A business tax ID is required to complete tax forms.
An employer identification number, also called a tax ID, identifies business entities in the United States. The Internal Revenue Service issues tax IDs and manages tax and income information for each entity. The number is equivalent to an individual's Social Security number, providing a unique identification. As a result, financial institutions, human resources departments and various documents record the number. Using any of several resources, it's simple to locate a tax ID for a business.
Instructions
Employer Tax ID
1. Carefully review a current pay stub to locate the tax ID. Look for a nine-digit number with a dash after the first two numbers or formatted like a Social Security number.
2. Locate a previous Wage and Tax Statement (W-2) form. Employers use W-2 forms to report your wages and tax withholding to the IRS. The W-2 contains lettered boxes that identify specific information. Locate box "b" employer identification number, to find the business tax ID.
3. Contact the human resources or accounting department. Your company's human resources representative can provide you with the tax ID or provide information on where to find it. Additionally, the accounting or finance department keeps a record of business tax IDs.
Personal or Unaffiliated Business Tax ID
4. Contact the Internal Revenue Service. The IRS can provide tax ID information over the phone as long as you are an authorized agent. The agent may ask for your Social Security number, contact information and business name. You can call the IRS Business & Specialty Tax Line at 800-829-4933 to request information, according to the IRS website.
5. Call the bank that handles your business account. Banks require a tax ID number to open a business bank account. Call or visit your bank to request your tax ID number. The bank will request identification and contact information to confirm that you are an authorized representative.
6. Contact current business creditors. If your business has lines of credit or other financial accounts, contact creditors to locate the tax ID. For example, credit card and office supply stores keep this information on file.
7. Research the Edgar Reporting Service operated by the Securities and Exchange Commission. To locate a business with which you are not affiliated, search the EDGAR, which provides online corporate information. Visit the website (see Resources) and click the "Search for Company Filings" link. Click "Company or Fund Name" and enter the company name on the following page. Click the "Find Companies" button. Locate the company on the search page and click the number in the "CIK" column. On the following page, locate documents categorized as 10-K filings. Review the document to find the EIN.
Tags: human resources, Security number, Social Security, Social Security number, contact information, employer identification, employer identification number