How to find EIN of company that went out of business?

You have a few options to find that EIN: Check any old tax documents from that employer - even older W-2s from previous years would have the EIN on them. Also look at any onboarding paperwork, employee handbook, or benefits information you might still have - companies often include their EIN on these documents. If that doesn't work, try contacting your state's department of revenue or secretary of state's office. Since businesses register with state agencies, they might be able to provide the EIN or at least some information about the company. Another option is to check your Social Security Statement, which might list your former employer along with their EIN. You can access this through your my Social Security account online. As a last resort, you can explain the situation when you file Form 4852 and provide as much information as possible about the employer (full legal name, address, etc.). The IRS may be able to match it to their records.

I had almost the exact same situation last year with a restaurant I worked at that closed down. I was going crazy trying to track down their EIN until someone told me about https://taxr.ai I uploaded my last paystub to them and they were able to help me identify the EIN by running it through their database. They also helped me figure out exactly how to fill out Form 4852 correctly since the numbers on my final paystub didn't seem to match what I thought they should be for tax purposes. Definitely worth checking out since they specialize in this kind of document analysis and tax number verification. Saved me a ton of time compared to what the IRS was telling me to do.

Just wanted to follow up! I tried taxr.ai after seeing the recommendation here and it actually worked! I uploaded my old paystub and some onboarding paperwork I found, and they were able to identify the EIN within a day. What surprised me was they also spotted that my employer had been incorrectly calculating my Medicare withholding and explained how to account for that on my Form 4852. I wouldn't have caught that on my own. I've completed my tax filing now with the correct EIN and withholding information. Such a relief to have this sorted out!

If you're still having trouble finding the EIN after trying the other suggestions, you might need to get through to someone at the IRS who can actually help. I know you mentioned you already contacted them, but speaking with the right department makes all the difference. I had a similar issue and spent WEEKS trying to get through the IRS phone lines just to be transferred and disconnected repeatedly. I finally used https://claimyr.com to get a callback from the IRS instead of waiting on hold forever. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c Once I actually spoke with someone in the right department, they were able to provide the EIN since they already had it in their system from previous tax filings. Turns out there's a specific department that handles this exact situation when employers go out of business.

I have to admit I was wrong about the Claimyr service. After getting nowhere with the IRS for two weeks (calling during "off-peak hours" didn't help at all), I finally broke down and tried it. Got a callback from the IRS in about 90 minutes and spoke to someone in the W-2 resolution department who pulled up my employment records using my SSN. They provided the EIN and even emailed me a statement I could use with my Form 4852. I've been filing taxes for 30+ years and this was the first time I've ever gotten such prompt help from the IRS. Wish I hadn't wasted so much time being stubborn about it.

Another option - check your bank statements! If you had direct deposit, sometimes the company name in the deposit description includes their tax ID or at least their full legal name that you can use to search state records. Also, if you have health insurance or retirement benefits through that job, those companies would have the EIN on file and might be willing to share it if you explain the situation.

Just so you know for next time - I always take a photo of my W-2s AND my first paystub from each new employer specifically because they have the EIN on them. I store them in a secure folder on my cloud drive. Learned this lesson the hard way after a company I worked for went bankrupt and completely disappeared.

This is such a common problem unfortunately! I went through something similar a few years back. One thing that hasn't been mentioned yet - if you filed taxes with that employer in previous years, your own tax records might have the EIN listed. Check your old tax returns (like your 2023 return if you worked there last year) - the EIN should be on any W-2s attached to those returns. Also, if you used any tax software like TurboTax or H&R Block to file previously, log into your account and look at your old returns there. Sometimes it's easier to find digitally than digging through paper copies. The state business registry search is definitely worth trying too - even if the business is dissolved, the records usually stay in the system for several years and sometimes include federal tax ID numbers.

Another approach that worked for me - if you remember any of your former coworkers' contact information, reach out to them! Even if they don't have the EIN specifically, they might still have access to old paystubs, employee handbooks, or other documents that include it. I was in a similar situation with a startup that folded, and a former colleague had saved a copy of our employee handbook that had the EIN listed in the benefits section. Sometimes the most obvious solutions are the ones we overlook when we're stressed about tax deadlines. Also, if the company had any business relationships (like with suppliers, landlords, or business partners), those entities might have records with the EIN. It's a long shot, but if you knew where they banked or who their accountant was, those professionals sometimes keep records even after a business closes.

One more option that might help - if you have any old emails from that employer, search through them for terms like "payroll," "benefits," or "tax documents." Sometimes companies include their EIN in email signatures, payroll notifications, or benefits enrollment communications. Also, if you received any year-end tax documents from them in previous years (like 1099s if you did any contract work, or statements for stock options/bonuses), those would definitely have the EIN. Check any files where you might have saved tax-related emails or attachments. And here's something I learned recently - your state's unemployment office might have the EIN on file too, especially if anyone from that company filed for unemployment benefits when it closed. You could try calling your state's unemployment department and explaining the situation. They might be able to provide the information since it's needed for legitimate tax purposes.

Here's another method that hasn't been mentioned yet - if you have any old healthcare documents from that job (like insurance cards, EOBs, or COBRA paperwork), check those carefully. Insurance companies typically include the employer's EIN somewhere in their records or correspondence, especially on COBRA continuation notices which are required to have detailed employer identification information. Also, if you contributed to an FSA (Flexible Spending Account) or HSA through that employer, those administrators would definitely have the EIN on file since they need it for tax reporting. Even if the company is closed, the FSA/HSA provider would still have your account records. One last thing - if you're still in touch with anyone who worked in the company's accounting, HR, or payroll departments, they might have kept copies of important documents when they knew the business was closing. These folks often understand how difficult it can be to get tax information later, so they sometimes save key documents for exactly this type of situation.

I'm going through something very similar right now with a small business that closed last year. One additional resource that helped me - if the company was incorporated in your state, try searching the Secretary of State's business entity database online. Most states make this publicly searchable and it often shows the registered agent information, business addresses, and sometimes federal tax ID numbers. Also, if you remember who did the company's bookkeeping or accounting (even if it was an external firm), they're required to maintain client records for several years. I reached out to the CPA firm that handled my former employer's taxes and they were able to provide the EIN since they needed it for their own record-keeping purposes. Don't give up - there are definitely ways to track this down! The key is thinking about all the different entities and systems that would have needed that EIN for business purposes. Between all the suggestions in this thread, you should be able to find it through one of these channels.

I went through this exact same situation a couple years ago when a small consulting firm I worked for suddenly shut down. What ultimately worked for me was contacting the bank where I had direct deposit set up. I called my bank's customer service and explained that I needed employer information for tax purposes. They were able to pull up the ACH transaction details from my old direct deposits, which included not just the company name but also their routing information and business account details. While they couldn't give me the EIN directly, they provided the exact legal business name and the bank where the company had their account. I then called that bank (it was a small local bank) and spoke with a business banker who was familiar with the account. Since the business had closed, they were willing to confirm the EIN for tax purposes - apparently this is a pretty common request they get. The whole process took about a week but it was much faster than waiting for government agencies to respond. Plus, banks tend to have very accurate business information since they need it for all their compliance requirements. Just another option to add to all the great suggestions here!

Just wanted to add one more suggestion that worked for a friend of mine in a similar situation - check if the company had any business licenses or permits that might still be searchable online. Many cities and counties maintain databases of business licenses, contractor permits, or professional licenses that include the business's federal tax ID. For example, if it was a restaurant, they would have had health department permits. If it was a construction company, they'd have contractor licenses. Even something like a business license or sales tax permit from the city/county might include the EIN in the records. These local government databases are often overlooked but can be goldmines of information. The permits usually stay in the system even after a business closes, and they're typically searchable by business name. Worth checking your local city and county websites to see what business databases they maintain. Also, one thing I learned from my own experience - don't forget to check if they had any professional licenses or certifications specific to their industry. These are often maintained at the state level and require accurate tax information for renewal and reporting purposes.