Where to Find Your Federal Tax ID Number

Your Federal Tax ID is on documents you already have

Your federal tax ID number — also called an Employer Identification Number or EIN — appears on tax forms, bank statements, and business correspondence you receive from the IRS. If you are self-employed or own a business, the IRS issued you an EIN when you registered. If you work for someone else, you do not have a separate federal tax ID; you use your Social Security number on your tax return instead.

The fastest way to find your EIN is to look at past tax documents. If you cannot locate it that way, the IRS has a phone line and an online tool to retrieve it. Both take minutes.

Key Takeaways

Your EIN appears on IRS correspondence, business tax returns (Form 1120 or 1120-S), and bank statements linked to your business account.
If you are a sole proprietor with no employees, you may not have an EIN and should use your Social Security number instead.
The IRS Business Services Online tool lets you look up your EIN if you registered it within the past 60 days.
For older EINs or if the online tool does not work, call the IRS at 1-800-829-4933 during business hours with your business name and formation date ready.

Check your existing business documents first

Start with paperwork you have on hand. Your EIN appears on the top of Form 1120 (corporate tax return) or Form 1120-S (S corporation return) if you filed one. It also shows on Form 941 (quarterly payroll tax return) if you have employees. Look for the nine-digit number formatted as XX-XXXXXXX.

Bank statements for your business account print the EIN near the account number. Loan documents, business credit card statements, and any correspondence from the IRS will also display it. If you received an IRS letter about your business, the EIN is usually in the header or the first paragraph.

Check your business formation documents as well. Articles of incorporation, partnership agreements, or LLC formation papers filed with your state often include the EIN. If you have a copy of your original IRS approval letter from when you first registered the business, that letter contains the number.

Use the IRS online lookup tool for recent registrations

The IRS Business Services Online tool lets you retrieve your EIN if you registered within the last 60 days. Go to the IRS website and select "EIN Lookup" under the Business Services section. You will need your business name exactly as it appears on your registration, your state of formation, and the date you expect the IRS to have assigned the EIN.

The tool works best if you registered by mail or phone within the past two months. If you registered online through the IRS, the system usually shows your EIN when ready after registration, so check your email for the confirmation message first — it contains the number.

If the lookup tool does not find your EIN, it may mean your registration is still processing or you registered more than 60 days ago. Move to the phone option instead.

Call the IRS to retrieve an older EIN

The IRS Business and Specialty Tax Line at 1-800-829-4933 can look up your EIN over the phone. Have your business name, the name of the person who registered it, the business address, and the approximate date of registration ready before you call. The line is open Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. your local time.

Tell the representative you need to retrieve your EIN. They will ask for your business information and may ask you to verify your identity. The process usually takes five to ten minutes. Write down the number they give you and ask them to spell it back to confirm.

If you cannot reach the line during business hours, you can also mail Form SS-4 (process for Employer Identification Number) to the IRS with a note requesting your existing EIN. Include your business name, address, and the year you believe you registered. The IRS will respond by mail, which takes two to four weeks.

Understand when you do and do not have an EIN

You have an EIN only if you registered a business structure with your state or the IRS. Sole proprietors without employees do not automatically receive an EIN — you use your Social Security number on your tax return instead. If you are self-employed but have not registered as an LLC, S corporation, or partnership, you likely do not have an EIN.

You will have an EIN if you registered as an LLC, corporation, partnership, or nonprofit. You will also have one if you hired employees, even as a sole proprietor, because the IRS requires an EIN to file payroll taxes. If you opened a business bank account, the bank may have asked you for an EIN, which would mean you have one.

If you are unsure whether you registered your business, check with your state's Secretary of State office or business licensing department. They can tell you whether your business name is on file and what structure you registered under.

What to do if you cannot find your EIN anywhere

If you have searched your documents and the IRS phone line cannot locate the number, your registration may not have been completed. The IRS sometimes receives incomplete applications or applications that were never submitted. Contact the person or accountant who originally registered your business and ask them to check their records or the IRS confirmation letter they received.

If the business was registered years ago and records are lost, the IRS can search their archives by business name and formation date. Call 1-800-829-4933 again and explain that your previous search did not find the number. Ask the representative to do a manual search of IRS records going back further than 60 days.

If your business was never formally registered with the IRS, you will need to register now. You can register online through the IRS website, by phone at 1-800-829-4933, or by mailing Form SS-4. The IRS will issue a new EIN and send confirmation by mail or email depending on how you registered.

Keep your EIN find and organized

Once you locate your EIN, write it down and store it in a safe place — the same place you keep other important business documents. You will need it to open business bank accounts, file tax returns, hire employees, and explore for business loans or licenses. Many business owners keep a copy in a folder with their business formation documents and tax returns.

Do not share your EIN publicly or with people who do not have a legitimate business reason to know it. Treat it similarly to how you would treat your Social Security number. If you suspect someone has misused your EIN, contact the IRS when ready at 1-800-829-4933.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is my EIN the same as my Social Security number?

No. Your EIN is a nine-digit number issued to your business by the IRS. Your Social Security number is a nine-digit number issued to you personally. If you are a sole proprietor without employees, you use your Social Security number on your tax return instead of an EIN. If you have a business structure like an LLC or corporation, you have both numbers — the EIN for the business and your SSN for personal taxes.

Can I look up someone else's EIN?

No. The IRS does not release EINs to the public. You can only retrieve your own EIN or an EIN for a business you own or are authorized to represent. If you need a vendor's or client's EIN for business purposes, you must ask them directly.

What if I lost my EIN and need it right now?

Call the IRS at 1-800-829-4933 during business hours. They can retrieve it over the phone in minutes. If it is after hours, check your email for any IRS correspondence — the number is usually in the header. You can also check past tax returns or bank statements if you have them available.

Do I need an EIN if I am a freelancer with no employees?

Not necessarily. If you operate as a sole proprietor and have not registered a business structure, you use your Social Security number on your tax return. You only need an EIN if you registered as an LLC, S corporation, partnership, or nonprofit, or if you hired employees. Many freelancers operate without an EIN.

How long does it take to get a new EIN if I do not have one?

If you register online through the IRS website, you receive your EIN when ready. If you register by phone, you get it the same day. If you mail Form SS-4, the IRS issues an EIN within four weeks and sends it by mail. Online registration is the fastest option.

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.