An EIN number is an Employer Identification Number and the Internal Revenue Services (IRS) requires it for the majority of tax-exempt entities and for businesses. Many people know it as the Federal Tax Identification Number (FTIN). There are different reasons why you may want to know how to check an EIN number. It is common, for instance, for suppliers and employees to look into it. There are several ways to do this, which depend mainly on the type of organization you are looking for. One source that most people who want to know how to check an EIN number go to is the IRS itself. However, while that is certainly an option, access to EIN numbers of charitable organizations through there is very limited. As such, it may be better for you to go to an external provider instead.

Steps On How To Check For An EIN Number:

1. Find out whether the organization you are looking into is a nonprofit organization or otherwise tax-exempt. If they are, then you may not be able to find the information you need from the IRS website or, if you do, you may find it difficult.

2. Visit the IRS website because, if the EIN number is there, it will be free for you to obtain. Furthermore, even if you cannot find the information you need, it will only take a few minutes of your time. You can click on "search for charities" on the IRS website, completing the form that you are presented with, with as much information as you possibly can, after which you can click on "search now".

3. If that did not provide the results you were hoping for, you can always telephone the IRS. Their number is (800) 829 4933. However, they will only provide you with the EIN number if you can prove that you are the employer, or that you are an authorized representative of the employer, and that you have lost the EIN number that has been assigned to you.

4. If contacting the IRS directly did not work, then you need to find an external search service instead. Make sure you look for EIN, FEIN, or FTIN services, as different organizations will give it a different name. You can use a Google search for this, although you may find it to be quicker if you contact your personal tax adviser. Each organization will have its own rules and regulations in terms of how they find the numbers for you, which information they require, and how much they cost. The most common type of service is one where you provide the name of a company and an EIN number, and the service will then tell you whether or not those two match. If they don't match, however, there is little else these services can do for you. Do be aware of this, since they usually charge a fee for their service.

As you can see, if you want to check an EIN number, there are options available to you. It is about knowing which options there are and how to find them.