How to Search EIN Numbers

There are several places to look for an EIN.

If you have worked for a company or made a donation to a company, you will need the company's EIN (Employer Identification Number) in order to properly document the employment or donation on your taxes. If the company is a publicly traded company, you can find its EIN for free by searching the "Edgar Database" that is overseen by the Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC). If the company is a nonprofit organization, you can freely search for its information through "GuideStar," an organization that collects data from IRS Form 990s. If you are unable to locate the EIN through the Edgar Database or GuideStar, then you can use fee-based services such as those offered on various EIN search websites.

Instructions

Publicly Traded Companies

1. Visit the "Edgar Database" that is located on the SEC website. A direct link to the Edgar Database is attached to this article.

2. Type the name of the company for which you would like to find the EIN. You can also enter the stock symbol for the company to help narrow your search results. Click the "Find Companies" option.

3. View the list of companies that populated in the search results until you find the company you are inquiring about. Click on the "CIK" number that is located to the left of the company name. Click any of the "Document" buttons.

4. View the "IRS No." that is located underneath the company name. The nine-digit IRS number is the EIN for the company.

Nonprofit Organizations

1. Visit the GuideStar website by following the link that is linked to this article.

2. Click on the "Register" option that is located at the top of the page. If you don't register, you can still browse the site, but you will not be able to view the EIN information. Registration is free. After registering, check your email inbox for the confirmation email to verify your email address.

3. Type the name of the company you are inquiring about inside the search box that is located on the GuideStar homepage. Click the option to "Start Your Search."

4. Click on the name of the organization. You will now see a panel on the righthand side. Click on the "Forms 990 & Docs" tab that is located in the middle of the panel.

5. Locate the "Form 990s Received from the IRS" section. Click on the most recent tax year. You will then see the EIN number for the company located in the "Employer Identification Number" box. If there are no links located in the Form 990 section, it means that the company does not have a Form 990 in the GuideStar database, and the EIN information will not be available there.

References

• US DOL: Employer Identification Numbers (EINs)

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• SEC: Edgar Database
• GuideStar: Non-Profit Reports and Forms 990