EIN Lookup: How to Find Your EIN or Business Tax ID Number
Lost or forgotten your Employer Identification Number? If your business already has an EIN, you generally don’t need to apply for another one just because you can’t find it. There are several ways to recover an existing EIN. Many business owners need their EIN # when applying for business loans or business lines of credit as an underwriting criterion.
Quick Answer: How to Find Your EIN
If you’ve lost your EIN, try these methods:
- Check your original IRS EIN confirmation notice or Form SS4 also known as an EIN Letter.
- Check your IRS Business Tax Account, if eligible.
- A business tax return usually has your EIN Letter on it.
- Review previously filed business tax returns.
- Check with the bank where you opened your business account.
- Check state or local agencies where you applied for business licenses.
- Contact the IRS Business & Specialty Tax Line at 800-829-4933.
What Is an EIN?
An Employer Identification Number (EIN) is a nine-digit federal tax identification number assigned by the Internal Revenue Service to businesses and certain other organizations. It’s assigned once you want to incorporate a business. Many sole proprietors don’t require an EIN. The owner’s Social Security number acts as an EIN.
An EIN normally looks like this:
You may also hear an EIN referred to as a:
- Employer Identification Number
- Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN)
- Federal Tax ID
- Federal Tax Identification Number
- Business Tax ID
An EIN is one type of Taxpayer Identification Number, or TIN. Businesses commonly use EINs for federal tax reporting, banking, payroll and other business purposes.
How to Find Your EIN Number
If an EIN has already been assigned to your business but you can’t find the number, start with the methods below.
Find Your EIN Confirmation Notice
When an EIN is assigned, the IRS provides confirmation of the number. Search your business and tax records for the original notice.
Check places such as:
- Your saved emails
- Downloaded business documents
- Tax records
- Accounting files
- Business formation files
- Secure document storage
Eligible Business Tax Account users may also be able to download an EIN verification notice from their IRS account.
Check Previous Business Tax Returns
Previously filed federal business tax returns are one of the first places to check for your EIN. The ein would be listed on a Schedule C for a sole proprietor or LLC or Schedule K-1 for a corporation
If an accountant or tax preparer handles your business tax filings, you can also ask whether they have your EIN in their records.
Check Your Business Bank Records
If you provided your EIN when opening a business bank account, your bank may have the number associated with your account.
Review the documents you received when opening the account or contact the financial institution. The bank may require verification that you’re authorized to access information for the business.
Check Business License and Agency Records
You may previously have supplied your EIN when applying for a business license, permit or other government registration.
Check your existing licensing records or contact the state or local agency that processed the application.
Check Other Business Records
Your EIN may also appear in records maintained by organizations with which you’ve previously shared your business tax information.
Examples may include:
- Payroll providers
- Accountants and tax professionals
- Financial institutions
- Business financing providers
- Vendors or customers requesting tax information
Call the IRS to Find Your EIN
If you still can’t locate the number, contact the IRS Business & Specialty Tax Line:
800-829-4933
The IRS will need to verify your identity and that you’re authorized to receive information for the business.
You can also ask the IRS about verification of a previously assigned EIN, including Letter 147C.
Can I Look Up My EIN Online?
In some situations, yes. Eligible IRS Business Tax Account users can access EIN verification information through their online account.
However, there isn’t a universal public IRS database where anyone can type the name of an ordinary privately held business and automatically retrieve its EIN.
- Finding your own lost EIN
- Finding the EIN of another organization or company
The methods are different depending on what you’re trying to find.
How to Look Up Another Company’s EIN
Finding another organization’s EIN works differently. Some EIN information is publicly available, particularly for tax-exempt organizations and public companies.
Tax-Exempt Organizations
The IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search can be used to research qualifying nonprofit and tax-exempt organizations and view available filings.
Public Companies
For publicly traded companies, search SEC EDGAR filings. Company filings may contain federal tax identification information.
Request Form W-9
If you have a legitimate business or tax-reporting reason to obtain another company’s taxpayer identification information, you may be able to request a completed Form W-9.
Review Existing Records
If you already have a relationship with the business, review existing tax forms, vendor records and other documentation that may contain its EIN.
Using Form 990 to Find a Nonprofit EIN
Tax-exempt organization filings can contain the organization’s EIN. Form 990 is one example.
IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search
The IRS provides an online search tool that can be used to research tax-exempt organizations and available Form 990-series filings.
Is an EIN the Same as a Tax ID?
An EIN is a type of Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN). “Tax ID” is a broader term and can refer to several different taxpayer identification numbers.
Examples include:
- Employer Identification Number (EIN)
- Social Security Number (SSN)
- Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN)
In a business context, the term Federal Tax ID frequently refers to an EIN.
Who Needs an EIN?
Whether your business needs an EIN depends on its legal structure and activities.
Businesses commonly use EINs when:
- Starting a corporation or LLC
- Hiring employees
- Filing certain federal tax returns
- Opening business bank accounts
- Applying for certain licenses
- Setting up payroll
- Providing tax information to customers or vendors
Lost Your EIN? Don’t Automatically Apply for Another One
If you’ve only lost the paperwork containing your EIN, focus on recovering the number already assigned to your business.
Unnecessarily obtaining another EIN can create confusion between business, tax, payroll and banking records. Ein look up tools are available.
When Might You Need a New EIN?
Certain changes in ownership or legal structure can require a business to obtain a new EIN.
The rules differ depending on whether the business is a:
- Sole proprietorship
- Partnership
- Corporation
- Limited liability company
- Estate
- Trust
- Other entity
Check the current IRS requirements for your specific business structure before applying for a replacement or additional EIN.
How to Get an EIN If You Don’t Have One
If your business has never received an EIN and needs one, you can apply directly through the IRS.
Eligible applicants can use the IRS online EIN application.
Apply for an EIN Through the IRS
Looking for Your EIN Because You’re Applying for Business Financing?
Your EIN is one of the pieces of identifying information that may be requested during a business financing application.
Once you’ve located your EIN, learn more about financing options available to small businesses.
EIN Lookup FAQs
Can I look up an EIN by business name?
There is no universal public IRS database that allows anyone to search every privately held U.S. business by name and retrieve its EIN. Public information may be available for certain organizations, including tax-exempt organizations and publicly traded companies.
How do I find my EIN if I lost it?
Start with your IRS confirmation records, Business Tax Account if eligible, previous business tax returns, banking records and licensing records. If you still can’t find it, contact the IRS.
Can I find my EIN on a tax return?
If your business previously filed federal tax returns using its EIN, review copies of those filings for the number.
Can my bank give me my EIN?
If you supplied your EIN when opening your business bank account, the bank may have it in its records. The institution will generally need to verify that you’re authorized to access the business’s information.
Can I find another company’s EIN online?
Sometimes. EIN-related information for tax-exempt organizations can be researched through IRS records, while information about public companies may be available through SEC filings.
Is an EIN the same as a Federal Tax ID?
In common business usage, Federal Tax ID often refers to an Employer Identification Number. Technically, an EIN is one type of Taxpayer Identification Number.
How many digits are in an EIN?
An EIN contains nine digits and is normally formatted as XX-XXXXXXX.
Does it cost money to get an EIN?
The IRS allows eligible businesses to apply directly for an EIN without an application fee.
Should I get a new EIN if I lost mine?
Simply losing the document containing your EIN doesn’t by itself mean that you need another EIN. First try to recover the number already assigned to your business.
Find Your EIN and Keep It Secure
If you’ve lost your EIN, start with your IRS records, tax returns, bank records and other business documents. If those methods don’t work, contact the IRS directly.
Once you’ve recovered the number, keep the EIN confirmation with your company’s permanent tax and legal records so it’s easy to access the next time you need it.
Last updated: August 2026. IRS procedures and tax rules may change. Verify current requirements with the IRS or a qualified tax professional.
