How to find your employer identification number (EIN)
- Three ways to find your EIN number
- Still can’t find your EIN? How to request it from the IRS
- Never applied for an EIN number? How to get one
- How to look up another company's EIN number
- What you can do with your EIN
- Get a Ramp business credit card with just your EIN number
AI Summary
The simplest way to find your employer identification number (EIN) is to pull up your initial confirmation letter from the IRS, known as the CP 575 letter. There's no public database to look up EINs, but if you're the business owner, you can retrieve yours online through your IRS Business Tax Account or by requesting an Entity Transcript.
If neither of those options works, you can still find your EIN through your business tax returns, banking documents, or by calling the IRS directly. Here's how.
Three ways to find your EIN number
An EIN is a unique, nine-digit tax identification number issued by the IRS to identify your business for tax purposes. It's also called a federal tax ID number or FEIN (federal employer identification number), and it works like a Social Security number, but for your business.
You'll use your EIN for a range of essential business activities such as tax filings, business banking, hiring employees, and sending vendor payments.
Here how to find your EIN number:
1. Check your EIN confirmation letter (CP 575)
When you first apply for your EIN, the IRS will send you a confirmation letter known as the CP 575. This is the most direct record of your business EIN.
Where to look for it depends on how you originally applied:
- If you applied online through the IRS website, your CP 575 was available as a PDF download right after approval—check your downloads folder, cloud storage, or email for the file
- If you applied by mail using Form SS-4 or by fax, the IRS sent your confirmation through that same channel, so look through your physical business files or old fax records
If you have an IRS Business Tax Account, you can also download a digital copy of your CP 575 directly from there, even if you've lost the original.
2. Review your business tax returns
Your EIN appears on every business tax return you've filed. The specific form depends on your business structure:
- Schedule C (Form 1040): For sole proprietors or single-member LLCs, your EIN appears in the top right corner in box D, labeled Employer ID number (EIN)
- Form 1065: For partnerships or multi-member LLCs, your EIN is located at the top of page 1 in box D
- Form 1120: C corps can find their EIN at the top of page 1 in box B
- Form 1120-S: EINs for S corps appear at the top of page 1 in box D
You can reference tax returns from any previous year as your EIN never changes once assigned. If you work with an accountant or tax preparer, they should have copies of your returns readily available.
3. Look at your business banking and financing documents
You'll need to provide your EIN for most business finance activities, so you may be able to find it on various financial documents:
- Bank statements and account applications: Many banks require your EIN as part of your business bank account application. Some may display it on your monthly statements, typically in the account information section or header.
- Loan documents and credit applications: Any business loan paperwork, lines of credit, or financing agreements list your EIN in the business identification section, usually within the first few pages
- Business credit card statements: Similar to bank statements, business credit card statements often show your EIN in the account details section, particularly on the first page or in the fine-print footer
Other places your EIN number might appear
If you can't find your CP 575, access your IRS account, or locate a tax return, your business EIN likely still appears somewhere in your files. A few places to check before contacting the IRS:
- Business formation and licensing documents: Your articles of incorporation, LLC operating agreement, partnership agreement, or state and local business licenses and permits often include your EIN. Your state's Secretary of State website may also list it.
- Payroll and employment records: Your EIN appears in box b on every W-2 and W-3 you've filed, on any 1099-NEC forms you've issued to contractors, and in your state unemployment insurance correspondence. If you use a payroll service, they can pull your number directly.
- Contracts and vendor correspondence: Any W-9 you've submitted to clients or vendors has your EIN on it. Check past vendor onboarding files, master service agreements, or accounts receivable records.
Still can’t find your EIN? How to request it from the IRS
If none of your records turn up your EIN, you can retrieve it directly from the IRS for free.
Call the IRS Business and Specialty Tax Line
You can call the IRS Business and Specialty Tax Line at 800-829-4933 to request your EIN number over the phone. The line operates Monday through Friday, 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM local time.
The IRS will verify your identity before providing the EIN, and only authorized persons (such as an owner, partner, corporate officer, or trustee) can request it. Before you call, have the following ready:
- Your full legal name and title
- Your business's legal name and address
- The type of tax return your business files
- The reason for your call
- Your SSN or personal taxpayer ID number (TIN), if you're listed on the original EIN application
If you're calling on behalf of someone else, you'll need written authorization or a power of attorney.
Request an EIN verification letter (Form 147C)
If you need official documentation of your EIN, like for a bank, lender, or vendor, you can request Form 147C through the same phone line at 800-829-4933. The IRS can fax it to you the same day or mail it within 7 to 14 business days, though processing can run longer during busy seasons.
Never applied for an EIN number? How to get one
If you've realized you never actually obtained an EIN, or you need one for a new business entity, applying is free and straightforward. Remember, you can't apply for a replacement EIN. If you lost yours, retrieve it using the methods above.
Online application
The online application on IRS.gov is the fastest method, with immediate EIN assignment upon completion. It's available Monday through Friday, 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM Eastern, and you'll need a valid SSN or ITIN to complete it.
Mail or fax application
You can also apply using Form SS-4 by mail or fax. Faxed applications typically process within 4 business days, while mailed applications can take 4 to 6 weeks.
Phone application
Phone applications are only available to international applicants without a US SSN or ITIN. Call 267-941-1099 (not toll-free) to apply.
How long does it take to get an EIN?
If you apply online, you'll receive your EIN immediately. Fax applications typically take 4 business days. Mail applications can take 4 to 6 weeks, and processing delays can stretch that further during busy periods.
How to look up another company's EIN number
The IRS doesn't maintain a public database of every business EIN, but you can still find another company's number through a few channels.
Contact the company directly
The simplest method is to request a completed W-9 form from the vendor or company. This is standard practice for accounts payable teams and the most reliable way to get an accurate EIN for tax reporting.
If you have a working relationship with the company, you can also call them directly and ask. Keep in mind they're not obligated to share it outside of a formal W-9 request.
Search SEC filings and public records
Publicly traded companies disclose their EINs in SEC filings such as 10-K and 10-Q reports. You can search for free using the SEC's EDGAR database to pull up filings for any company that trades on a US stock exchange.
State business registries can also help. Many Secretary of State websites publish basic information about registered businesses, and some include EINs.
Use nonprofit and charity databases
Nonprofits must disclose their EINs on Form 990, which is a matter of public record. Two free resources make these easy to find:
- The IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search lets you look up EINs and tax-exempt status for registered nonprofits
- GuideStar's nonprofit profiles and Form 990 filings (now Candid) provides Form 990 filings and detailed nonprofit profiles, including EINs
What you can do with your EIN
Once you have your EIN, you can use it to file federal and state tax returns, open a business bank account, hire employees, apply for business licenses, and establish business credit. It's also what lenders, vendors, and partners will ask for when they need to verify your business for financing or contracts.
One of the most practical next steps is using your EIN to apply for a business credit card that keeps your personal and business finances separate.
Get a Ramp business credit card with just your EIN number
One of the biggest reasons to have your EIN accessible is to keep your personal and business finances separate. A business credit card tied to your EIN—not your SSN—lets your business build its own credit history while keeping your personal score out of the equation.
That’s exactly what Ramp’s business credit card is built around. It only requires your EIN and at least $25,000 in a U.S. business bank account. No personal credit check, no personal guarantee, and businesses get approved in fewer than 48 hours on average.
More than 70,000 businesses already use Ramp.
Learn more about Ramp’s business credit card and see why →
FAQs
The IRS doesn't offer a free online EIN lookup tool for your own business. You'll need to check your business records, contact your accountant, or call the IRS Business and Specialty Tax Line at 800-829-4933 to retrieve it.
Yes. An EIN (employer identification number) and a federal tax ID number refer to the same nine-digit number issued by the IRS. You may also see it called a FEIN (federal employer identification number).
EINs for nonprofits and publicly traded companies are public record. You can find them on Form 990 filings or in SEC documents. Private company EINs aren't publicly available, so you'll typically need to request a W-9 directly from the company.
If you request Form 147C by phone, the IRS can fax it to you the same day. Mail delivery typically takes one to two weeks, though it can run longer during busy tax seasons.
You'll need to verify your identity as an authorized person, such as a business owner, partner, or corporate officer. Have your legal name and title, business name and address, the type of tax return your business files, and the reason for your call ready before you dial.
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