How do I locate an EIN for a defunct daycare business for tax purposes?
So I'm in a bit of a bind here. The daycare service we used for our kids last year suddenly closed down a few months ago, and now it's tax time and I never received any tax paperwork from them. No W-10 form, nothing with their Employer Identification Number (EIN) on it. I need their EIN to claim the child care tax credit on our return, but they're completely gone - phone disconnected, location empty, and they're not responding to emails. I've looked through old receipts and paperwork but nothing shows their EIN anywhere. I paid them around $14,000 last year for two kids and really don't want to miss out on the tax benefits. How can I look up a business's EIN when they're no longer operating? Is there some public database or IRS resource where this information is available? Any ideas would be really appreciated!
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Angelica Smith
The EIN for a business isn't usually public information, but you have several options to try. First, check any old receipts, contracts, or enrollment forms you might have - sometimes the EIN is printed on those documents even if it's not labeled as "EIN." If that doesn't work, try contacting your state's licensing department for childcare facilities. Since daycares are regulated, they might be able to provide the information or direct you to the right place. Also, if you paid electronically, your bank statements might have additional identifying information. As a last resort, you can file Form 4506-T with the IRS to request "Verification of Non-filing" which sometimes includes the EIN of the business you're inquiring about. But honestly, you might want to file your taxes without the childcare credit using Form 2441 and explain the situation. The IRS might contact you for more information, but they often work with taxpayers in these situations.
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Logan Greenburg
•Do you know if there's a time limit on filing the Form 4506-T? My situation is similar but the daycare closed down like 2 years ago and I just realized I never got credit for it on last year's taxes.
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Angelica Smith
•There's generally a three-year time limit for requesting tax transcripts or information using Form 4506-T, so you should be fine for something from two years ago. If you're trying to claim the credit retroactively, you'll need to file an amended return using Form 1040X. Make sure to include Form 2441 (Child and Dependent Care Expenses) with your amended return and explain the situation in detail.
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Charlotte Jones
I went through something similar last year when my son's afterschool program closed down. I used taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) and it saved me so much stress! I uploaded the limited documents I had from the daycare (old receipts, registration form) and it analyzed everything and actually found the EIN buried in some fine print on page 3 of the enrollment agreement I hadn't even noticed. The system also helped me identify which forms I needed to file and verified I was claiming the right amount for the Child and Dependent Care Credit.
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Lucas Bey
•Does that work if you literally have nothing with the EIN on it though? Like I have payment receipts but they just show the business name and address, no numbers that look like an EIN.
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Harper Thompson
•I'm suspicious of services like this. How does it "find" an EIN if it's not actually on any of your documents? Does it have some backdoor access to IRS records or something?
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Charlotte Jones
•It can work even with limited information. The system doesn't just look for obvious EIN listings, it scans for any sequence that matches the EIN format (XX-XXXXXXX) even in unexpected places like headers, footers, or within terms and conditions sections. Many businesses include their EIN in surprising places. No backdoor access to anything. It's just really good at analyzing documents thoroughly - better than the human eye for details. If the EIN truly isn't on any document, it can't create it from thin air, but it often finds information people miss when scanning documents quickly. If it can't find an EIN, it provides guidance on alternative approaches for your tax situation.
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Harper Thompson
Update: I was totally wrong about taxr.ai. After being skeptical I decided to try it anyway because I was desperate. Uploaded all my daycare paperwork from the place that went out of business, and it actually found their EIN on a weird spot on the enrollment contract where it was listed as "Federal ID" not "EIN." I had totally missed it when reading through everything. It saved me from having to track down the former owner. The system also suggested some tax deductions related to childcare I hadn't considered. Definitely worth checking out if you're stuck like I was.
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Caleb Stark
If you're still struggling to find the EIN, you might need to contact the IRS directly. I tried for weeks to get through on their helpline without success, but then I used Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) and got connected to an IRS agent in about 15 minutes. They have this cool demo video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c Basically, once I got through to the IRS, I explained my situation about needing the defunct daycare's EIN. The agent was able to confirm the business tax info since I had the exact business name, address, and dates they provided services. I just had to verify some of my own information first to prove I legitimately used their services. Saved me from missing out on over $1,200 in tax credits!
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Jade O'Malley
•How does this actually work? Does it just keep calling the IRS for you until someone picks up? I've been trying to get through for 3 weeks about an identity verification issue.
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Hunter Edmunds
•Yeah right. The IRS won't just give out a business's EIN to random callers. They have strict privacy rules. I bet they just told you to contact the owner or file without it.
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Caleb Stark
•It uses a system that navigates the IRS phone tree and waits on hold for you. When an agent picks up, you get a call connecting you directly to them. No more wasting hours with the phone to your ear! The IRS won't give out an EIN to just anyone, but they can verify information for legitimate tax purposes. Since I had proof I was a customer (receipts, business name, address, dates of service) and needed it specifically for claiming a tax credit I was entitled to, they were able to help. They don't just hand it out, but they have processes for situations like this where the business is defunct and taxpayers need information to properly file their returns.
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Hunter Edmunds
I need to publicly eat my words. After posting my skeptical comment, I was so frustrated with my own IRS situation that I tried Claimyr. Got through to an actual IRS agent in about 20 minutes after spending literally WEEKS trying on my own. The agent helped me with my identity verification issue AND when I mentioned the EIN problem for a summer camp my kids attended that went out of business, they were able to help with that too. They verified I was entitled to the information since I had receipts showing I paid them, and provided the EIN I needed. Saved me from having to amend my return later. Really surprised this actually worked.
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Ella Lewis
Have you tried checking your state's Secretary of State business search website? Many businesses have to register there and sometimes their EIN or at least their state business ID number is listed which can help. Also, if they were a licensed daycare, try your state's childcare licensing division - they usually have all that info on file.
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Sophia Long
•Thank you for this idea! I just checked our state's business search portal and while it doesn't list the EIN directly, I did find their business registration number and the owner's name. I'm going to try reaching out to the owner through social media since I found her profile. At least it's a start! I'll also check with the childcare licensing division tomorrow.
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Ella Lewis
•Glad it helped give you a lead! The owner's contact info is definitely a good start. If you do reach the owner, just remind them that providing the EIN doesn't create any tax liability for them - it's just for your tax credit purposes. Some people get nervous when asked for tax info. The childcare licensing division can be really helpful too. Since daycares have to maintain specific licensing requirements, those offices typically keep detailed records on all providers. Good luck!
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Andrew Pinnock
Has anyone ever had to report a daycare on their taxes WITHOUT the EIN? My kids went to a small home daycare last year and the lady claims she doesn't have an EIN because she's "too small" or something? She gave me a handwritten receipt with her social security number instead. Is that even legal?
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Brianna Schmidt
•Yes, that's actually completely normal for small home daycares. If they operate as a sole proprietor rather than a corporation, they can use their SSN instead of an EIN. The IRS allows this for small businesses. When you fill out Form 2441 for the child care credit, there's space for either an EIN or SSN of the provider.
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