Generally, the searcher will need to provide a few basic details, including the type of entity for which they are searching. Several methods exist for looking up a business's tax ID.
With a Commercial EIN database, you may have access to special offers that provide you with a certain number of free searches before you will need to pay a fee. If you frequently need to search for business EINs, then you may want to sign up for a commercial database service. Searching the EDGAR database is completely free of charge, and can be used to find a business EIN that is not listed in the online SEC filings. It is also possible to use the EDGAR Online Forms and Filings database to search for an EIN. On the filings page provided by the Securities and Exchange Commission, you can find the EIN number for a business by clicking the SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) filing and reading the first page of the document. Almost every publicly traded company will possess a filings page. The EIN for publicly traded companies can be found on the Investor Relations website. Resources to Look Up a Tax ID and Verify EIN for A Business It's not a good idea to proceed without knowing for sure whether or not you're going to need an EIN. If you're a business owner and you're not sure if you need to file for an EIN, it is probably in your best interest to contact an attorney with knowledge and experience in this area to examine your specific situation and help you determine if this is something you'll need to do.