Where to Find a Company's Tax ID

A company's tax ID number—formally called an Employer Identification Number (EIN)—is a nine-digit code the IRS assigns to businesses. You can find it in three main places: the company's official documents, the IRS website, or public business records.

The fastest route is to ask the company directly. Call their accounting or human resources department and request the EIN. Most will provide it without hesitation. If you need it in writing, ask them to email or mail it to you on company letterhead.

If the company won't provide it or you need to verify what they gave you, the IRS offers a free lookup tool called the EIN Lookup on its website at irs.gov. You enter the company name and address, and the tool returns the EIN if the business is registered with the IRS.

Key Takeaways

  • The fastest way to get a company's EIN is to contact the business directly through accounting, payroll, or human resources.
  • The IRS EIN Lookup tool at irs.gov lets you search by company name and address to verify or find a number.
  • Public business filings—such as articles of incorporation or annual reports—often list the EIN and are available through your state's Secretary of State office.
  • If a company is publicly traded, you can find the EIN in SEC filings like the 10-K annual report, available on the SEC's EDGAR database.
  • Never pay a third-party website to look up an EIN; the IRS tool and state records are always free.

Using the IRS EIN Lookup Tool

The IRS EIN Lookup is the official, free way to search for a business's tax ID. Go to irs.gov, navigate to the "EIN Lookup" page, and enter the company's legal name exactly as it appears on IRS records. You will also need the state where the business is registered.

The tool returns results when ready if the business is registered. If nothing appears, the company may not have an EIN yet, may be registered under a different legal name, or may be inactive. Try searching with variations of the name—for example, if the company uses an abbreviation on its website but registered under the full legal name.

Keep in mind the lookup tool only works for businesses that have registered with the IRS. Sole proprietors who have not obtained an EIN will not appear in the database.

Checking State Business Records

Every state maintains a database of registered businesses through its Secretary of State office. These records often include the company's EIN, along with the registered agent, business address, and filing date. Most states offer free online searches on their Secretary of State website.

Search by company name in your state's business database. If the company is registered in multiple states, you may need to search each one. The EIN will be the same across all states, but the company may be registered under slightly different names depending on the state.

State records are particularly useful if the IRS lookup returns no results, because they show you whether the business is actually registered and what name it uses officially.

Finding the EIN in Public Documents

If the company is publicly traded, its EIN appears in SEC filings. The most common place is the annual report, filed as a 10-K. You can search for these documents free on the SEC's EDGAR database at sec.gov.

For private companies, the EIN may appear in articles of incorporation, bylaws, or annual reports filed with the state. These documents are usually available through the state's Secretary of State office, sometimes for a small fee.

Bank statements, tax forms sent to vendors (like a 1099), and business licenses may also display the EIN. If you have received any official correspondence from the company, check the letterhead or the top of the document.

What to Do If You Cannot Find the Number

If the company will not provide the EIN and it does not appear in public records, the business may not have one. Sole proprietors, partnerships, and some small businesses operate under their owner's Social Security number instead of an EIN.

In that case, you may be able to request the owner's tax ID instead, depending on why you need the number. If you are a vendor or contractor, ask the company's accounting department what tax ID they use for 1099 reporting.

If the company claims to have an EIN but you cannot find it anywhere, contact the IRS directly at 1-800-829-4933 to confirm whether the business is registered. Have the company's legal name, address, and the name of the owner or principal ready.

Common Mistakes When Searching for an EIN

The most frequent error is searching with the company's trade name instead of its legal registered name. A business might operate as "Tech Solutions" but be registered as "Tech Solutions LLC" or "Tech Solutions, Inc." Try multiple variations if your first search returns nothing.

Another mistake is assuming the EIN is the same as a business license number or state tax ID. These are different numbers issued by different agencies. The EIN is federal and issued by the IRS; a state tax ID is issued by your state's revenue department.

Do not pay third-party websites that claim to look up EINs for a fee. The IRS tool and state records are always free. Paid services offer no information you cannot get yourself in minutes.

Why You Might Need a Company's EIN

You may need an EIN if you are a vendor or contractor filing taxes, if you are verifying a company's legitimacy before doing business, or if you are researching a company's financial history. Lenders, investors, and business partners often request the EIN to confirm the business is registered and in good standing.

If you received a 1099 form from a company and the EIN on it does not match what you found, contact the company to correct it. Mismatched EINs can cause problems when you file your own taxes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the EIN the same as a Social Security number?

No. An EIN is a nine-digit federal tax ID for businesses. A Social Security number is a nine-digit personal tax ID. Some sole proprietors use their Social Security number for business taxes instead of obtaining an EIN, but the two numbers serve different purposes and are issued by different agencies.

Can I find a company's EIN on its website?

Sometimes. Larger companies may list it in their "About Us" section, on their privacy policy, or in investor relations materials. Smaller companies rarely post it publicly. Contacting the company directly is usually faster than searching their website.

What if the IRS lookup tool says the company does not exist?

The company may be registered under a different legal name than what you searched, may not have an EIN yet, or may be inactive. Try searching with variations of the name, check state business records, or contact the company to ask what name they used when registering with the IRS.

Do I need permission to look up a company's EIN?

No. EINs are public information. You can search for any company's EIN using the IRS tool or state records without the company's permission. However, the EIN itself is not confidential in the way a Social Security number is.

How long does it take to get an EIN if a company does not have one yet?

The IRS issues EINs when ready online or within four business days by mail. If you are working with a company that does not have an EIN, ask them to explore through irs.gov and provide you with the number once they receive it.