Effective money management is vital for your business, and a key component in this is the business tax ID number, commonly referred to as an Employer Identification Number (EIN). This identifier is crucial for your business’s interactions with the IRS, whether you are filing taxes, setting up a business bank account, or seeking a business loan. If you find yourself in the situation where you have forgotten or misplaced your EIN, this guide provides easy steps on how to locate it.
How to Find Your Business Tax ID Number:
1. Check Your EIN Confirmation Letter:
- The simplest way is to locate your EIN confirmation letter, which the IRS issued when you first applied for your EIN.
- If you applied online, the confirmation letter is available immediately. For fax and mail applications, it would have been sent back to you.
2. Check Other Recorded Places:
- Review old federal tax returns, official tax notices, business licenses, and permits.
- Examine business bank account statements, online profiles, old loan applications, and business credit reports.
- Check payroll paperwork, such as 1099 forms, for your EIN.
3. Call the IRS:
- If you can’t find your EIN, call the IRS Business and Specialty Tax Line.
- Prepare to answer identity verification questions to prove authorization.
- This should be a last resort due to potential long wait times.
Note: Your EIN is a consistent identifier throughout your business’s lifespan, making it easier to locate in various documents.
Why You Need Your Business Tax ID Number:
- Filing Taxes: Required for filing business tax returns and making tax payments.
- Financial Transactions: Necessary for opening a business bank account, applying for business loans, and obtaining business credit cards.
- Contractor Transactions: Used when issuing Form 1099s to independent contractors.
How to Find Another Company’s EIN:
- Ask the Company: Inquire with the payroll or accounting department of the company.
- SEC Filings: For publicly traded companies, check the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website for filings that include the EIN.
- Credit Bureaus: Some credit bureaus provide business credit reports, but confirm they include the EIN before purchasing.
- Paid EIN Databases: Commercial EIN databases may charge a fee for access to EINs, especially for prospecting.
Remember to keep your EIN in a secure place once found to streamline future transactions. Whether you’re looking for your own or another company’s EIN, these methods will help you locate this essential business identifier.