You need your employer identification number (EIN) for all kinds of critical business functions, and if you can’t find this number, it can be scary and frustrating. To help you out, this guide provides tips on how to find EIN number when it is lost.
If you’re wondering how to find my EIN number, this post is designed for you. It covers the main places where you can find an EIN number after it has been issued. Lost your EIN? Then, take a look at these ideas.
1. Check Confirmation Letter
When you apply for an EIN, you receive a confirmation letter in the mail. If you’re wondering how to find EIN number, you should look for a copy of that. A lot of people throw this postcard into their business files when they receive it, and they don’t even remember doing that. So, it’s always worth a look.
The EIN confirmation notice is from the Internal Revenue Service. Typically, it’s postcard sized. So, it should be easy to find among the rest of your full-size papers. If you can’t find the confirmation letter, then, you should start looking for the EIN on other documents as explained in the following sections.
2. Look at Tax Returns & Other Letters From IRS
Still wondering how to find my EIN number? Then, try finding old tax returns or letters from the IRS. If the IRS sent you any letters about your business, they should have your EIN on the top of the letter near your business name. This generally only happens if you actively use your EIN. If you applied for an EIN but still file income tax returns with your Social Security Number as a sole proprietor, your IRS letters may put your SSN on those notices instead.
You should also look at old tax returns. Your EIN identifies your business on your business tax forms. In particular, if you have a partnership, an S-corp, a C-corp, or a non-profit, your EIN will be with the identifying details near the top of the income tax return. If you report your business taxes on a Schedule C with your regular individual income tax return — this applies to sole proprietors — the EIN should be on the Schedule C. But a lot of business owners and tax preparers forget this, and they just use the Social Security Number. So, don’t be surprised if your number isn’t there.
Your EIN will always appear on employer tax returns. These are 941 forms that you file quarterly. However, in the case of a very small business, there may be a 944 form that you file once a year. Farmers, fishers, and people with household employees also file a slightly different form for payroll taxes. In all cases, if you can find a copy of these old returns, you should find your EIN right away. It may also be on an old business credit report.
3. Contact IRS Directly
You can also call the IRS directly. There is more than one specialty tax line — make sure you’re calling the right phone number instead of the general number. This will save time.
In some cases, the agent may be willing to give you the number over the phone once you verify your identity. In other cases, they may need to mail it to your last address on file.
You may also be able to request a copy of your old tax returns so that you can find the EIN there. In this situation, don’t request a transcript. For security purposes, the IRS blanks out EINs and other identifying numbers on tax transcripts. Instead, you should request an actual copy of the return, and you should make sure that it shows everything.
How To Find Other Companies’ EINs
Looking for another company’s EIN? Then, there are a few different steps you can take. Try the following
- Look for the EIN on the SEC’s EDGAR system if the company is publically traded and registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
- Check with Guidestar if you’re trying to find an EIN for a non-profit.
- See if the Secretary of State in your state hosts a searchable database — it may have a record of the EINs for registered businesses.
- Review old tax documents — for instance, if you’re trying to find an EIN of a former employer, you can find it on your last W2.
- Pay a service to help you find the other business’s EIN.
Contact the company’s bookkeeper or accountant and see if they will give you the EIN. They don’t have to share this number because it’s private but depending on why you want it, they may give it to you.
Dealing with a lost or misplaced EIN can be stressful, especially if you need the number right away. This number is critical for all kinds of business finances and compliance issues. For instance, if you need to open a business bank account or apply for a business license, you need your EIN. These are all kind of reasons that you may need your EIN right away, and we hope these tips helped you answer the question of how to find my EIN number.