Where Do You Find Your Federal Tax Id Number

Last Tuesday, my friend Dave called me in a panic. He was staring at a confusing government form, his coffee growing cold, and he kept repeating, “Where is this stupid tax ID number?” I could almost hear him shaking his head through the phone.

This is a moment we’ve all faced—or will face. You need your Federal Tax ID Number (also called an EIN), and suddenly it feels like hunting for a needle in a haystack. But relax, because finding it is usually way easier than you think.

First things first: what exactly are we hunting for?

Your Federal Tax ID Number is a nine-digit code that the IRS gives your business. It looks like this: 12-3456789. Think of it as a Social Security number, but for your company.

If you’ve ever applied for a business bank account or hired an employee, you already have one. You just might have forgotten where you filed it. Don’t worry—I’ve done that too.

The most obvious spot: your official IRS confirmation letter

When you first applied for your EIN, the IRS sent you a letter called CP 575. It’s the golden ticket. That letter has your number printed right on it, usually in the top-left corner.

Did you toss it in a drawer? Taped it to your fridge? (Hey, no judgment—I once kept a tax document under a pizza box.) Check your filing cabinet, your email inbox, or even your car’s glove compartment. Desperate times, right?

Irony alert: I know a guy who laminated his CP 575 and lost it in a pile of old business cards. He found it three years later, still shiny, under a stack of takeout menus. True story.

What if you never got the letter? Or lost it completely?

Happens more often than you’d think. Maybe you applied online and the PDF got buried in your downloads folder. Or your dog ate the envelope—seriously, dogs love tax forms.

If that’s your situation, take a deep breath. You can still find your number without a time machine or a psychic hotline. Let’s go digital.

Check your old business tax returns

If you’ve filed taxes for your business, your EIN is sitting right there on Form 941, Form 940, or any Schedule C you’ve submitted. Look near the top of the first page. It’s that familiar nine-digit string you’ve see once and then completely ignored.

I keep a copy of my last quarterly payroll report because I know I’ll forget my EIN again. It’s my little peace-of-mind trick. You might want to do the same—just snap a photo with your phone.

Still stuck? Let’s make a call or search smarter

You can call the IRS Business & Specialty Tax Line at 1-800-829-4933. They’ll ask you some verification questions to prove you are who you say you are. It’s annoying, but it works.

Side note: If you call during tax season, prepare for a wait. Bring snacks. I once stayed on hold so long I finished a whole sudoku puzzle. Was it worth it? Yes—because I got my number back.

Another option: log into your IRS online account. If you’ve set up an account for your business, your EIN will be displayed there, plain as day. No digging required.

What about old bank statements or loan applications?

Your business bank knows your EIN. Check past statements or any loan paperwork you signed. Banks love to write that number in big bold letters at the top of every document.

If you’ve ever applied for a business credit card, the approval letter is a goldmine. I found mine inside a shoebox with old receipts—don’t ask, it’s a system.

One last desperate move: ask your accountant or payroll company

Unless you live in a cave (cool if you do, really), you’ve probably worked with a professional. Call your accountant. They file your taxes, so they have your EIN saved in their system. It’s literally their job to remember these details for you.

Even a payroll service like ADP or Gusto keeps your EIN on file. Just ring them up and say, “Hey, I’m a little lost—help me out.” They’ve heard it before, trust me.

Ironic twist: I once helped a friend who had her EIN stored as a note on her phone under “pizza delivery code.” Not joking. It was there, just framed creatively.

Prevention is easier than panic

Once you find your number, save it in multiple places. Write it in a physical notebook. Add it to a secure password manager. Tape it to the inside of your desk drawer. You deserve the peace of mind.

And hey, if you misplace it again? Now you know exactly where to look. No more cold coffee or frantic phone calls to friends like Dave. You’ve got this.