How To Lookup A Company’s EIN Number

A simple guide to validate the EIN and the legal name combination correctly.

If you’re a self-employed individual in the gig economy that wants to verify the EIN of the payer or a financial institution trying to onboard an entity, TIN matching is the way to go.

TIN matching, or in this context, EIN matching, is essential for identifying, validating, and verifying the real identity of the entity. An entity could be a company, an estate, a non-profit organization, or a firm.

EIN lookup allows you to find and verify the important details of an entity and its standing legal status with the IRS.

This means, you can check the TIN match status, which gives you insights into the credibility and validity of the company or the employer.

But TIN matching alone will not be enough to gain other important details about a company.

For example, if you want to check the legal incorporation details, civil liability history, and the tax-exempt status of an organization, KYB (Know Your Business) checks, such as SOS Entity Search, Tax-Exempt Org. Search and more would be helpful.

For the remainder discussion of this blog, we will primarily focus on the definitions of TIN matching, or in this context, EIN lookup, and how to check an entity’s EIN.

So, let’s get to it.

What Is EIN?

E – Employer

I – Identification

N – Number

EIN is a unique identification number assigned to an entity at the time of EIN registration. Businesses apply for EIN with the IRS to request the federal agency to assign a unique identification number.

If you already have an EIN, you can check the real-time status by conducting a simple TIN match search.

EIN – this unique number of identification can be a combination of letters and numbers. When you enter the EIN along with the legal name of the entity, you will find the EIN match results.

The reason many CPAs and accountants place such high importance on the accuracy of the TIN/EIN is that the IRS may penalize you if you report an incorrect TIN and even reject your returns until corrected.

Let’s learn more about this in detail.

Importance of EIN

An EIN or Employer Identification Number is a unique nine-digit number that the IRS issues to entities as a way of cs.

Using the correct legal name + EIN and verifying it through an IRS TIN matching service lowers the chance of rejections, penalties, CP2100/CP2100A notices, and backup withholding.

Entities That Require EIN

You require an EIN to run any of these entities:

• Partnership
• Limited liability company (LLC)
• Corporation
• Tax-exempt organization
• Estate
• Trust PDF (except certain grantor-owned revocable trusts)
• Retirement plan or individual retirement account (IRA)
• Real estate mortgage investment conduit
• Farmers’ cooperative

Exempt Entities

• Sole proprietors with no employees
• Certain single-member LLCs, as long as they do not elect to file as a corporation

EIN Look Up / EIN Validation / EIN Match / EIN Verification

EIN Look Up has many synonymous terminologies. But the mechanism is the same. EIN verification is a process of validating the Employer Identification Number along with the legal name of the entity per the official records of the IRS.

You can verify the EIN with the IRS TIN Match system or use Tax1099’s super fast real-time TIN match program (more on this as you scroll).

If the EIN and the legal name of the entity match the records of the IRS, it’s an EIN match.

If the EIN and the legal name of the entity do not match the IRS records, you may have entered incorrect EIN/legal name details.

Alternatively, if the TIN match system notifies you that the searched details are invalid, it could mean that the IRS has no record of the entity, meaning that you may have invalid details.

How To Check EIN Of A Company?

For a super-quick real-time search experience, we recommend Tax1099’s real-time TIN match program which allows you to search 100,000+ TINs within a minute.

We have accelerated the TIN match process, which means you don’t have to wait for hours or days to see the TIN match results.

All you need is the entity’s EIN and the legal name (as registered with the IRS) to conduct a quick EIN check.

You can also expand your EIN search by importing your bulk data to our powerful and secure platform. Learn more about our integrations widget to import bulk data.

And you don’t have to worry about accuracy. Tax1099 is directly connected with the source i.e., the IRS; which means your EIN verifications are met with accurate, real-time results.

Privacy & Legal Boundaries for Payers

The IRS has strict laws that enforce confidentiality. And since EINs are sensitive information, any payer that is handling it must do so with precaution to prevent any fraudulent practices.

• Truncate recipient copies, meaning show only part of the EIN (last 4 digits), where allowed.
• Limit access by setting up user-based roles and allowing only authorized personnel to view EIN.
• Use TINs only for tax reporting and other related compliance tasks like verifying vendor details.
• Store and encrypt tax reporting documents for at least 3 to 4 years alongside backups and logs showing who accessed them.

Mistakes To Avoid During EIN Lookup by Payers

• Using unvalidated TINs increases the chances of notices and failed 1099 filings. Always validate TIN and name with the IRS database before filing.
• Assuming every corporation is exempt from 1099 filing. There are still a couple of payments like attorney fees and medical/health care payments that are still reported using a 1099 form.
• Mishandling sensitive tax data by using unencrypted email or shared drives. Always use secure and encrypted cloud storage to store tax data.
• Ignoring CP2100/CP2100A notices and not acting on them within the first 15 business days of receiving the notice can increase the chances of penalties.
• Treating pre-filing TIN-match failures as an automatic trigger for backup withholding. If you haven’t filed yet, a failed TIN match acts as a warning for you to correct the TIN.
• Confusing “Doing Business As” (DBA) name with legal names. The IRS requires you to use the vendor or recipient’s legal name reported in Line 1 of W-9 and not DBAs.

FAQs

1. Can a payer look up a company’s EIN online?

Currently, there is no centralized public IRS directory for EIN lookup. For nonprofits, you can use the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search (TEOS) and SEC EDGAR database for public companies. You can also use the state’s Secretary of State business directory or better yet, request for a Form W-9 directly from the vendor/recipient.

2. What is the safest way to collect EINs?

The best and safest way to collect EINs is by requesting a completed Form W-9 directly from the vendor/recipient. This form will have the legal name, TIN (EIN, SSN, & ITIN), and tax classification that you require for your 1099 filings.

3. What if a vendor refuses to provide an EIN?

If a vendor refuses to provide an EIN, even after multiple solicitations, you can start the 24% backup withholding process. Do not forget to keep detailed records of all requests and responses.

4. Do corporations always need EIN reporting?

Corporations are usually exempt from 1099 reporting and do not require EIN solicitation. However, payments such as attorney fees and medical or health care payments are reportable regardless of corporate status.

5. How long must payers keep EIN/TIN records?

It is considered best practice for payers to keep EIN/TIN records for at least 3 years after the filing.

6. Is IRS TIN Matching mandatory?

No, IRS TIN Matching using IRS e-services or Tax1099’s real-time TIN match is optional but strongly recommended if you want to remain compliant with tax reporting responsibilities.

7. How often should we re-validate vendor TINs?

Vendor or recipient TINs should be validated during onboarding, whenever key details such as name or tax classification change, before tax filing season, and after a mismatch is discovered.

8. What’s the difference between legal name and DBA for TIN Matching?

The legal name is the official name of the registered business while DBA or “Doing Business As” is the unofficial name that is used for branding or marketing purposes. The former is reported on W-9 Line 1 and the latter is on Line 2. Only the legal name is required for TIN matching.

Automating EIN lookups and TIN matching lowers administrative costs.

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