How to Look Up a Business's Federal Tax ID Number

Where to find a business's EIN online

The fastest way to look up a federal tax ID number—officially called an Employer Identification Number (EIN)—is through the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search tool if the business is a nonprofit, or by contacting the business directly if it is a for-profit company. The IRS does not publish a public database of EINs for all businesses, so your options depend on what type of business you are looking for and why you need the number.

For nonprofit organizations, charities, and tax-exempt entities, the IRS maintains a searchable database at tax-exempt-organization-search.irs.gov. You can search by organization name, city, state, or EIN itself. This tool shows whether an organization has current tax-exempt status and provides basic information like the organization's address and the year it received its exemption.

For for-profit businesses, there is no single government database you can search. Instead, you will need to contact the business directly and ask for their EIN, or check documents the business has already shared with you—such as invoices, contracts, or tax forms they sent you.

Key Takeaways

The IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search tool lets you look up EINs for nonprofits and tax-exempt organizations by name, location, or EIN number.
For-profit businesses do not have a public EIN database, so you must ask the business directly or check documents they have already provided to you.
If you received a Form 1099 or other tax document from a business, the EIN appears in the upper right corner of the form.
State business registries and the Secretary of State's office may list some business information, but EINs are not always included in those public records.

Using the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search

To search for a nonprofit's EIN, go to tax-exempt-organization-search.irs.gov and enter what you know about the organization. You can search by the organization's legal name, the city and state where it operates, or the EIN if you already have part of it. The search results will show the organization's name, address, city, state, ZIP code, and the year it became tax-exempt.

This tool only covers organizations that have been granted tax-exempt status by the IRS. If an organization applied for tax-exempt status but has not yet received approval, it will not appear in the search results. Similarly, if an organization's tax-exempt status has been revoked or suspended, the search tool will show that status.

The database updates regularly but may lag by a few weeks. If you search for a recently approved nonprofit and do not find it, try searching again in a few days or contact the organization directly to confirm its EIN.

Finding an EIN from tax documents you already have

If a business has sent you a tax form, invoice, or other official document, the EIN is usually printed on it. On a Form 1099 (used to report income from freelance work, rental property, or other sources), the business's EIN appears in the upper right corner, labeled as the "Employer Identification Number" or sometimes just "EIN." The same location applies to Forms 1098, W-2, and other IRS forms.

On invoices and contracts, the EIN may appear near the business's name and address, though not all businesses include it. If you have received any official correspondence from the business on company letterhead, check the header or footer—some businesses print their EIN there for reference.

If you are looking for an EIN because you need to report income from that business on your own tax return, the business is required to send you the correct EIN on the tax form they provide. If the number on the form looks wrong or incomplete, contact the business and ask them to send you a corrected form.

Asking the business directly for their EIN

The simplest approach for a for-profit business is to ask them. You can call the business's main phone number and ask for the accounting or administrative department, or send an email to their general contact address. Be specific: say you need their federal tax ID number or EIN for your records or tax purposes.

Most businesses will provide this information without hesitation, since the EIN is not confidential in the way a Social Security number is. If the business is reluctant or unclear about what you are asking for, you can say: "I need the nine-digit number that starts with your federal tax ID for the IRS."

If you are a vendor or contractor working with the business, they may ask you to complete a Form W-9, which includes a field for their EIN. You can also ask them to fill out the form and return it to you—this gives you their EIN in an official format you can keep on file.

Checking state business registries

Each state maintains a business registry or Secretary of State database where companies register to do business. These databases are searchable online and may include business name, address, and registration status. However, most state registries do not display the federal EIN publicly, even though the business provided it when registering.

You can still search your state's registry to confirm that a business is registered and operating legally. Go to your state's Secretary of State website and look for a "business search" or "entity search" tool. Enter the business name and see what comes up. This tells you whether the business is legitimate and currently active, but you will still need to contact the business directly for the EIN.

Some states do include EIN information in their public records for certain business types, such as nonprofits or corporations. If you are looking for a specific type of business, check your state's Secretary of State website to see what information is publicly available.

What to do if you cannot find the EIN

If you have tried contacting the business and searching available databases without success, you have a few remaining options. First, check any older documents from the business—invoices, contracts, or letters from several years ago might have the EIN printed on them. Businesses rarely change their EIN, so an old number is still valid.

Second, if the business is a sole proprietor or operates under a trade name, the EIN may be registered under a different legal name than the one the business uses publicly. Ask the business owner directly what legal name the EIN is registered under, then search again using that name.

Third, if you need the EIN for tax reporting purposes and the business will not provide it, you can report the income using the business's name and address instead. The IRS can match the payment to the business even without the exact EIN, though it may slow processing. Include a note on your tax return explaining that you requested the EIN but the business did not provide it.

Understanding what an EIN is and why it matters

An Employer Identification Number is a nine-digit code the IRS assigns to businesses, nonprofits, trusts, and other entities for tax purposes. It works like a Social Security number for a business. The format is always XX-XXXXXXX (two digits, a hyphen, then seven digits). A business uses its EIN to file tax returns, hire employees, open a business bank account, and report income and expenses to the IRS.

You need an EIN when you are reporting income from a business on your own tax return, verifying that a nonprofit is legitimate, or doing business with a company and need their official tax identification. If you paid a business more than $600 during the year for services, you may need to report that payment using their EIN on a Form 1099-NEC or Form 1099-MISC.

The EIN is not secret information—businesses are expected to share it with clients, vendors, and anyone who needs it for legitimate business or tax purposes. However, it is also not widely published in a single searchable database the way a business's name and address might be.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I search for any business's EIN on the IRS website?

No. The IRS only publishes a searchable database for tax-exempt organizations (nonprofits, charities, and similar entities). For-profit businesses do not have a public EIN database. You must contact the business directly or check documents they have sent you.

What if a business gives me the wrong EIN?

Contact the business and ask them to confirm the number. If they insist the number is correct but you suspect an error, you can report the income using the business's name and address on your tax return and note that the EIN could not be verified. The IRS can usually match the payment to the correct business.

Do I need a business's EIN to pay them for work?

No. You only need the EIN if you are reporting the payment to the IRS on a Form 1099 or similar tax document. For straightforward payment, you just need their mailing address or payment instructions. However, it is good practice to collect the EIN when you hire a contractor so you have it ready if you need to file a 1099 later.

Is an EIN the same as a business license number?

No. An EIN is a federal tax identification number issued by the IRS. A business license number is issued by your city or state and is used for local regulatory purposes. A business may have both, and they are different numbers.

Can I look up an EIN using just a business name?

Only if the business is a nonprofit or tax-exempt organization—you can search by name on the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search tool. For for-profit businesses, you cannot search by name alone. You must contact the business or check documents they have provided.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.