A business is required to have a federal tax ID number.
A federal tax ID number, also referred to as an employer identification number (EIN), is a unique nine-digit number given to business entities. This number works much like an individual's Social Security number and is required for tax purposes. It also is used to determine compliance with federal regulations, including the Patriot Act.
Instructions
1. Look at your Form W-2. If you need the EIN for your tax return, you will find your employer's number in box "b." It will be captioned as "Employer Identification Number."
2. Refer to other tax-related forms, such as Form 1099-MISC, Form 1099-R or Mortgage Interest Statement forms. It will be listed under "Payer's Federal ID Number" or something similar.
3. Call the company in question to request its EIN.
4. Visit a company's official website. Some companies list their tax ID numbers on the bottom of the home page or on the "About Us" page. If you cannot find it there, you may be able to use a "Contact Us" link to inquire about the number.
5. Use a search engine and type the term "Company Name EIN," exchanging the words "Company Name" with the name of the company in question.
6. Use a private database to research EIN numbers (see Resources). Most private databases offer a free trial membership, and you can get three to five free searches before having to enroll in a paid membership.
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