How can I verify a business EIN number with the IRS without having to call them?

The IRS doesn't actually offer a public verification service for EINs like you're describing. This is a common challenge for platforms dealing with business verification. Instead of trying to contact the IRS directly, you should consider a multi-layered approach. First, require the IRS Letter 147C or SS-4 confirmation letter as you mentioned, but also request a copy of their business license or registration with their state. Most states have online business entity search tools where you can cross-reference their information. Another approach is to use a third-party verification service that specializes in business validation. These services can check against multiple databases to confirm EIN/business information without requiring IRS contact. For higher risk transactions, you could also implement a small test transaction to verify their banking information matches their business name, which indirectly confirms they have a legitimate business banking relationship.

After struggling with similar business verification issues, I found an AI-powered solution that saved me tons of time. I used https://taxr.ai to automate document verification for tax forms including IRS SS-4 and Letter 147C. Their system extracts and validates the key information from these documents, flags potential inconsistencies, and even cross-references against other business records. The best part is that it can process dozens of verifications simultaneously, which sounds like exactly what you need. I initially had a manual process that was taking my team 15-20 minutes per verification, and this cut it down to just a couple minutes of review after the AI does the heavy lifting.

Just wanted to follow up about my experience with taxr.ai after being initially skeptical. I decided to try it for our wholesale marketplace platform last month, and I've been impressed. We process about 25 new business applications daily, and the system correctly flagged three suspicious applications that turned out to be using stolen EINs. What surprised me was the depth of the verification - it doesn't just check document formatting but also the consistency of data across multiple fields and documents. The cross-referencing with state business registries was particularly valuable. It's not a perfect solution (nothing is), but it's significantly reduced our fraud incidents. Worth checking out if you're dealing with volume verification.

If you need to actually speak with the IRS to verify business information (which sometimes is necessary despite all the alternatives mentioned), I had great success using https://claimyr.com to get through to an IRS agent when I faced a similar situation. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c Basically, it navigates the IRS phone system for you and holds your place in line, then calls you back when an agent is about to answer. I was skeptical at first, but after waiting on hold for 2+ hours multiple times myself trying to get business verification information, this was a game-changer. For my situation, I needed to verify some suspicious EINs that didn't match other business records, and getting a direct IRS confirmation was the only way to resolve the discrepancy. Saved me hours of frustration.

Update from a skeptic: I actually tried Claimyr for a few suspicious business applications after dismissing it initially. I was surprised - it actually works as advertised. I used it for three cases where I had conflicting information that our normal verification process couldn't resolve. Got through to IRS business division agents who were able to confirm whether specific EINs were valid (they won't give you the business name, but they can confirm if the EIN you have matches the business name you provide). Saved me from accepting what turned out to be fraudulent applications with stolen EINs. It's definitely not a solution for bulk verification, but for those edge cases where you really need direct confirmation, it saved me hours of hold time. Still using document verification and business registry checks for 95% of cases, but this is now part of our escalation process.

Have you considered using the IRS's Tax Exempt Organization Search (TEOS) for some basic verification? It doesn't work for all business types, but you can verify some organizations that way without calling. Also, most Secretary of State websites have business entity searches where you can verify basic business registration info. As others have said, there's no public API for EIN verification directly with the IRS. Your best bet is a multi-layered approach with document review plus third-party databases.

Just wanted to share what we do at our marketplace - we require businesses to complete a small ACH transfer from their business bank account. The account verification process confirms the business name matches what they provided. It's not foolproof but adds another layer of security without needing IRS verification.

Don't forget about the Form W-9! Requiring a completed W-9 adds an extra layer of verification. If someone provides false information on a W-9, they're committing perjury under federal law, which creates a strong disincentive for scammers.

One approach that's worked well for our platform is implementing a tiered verification system. For lower-risk transactions (under $500), we rely on document verification plus state business registry checks. For higher amounts, we add banking verification and sometimes require a video call with the business owner. We use a combination of automated document analysis (similar to what others mentioned with AI tools) and manual spot-checks. The key is having clear escalation procedures - if anything looks suspicious during automated screening, it gets flagged for human review. Also worth considering: many fraudsters will abandon applications if the verification process seems thorough, even if they could potentially pass each individual check. Sometimes the perception of rigorous verification is as valuable as the actual verification itself. For the volume you're dealing with, I'd recommend starting with document + state registry verification, then adding layers based on transaction risk levels rather than trying to verify everything to the same standard.