How to locate a company’s FEIN (Federal Employer Identification Number).

As a company manager, you are responsible for ensuring that your business is operating in compliance with all relevant laws and regulations. One of the most important pieces of information that you need to have on hand is your company’s FEIN (Federal Employer Identification Number). This unique identifier is used by the IRS to track your company’s tax obligations and ensure that you are reporting income correctly.

Understanding What a FEIN Is and Why You Need It

Before we dive into the steps for finding your company’s FEIN, it’s important to understand what this unique identifier is and why you need it. A FEIN is a nine-digit number assigned by the IRS to businesses, individuals, and other entities that are required to file tax returns or pay taxes on their income.

Having a FEIN is essential for a variety of reasons, including:

• Opening a bank account: In order to open a business bank account, you will need a FEIN. This identifier will allow the bank to verify your identity and ensure that you are legally entitled to open an account.
• Applying for credit: A FEIN is also required when applying for credit cards or loans in the name of your business. This identifier will allow lenders to verify your creditworthiness and ensure that you are a legitimate business entity.
• Filing taxes: As we mentioned earlier, a FEIN is used by the IRS to track your company’s tax obligations and ensure that you are reporting income correctly. Without a FEIN, it may be difficult for the IRS to accurately identify your business and assess your tax liability.

Steps for Finding Your Company’s FEIN

1. Check your business formation documents: The first place to look for your company’s FEIN is in your business formation documents. These documents, which include your articles of incorporation, license, and permit filings, should contain the unique identifier. If you are unable to find your FEIN in these documents, you can try contacting the state agency that processed your business formation paperwork to see if they have a copy on file.
2. Contact your tax professional: If you are still unable to locate your company’s FEIN, you can reach out to your tax professional for assistance. They should be able to access your company’s tax records and provide you with the unique identifier.
3. Check with the IRS: If all else fails, you can contact the IRS to request your company’s FEIN. You will need to provide the IRS with some basic information about your business, including its name, address, and date of incorporation. Once the IRS has this information, they should be able to generate a new FEIN for your company or provide you with your existing identifier if it is already on file.

Real-Life Examples of Locating a Company’s FEIN

To help illustrate the process of finding your company’s FEIN, let’s look at some real-life examples:

• John owns a small business that he started in 2015. He filed his articles of incorporation with the state of California and has been operating his business ever since. When he tries to open a new bank account for his business, he is asked for his company’s FEIN. John quickly realizes that he doesn’t have this unique identifier on hand, so he contacts the state agency that processed his business formation paperwork to see if they have a copy.
• Sarah owns a larger corporation that was formed in 2008. She needs her company’s FEIN for a tax-related matter but cannot find it. She follows the steps outlined above and is able to locate the unique identifier by contacting her tax professional.