

Charities and other nonprofits must apply for one, as well, even if they have 501(c)(3) status. An EIN is more protected than a business’ name or owner, so government agency representatives should be willing to work with you.įor-profit organizations aren’t the only ones that need an EIN. If you know an EIN, though, you could try contacting your state’s revenue department and providing the information to see if they can help.
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However, if you have a company name, this can be a great, free way to get ownership information and other vitals on a business in your state. In most cases, though, you won’t be able to search local databases by the EIN you’ll need to know the company's name at the very least. This contains information not only of private and public businesses, but of nonprofits, as well. You can get to the search page by entering your state and the words “business search.” For New York state, for example, business search information is under a division called Corporations, State Records and UCC. Each local government has its own setup when it comes to helping consumers find information on businesses. You may have better luck looking for company information by state. And, of course, there’s the always-free option of picking up the phone and calling the company to ask. You’re likely also get more information than you’d ever want to know about a company through its LinkedIn page, which not only offers the owner’s information, but will also link you to that person’s page, where you can find work history. After a quick Google search, if you still can’t find ownership information on the company in question, try Crunchbase, which not only provides ownership information, but also the date the company was founded and the number of people it employs. You may even be able to find financial documents on a business’ page. Often there will be an "Our Team" page or a history of the company discussing who formed it and whether it switched hands over the years. The first place to look for information about a business is, of course, its website.

However, if you know the company’s name or enough information to track it down, there are much easier ways to look up ownership information than trying to round it up through the EIN. If all you have is an EIN, your options are limited to resources that have that information. It’s important determine exactly why you’re trying to look up a business’ ownership information. EINs are also on the paperwork a business files with state government agencies, but this information should be safeguarded from third parties, as well. But only an employee closely affiliated with the business should be able to do this. If a business loses the EIN, it can contact the IRS or its bank to get the number by providing some identifying information. If the business saves copies of these submissions, the EIN will be on that paperwork, but if the business is wise, that documentation will be kept secure.

Once a business begins making tax payments, both locally and federally, the EIN will be used for those transactions, whether online or by mail. An EIN is also used to open a business bank account, so it can be found on account applications. If a business pays contractors or vendors, for instance, the EIN may be found on the check or on the forms it sends to the IRS at tax time. Most often this involves the paperwork necessary to financial transactions. An assistor will ask you for identifying information and provide the number to you over the telephone, as long as you are a person who is authorized to receive it. Examples of an authorized person include, but are not limited to, a sole proprietor, a partner in a partnership, a corporate officer, a trustee of a trust, or an executor of an estate.Just like individuals who provide Social Security numbers, businesses provide their EIN whenever engaging in activities that the IRS needs to know about. Ask the IRS to search for your EIN by calling the Business & Specialty Tax Line at 80.Your previously filed return should be notated with your EIN. Find a previously filed tax return for your existing entity (if you have filed a return) for which you have your lost or misplaced EIN.If you used your EIN to open a bank account, or apply for any type of state or local license, you should contact the bank or agency to secure your EIN.

This notice is issued as a confirmation of your application for, and receipt of an EIN. Find the computer-generated notice that was issued by the IRS when you applied for your EIN.If you previously applied for and received an Employer Identification Number (EIN) for your business, but have since misplaced it, try any or all of the following actions to locate the number:
