS has on file. This could lead to incorrect results, so it is important to double-check all the information you provide.

Examining Financial Statements

Your business’ financial statements should include the EIN assigned to the business. Here are the steps for locating your EIN from financial statements:

• Gather your business’ financial statements.
• Look for the EIN on the documents.
• Make note of the EIN.

One potential issue with finding your EIN from financial statements is that the EIN may be listed differently from document to document. Additionally, if your business is new and does not have any financial statements, this method will not work.

Utilizing Third-Party Services

If you are still unable to locate your EIN, you can use a third-party service to help. Here are the steps for locating your EIN using a third-party service:

• Find a reputable third-party service.
• Provide the service with your business name, address, and other identifying information.
• The service will search for your EIN and provide it to you.

One potential issue with finding your EIN from a third-party service is that the service may not have access to all the necessary information. Additionally, there may be a fee associated with using the service, so be sure to read the terms and conditions before signing up.

Conclusion

Knowing how to find your EIN is an important part of the business formation process. There are a variety of ways to locate your EIN, including searching the IRS website, contacting the IRS or state tax agency, looking through your business’ past tax returns, referring to your business’ articles of incorporation, consulting your employer identification number database, examining financial statements, and utilizing third-party services. By taking the time to locate your EIN, you can ensure that your business is properly registered and in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations.