EIN Search: How To Lookup An EIN

An Employer Identification Number (EIN) is a unique number assigned to a business by the IRS (upon request) for tax-related matters. An EIN search refers to the process of looking up an EIN. If you are searching for your own EIN, onboarding a vendor, or confirming the credibility of a subcontractor or business, then it’s necessary that you conduct an EIN Lookup (also known as an EIN search).

We’ll explain how you can look up an EIN, how long an EIN lookup takes, and explore the reasons why you might need to perform a search. From using dedicated lookup tools like EINsearch, to contacting the IRS, we’ll cover everything you need to know to find an EIN efficiently and effectively.

EIN lookup methods: 4 ways to find the EIN for a business

If you wish to search for an EIN, here are the seven main ways you can do it:

1. Utilizing an EIN Lookup Service: EINsearch

The quickest and easiest way to lookup an EIN is by using an EIN lookup service. An EIN lookup service is valuable for many reasons, but especially those companies involved in high volumes of business-to-business transactions or those requiring comprehensive due diligence for compliance and risk management purposes.  

EINsearch is the best example of an EIN lookup service, offering a user-friendly system that searches for the EIN you’re looking for based on the name of the business. With access to a database of over 20 million verified EINs, EINsearch can give you quick and easy access to the EIN you’re looking for. 

EINsearch is one of the fastest ways to find an EIN, with a simple and speedy registration process that enables you to start searching for your EIN in under 5 minutes. From there you can search for the business EIN you’re looking for, and receive results in a matter of seconds.

Using EINsearch’s lookup service ensures compliance, and facilitates customer due diligence & KYC (know your customer) and KYB (Know your business) compliance. If you are looking to hire employees, file taxes, or verify an organization’s identity, you’ll need to know your EIN, thus utilizing EINsearch will provide you with all the necessary information you need.

2. Call the IRS

Calling the IRS is a simple method you can use to lookup your own company’s EIN. However, you should prepare for an extended wait time. 

When you call, the IRS can verify your identity and give you the EIN specific to your business, ensuring you get the correct information directly from the source.

3. Business credit reports

An EIN is among the crucial information included in a business credit report, which can be obtained from business credit bureaus such as Dun & Bradstreet, Experian, and Equifax. The analyses provide indications of the business’s creditworthiness, financial health, and background. 

With a business credit report, you can get the EIN and other necessary information in no time — something that is invaluable to lenders, vendors, or partners who are doing due diligence. And although these reports may not be free of charge, they do give a good insight into the risk level for different kinds of business deals.

4. Contacting a business directly

When it comes to finding someone else’s business EIN, making specific contact with the business would be an effective way to find the EIN. Most companies share their EIN for valid reasons like adding the EIN to a vendor file for work completed within the fiscal year, or credit requests. This can be accomplished by reaching out to the vendor via phone or email. 

Why is an EIN search necessary for business verification?

Here are the reasons why an EIN search is necessary for business verification:

• Verify legitimacy: Ensures the business is legitimate and helps prevent fraud.
• Tax compliance: Necessary for compliance with tax regulations and filing returns.
• Employee hiring: Required when hiring employees to establish tax identification for payroll.
• Loan applications: Financial institutions often require an EIN for business loan applications or credit inquiries.
• Business transactions: Supports due diligence efforts in various business dealings.
• Vendor verification: Helps verify vendors or partners to ensure they are legitimate entities.
• Regulatory requirements: Certain industries may require an EIN for regulatory compliance.

How to search an EIN for business verification

Using an EIN lookup tool such as EINsearch to find an EIN for business verification is a straightforward process. Follow these steps:

1. Visit EINsearch: Head to the EINsearch site, register, select a plan, and navigate to the EIN (Employer Identification Number) lookup tool.
2. Provide a business name: Type the name of the business you are looking up in the search bar, and select the state the company is located in, and any additional other relevant fields. Checking spelling will increase the likelihood of finding the correct EIN.
3. Select the company from the results: With a database of over 20 million verified EINs, EINsearch is able to quickly create a list of businesses that match your query once you enter the company name. Check the results and apply which company it belongs to via some extra information like where that company is located or what the business is.
4. Review the EIN: Once you have selected the right business, keep a record of the EIN for your records and ensure it matches your requirements for verification or compliance purposes.

This method is quick, usually returning results within seconds, making EINsearch an efficient tool for obtaining the necessary information for business verification.

3 Common scenarios for looking up a company EIN

Scenario 1: Hiring Employees

An EIN is often required for filling out Form I-9, which verifies an employee’s eligibility to work in the United States. By confirming the EIN before hiring, businesses can ensure compliance with federal regulations, avoiding potential penalties or issues during audits.

Scenario 2: Filing Taxes

Every business entity with more than one employee requires an EIN to file federal tax returns. This unique identifier is essential for the IRS to track your business’s tax obligations and ensure accurate reporting. Therefore, if you have misplaced or do not know your own company’s EIN, it will be necessary to perform an EIN lookup. 

During tax season, businesses need to reference their EIN on a number of tax forms, such as  Form 1099, Form 1065 for partnerships or Form 1120 for corporations. By verifying your EIN before submitting tax documents, you can prevent errors that could lead to penalties, or delays in processing their returns.

Scenario 3: Applying for Business Loans

When applying for business loans, an EIN lookup can be crucial for validating a company’s identity and creditworthiness. Lenders require the EIN to run credit checks, assess the financial health of the business, and ensure that the loan application is legitimate. A verified EIN can facilitate smoother communication between the lender and the business, as it confirms the company’s tax identification and operational status. 

Additionally, providing a valid EIN demonstrates professionalism and preparedness, which can enhance a business’s credibility in the eyes of lenders. For businesses seeking financing, ensuring that the correct EIN is available can significantly impact the loan approval process.

Using a paid EIN search tool for EIN lookups

Paid EIN lookup services offer a number of benefits that you won’t find elsewhere. 

Detailed Reporting

In addition to the EIN, these services have detailed reports that include a business’s name, address, City, State, Zip Code, and NCOA. This level of information is most critical when vetting a business’s identity in the context of significant transactions or projects that require confidence in a counterpart’s financial health and legitimacy.

Up-to-date Data

A paid option like EINsearch’s EIN Lookup service offers an incredibly accurate and up-to-date database of over 20 million+ EINs, making it an essential tool for businesses looking to avoid common issues that are associated with data inaccuracies, such as hefty penalties, and compliance risks. 

EINsearch compiles information from all known sources to ensure accuracy and reliability. This level of precision not only enhances due diligence programs but also helps reduce the risk of identity theft and fraudulent activities.

Faster Results

Additionally, they produce faster results than those we mentioned earlier and involve customer support if you’re in need of any search help. A paid EIN search tool, therefore, is especially useful for companies that conduct large volumes of business to business transactions, or need to perform thorough due diligence for compliance and risk management. Whether you’re applying for a business loan, entering a partnership, or conducting a vendor verification, having instant access to accurate and detailed EIN information is essential.

Make your search for EINs hassle-free by using EINsearch’s paid EIN lookup feature! Our service aims to provide you with the knowledge you require to make decisions objectively and confidently.

Summary

In line with this, it is clear that looking up an EIN is essential when verifying a business or a vendor. When you need in-depth information to work more efficiently and accurately, using an EIN lookup service like EINsearch can be highly beneficial. 

Do not run the risk of incurring IRS Penalties; EINsearch provides an accurate and effective solution to finding Employer Identification Numbers. Begin your search today and trust that you will provide the strength to make more educated business decisions by knowing you have the proper information right at your fingertips.