You lost it. It happens to the best of us. You’re sitting there, staring at a business loan application or trying to open a merchant account, and suddenly everything stops because you can't find that nine-digit number. If you need to look up my federal ein number, you aren’t alone, and honestly, you don't need to pay some shady third-party website fifty bucks to find it for you.
It’s just a tax ID. But it’s the heartbeat of your business identity.
The IRS issued it, usually on a piece of paper called a CP 575 notice. If you’re like most small business owners, that paper is currently buried at the bottom of a filing cabinet or, more likely, sitting in a "to-be-sorted" pile that hasn't been touched since 2022. Don't panic. There are at least five different ways to dig this up, ranging from "check your email" to "sit on hold with the IRS for an hour."
Start With the Easy Stuff (The Paper Trail)
Before you call the government, look at your own records.
Think about the last time you did something official for your business. Did you open a bank account? The bank definitely has your EIN on file. Give them a call or log into your online portal; it’s often tucked away in the "Account Details" or "Tax Forms" section.
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Check your previous tax returns. If you've filed a Form 1120, 1120-S, or 1065, your EIN is right there at the top. Even if you haven't filed a full return yet, look for any 941 quarterly payroll reports or 1099s you’ve issued to contractors.
Actually, check your inbox first.
Search for "CP 575" or "EIN Confirmation." When you applied for the number online—which is how 95% of people do it these days—the IRS generated a PDF confirmation. If you were smart enough to hit "Save" instead of just "Print," it’s sitting in your Downloads folder or your cloud storage. Search for "Internal Revenue Service" and see what pops up. You might get lucky.
When You Have to Call the IRS
Okay, let’s say the paper search failed. You’ve looked everywhere, and it’s just gone. You’re going to have to talk to a human being.
The IRS has a specific department for this: the Business & Specialty Tax Line. You can reach them at 800-829-4933. They’re open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. local time, Monday through Friday.
Here is the catch: they won't just give it to anyone.
You must be an "authorized person." That means you are the sole proprietor, a partner in the partnership, a corporate officer, or a trustee. They will grill you. Be ready to provide your Social Security Number, your legal name, and the exact business address you used when you originally applied for the EIN. If you moved and didn't update your address with the IRS, try to remember the old one.
Wait times are a nightmare.
Honestly, call at 7:00 a.m. sharp. If you wait until lunch or late afternoon, you might as well put your phone on speaker and start a crossword puzzle. The hold music is exactly as depressing as you imagine. But once you get through, the process is actually pretty quick. They’ll verify you, read the number back to you, and you’re back in business.
The Public Record Hack
If your business is a bit more established, there might be a public footprint of your EIN.
Are you a non-profit? Every 501(c)(3) has their EIN listed publicly. You can use the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search tool or head over to Guidestar. It’s public info. No phone calls required.
For public companies, the SEC is your best friend. Every 10-K or 8-K filing on the EDGAR database has the EIN listed right on the front page. Now, if you’re a local landscaping business, this won't help you, but for larger entities or subsidiaries, it’s a goldmine.
What about local licensing?
Sometimes your city or county business license application requires an EIN. If you have a physical copy of your local permits or a "Doing Business As" (DBA) filing, check the fine print.
Why You Might Not Find It
Sometimes people try to look up my federal ein number and realize they never actually had one.
If you are a single-member LLC and you’ve just been using your Social Security Number for everything, you might not have applied for a separate EIN. The IRS doesn't always require it for solo operations without employees. If you’re searching your files and coming up empty, think back—did you ever actually go through the application process on IRS.gov?
If you didn't, and you now need one to hire an employee or open a specific type of retirement plan, you can get one instantly online. It takes about ten minutes. Just make sure you do it during their operating hours (Monday–Friday, 6 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. ET).
Dealing With Third-Party Verification
Sometimes you don't just need the number; you need proof of the number.
A lot of banks and vendors won't just take your word for it. They want a copy of the CP 575. If you lost the original letter, the IRS can’t send you a new one. I know, it’s annoying. However, they can send you something called an 147C letter.
An 147C is a "replacement" confirmation. It’s just as official as the original. To get it, you follow the same steps as calling for the number—dial the Business & Specialty Tax Line—but specifically ask for a "Letter 147C."
The coolest part? They can usually fax it to you. If you don't have a fax machine (who does?), use a digital fax service. It's way faster than waiting for the USPS to deliver a physical letter.
Security and Scams
A quick warning because the internet is a weird place.
There are dozens of websites that look "official" and offer to "retrieve your EIN" for a fee. Don't do it. They are just intermediaries doing exactly what I just described, but they’re charging you for the privilege. Worse, you’re handing over your Social Security Number and business details to a random company.
Stick to the IRS. It's free. It’s secure. It just takes a bit of patience.
Also, keep that number safe once you find it. Treat it like your business's Social Security Number. Identity theft happens to businesses too, and once someone has your EIN, they can open lines of credit or file fraudulent tax returns in your company's name.
Actionable Next Steps
Finding the number is only half the battle. Once you have it, you need to make sure you never have to go through this headache again.
- Create a "Master Business File": Save a digital copy of your 147C or CP 575 in a secure, encrypted cloud folder (like 1Password, Dropbox, or a locked Google Drive folder).
- Update your records: If the reason you couldn't find your EIN was an old address or a name change, file Form 8822-B with the IRS immediately to update your business's contact info.
- Notify your payroll provider: If you’re looking up your EIN because you’re starting payroll, ensure your provider has the number exactly as it appears on the IRS records to avoid "mismatch" notices.
- Check your Secretary of State filing: Ensure your state records match your federal EIN records. Discrepancies here can cause massive delays when you try to sell the business or apply for a large-scale government contract.
Once you have that nine-digit string, write it down in your secure password manager. Label it clearly. Your future self will thank you when you’re filling out your next W-9 and don’t have to spend an hour on hold with a government agency.