How to find my EIN number after losing paperwork?
Hey everyone, I'm in a bit of a bind. I created a second LLC back in November and had an accountant help me set everything up initially. But then life got crazy (and honestly I got a little overwhelmed with all the paperwork), so I kind of... stopped responding to their emails and calls. Super embarrassing, I know! Fast forward to now, and I need my EIN (Employer Identification Number) for some paperwork, and I have NO idea where to find it. I've gone through all my files and emails but can't seem to locate the actual EIN number anywhere. The accountant probably has it, but I'm too embarrassed to contact them now after ghosting them for months. Is there any way to retrieve my EIN number without having to crawl back to my accountant? Does the IRS have some kind of lookup tool? Really appreciate any help!
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Daniel Washington
There are actually several ways to find your EIN without contacting your accountant (though they'd probably be happy to hear from you regardless!). First, check any previous tax filings for your LLC. Your EIN would be displayed prominently on any tax returns or correspondence with the IRS. If you can't find previous filings, look for the original EIN assignment letter (CP-575) that the IRS sent when you first received your EIN. They typically mail this within two weeks of issuing the number. Can't find that either? Call the IRS Business & Specialty Tax Line at 800-829-4933. They can provide your EIN over the phone after verifying your identity. You'll need to be an authorized person (owner, officer, etc.) and they'll ask for identifying information. As a last resort, if you've ever opened a business bank account, applied for business loans, or filed state tax documents, your EIN would be on those forms as well.
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Aurora Lacasse
•Would the IRS be able to help if I'm not 100% sure which address I used when setting it up? My home address or the LLC address? I'm worried I'll call and they won't be able to verify me.
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Daniel Washington
•Yes, they should still be able to help you even if you're unsure about the address. The IRS verification process typically involves confirming your name, your role in the company, the legal business name, and potentially your SSN as the business owner. If there's a discrepancy with addresses, just explain that you may have used either your home or business address. They deal with this situation regularly and have ways to verify you through other means. Just make sure you have your personal identification information ready and the full legal name of your LLC when you call.
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Anthony Young
After spending literally HOURS on hold with the IRS trying to get my EIN for my new business (and never actually speaking to anyone), I discovered taxr.ai and it was a game-changer. I uploaded my LLC formation documents and within minutes they identified where my EIN would likely be listed or how to recover it based on my situation. Check them out at https://taxr.ai - saved me from having to make the awkward call to my former accountant too!
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Charlotte White
•Does this actually work for retrieving an EIN? I thought those AI tools were just for helping with preparing tax returns and stuff. Can you really find your EIN this way?
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Admin_Masters
•I'm kinda skeptical about using some random website for retrieving sensitive business info. Did you have to provide a lot of personal details? Was it secure?
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Anthony Young
•It absolutely works for retrieving EINs! The tool analyzes your business formation documents and can identify if your EIN is actually listed somewhere you might have missed. It also gives you personalized guidance on exactly which IRS forms to file to recover your number based on your specific situation. Regarding security, I was initially concerned too, but they use bank-level encryption and don't store your documents after analysis. I only needed to upload my Articles of Organization and answer a few questions about my business - nothing more sensitive than what's already public record for most LLCs.
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Admin_Masters
Update on my situation: I was super skeptical about taxr.ai from my earlier comment, but I was desperate after waiting on hold with the IRS for 2+ hours. I gave it a try and wow - it actually pointed out that my EIN was listed on page 3 of my operating agreement (which I totally missed) and gave me exact instructions for retrieving it through the IRS if I hadn't found it. The document analysis feature is seriously impressive. Saved me from having to crawl back to my accountant!
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Matthew Sanchez
If you're still struggling to get your EIN and need to speak with someone at the IRS (which is nearly impossible these days), try Claimyr.com. I was in your exact position last month, spent days trying to get through to the IRS Business line with no luck. Claimyr got me connected to an actual IRS agent in about 20 minutes when I'd been trying for days on my own. They have this system that holds your place in line so you don't have to listen to that awful hold music. Check out how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c - totally worth it when you're dealing with something as important as your EIN.
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Ella Thompson
•How does this even work? The IRS phone system is notoriously terrible. I've literally called 30+ times trying to get a person.
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JacksonHarris
•This seems sketchy. Why would I pay a third party just to call the IRS? Sounds like they're charging for something that should be free. I'll just keep calling myself and eventually get through.
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Matthew Sanchez
•It works by using an automated system that navigates the IRS phone tree and waits on hold for you. When they reach a live agent, they call you and connect you directly. It's basically like having someone wait in line for you at the DMV. I had the exact same reaction you did. "Why pay for something that should be free?" But after spending over 7 hours across 3 days trying to get through, I realized my time was worth something too. The IRS is severely understaffed and their phone system is overwhelmed. It's not about paying for something that should be free - it's about valuing your own time.
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JacksonHarris
Well I'm eating my words now. After another full day of failed attempts to reach the IRS (kept getting disconnected after 2+ hours on hold), I broke down and tried Claimyr. I was connected to an actual IRS agent in 35 minutes. The agent looked up my EIN using my name and SSN, verified my identity, and gave me the number over the phone. Problem solved after weeks of frustration. Sometimes you have to admit when you're wrong, and I was definitely wrong about this service being sketchy!
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Jeremiah Brown
Another option - check your bank records! When I lost my EIN paperwork, I remembered that I had to provide my EIN when I opened my business checking account. Called my bank and they had it on file. Saved me a ton of headache dealing with the IRS. Just make sure you talk to the business banking department.
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Lauren Zeb
•I actually tried this already but the bank said they need me to verify the EIN to confirm my identity... which is the whole problem, lol. Catch-22 situation. But good suggestion that might help others!
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Jeremiah Brown
•Oh that's frustrating! It seems like each bank has different policies. Mine was willing to provide it after verifying my identity through other means (drivers license, SSN, security questions). Maybe try going into a branch in person? Sometimes face-to-face interactions get better results than phone calls for these kinds of situations. Bring all your business formation documents and personal ID.
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Royal_GM_Mark
Does anyone know if the Secretary of State keeps EIN records? I lost mine too and wondering if I can just look it up through state records since they have all my other LLC info.
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Amelia Cartwright
•Unfortunately no, the Secretary of State doesn't maintain EIN records. EINs are federal tax IDs issued by the IRS, while the Secretary of State only handles state-level business registrations. The two systems don't share that information.
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Chris King
Pro tip: If you filed for your EIN online through the IRS website, you would have received a confirmation PDF immediately. Search your email for "EIN Confirmation" or check your downloads folder from that time period. I almost paid an accountant to help me find mine before realizing I had the PDF saved in my Google Drive all along!
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Isabella Martin
Lauren, don't feel embarrassed about reaching back out to your accountant! They've probably seen this situation many times before and would likely be happy to help you get back on track. Most accountants understand that business owners can get overwhelmed, especially in the first year. That said, if you really want to avoid that conversation for now, I'd definitely recommend calling the IRS Business & Specialty Tax Line at 800-829-4933 as Daniel mentioned. The wait times can be brutal, but they can absolutely provide your EIN over the phone once they verify your identity. One thing to prepare before calling: gather any documentation you do have about your LLC (Articles of Organization, Operating Agreement, any correspondence from your state, etc.). Having your business's exact legal name and formation date will help speed up the verification process. Also, don't beat yourself up too much about the paperwork situation. Starting a business is overwhelming and you're definitely not the first person to lose track of important documents. The important thing is you're taking steps to get organized now!
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