What is a Tax ID Number?
Federal Tax ID Number Lookup Table of Contents
The acronym “TIN” stands for “Taxpayer Identification Number” and can represent that of a business or an individual. It is used to identify it’s a person or business for tax purposes.
Types of Tax Identification Numbers
As referenced above, a TIN is an umbrella term that is used to refer to a variety of numbers.
These numbers each have a different purpose:
- Social Security Number (SSN): This is probably the most familiar of all the terms. A social security number is used to identify a specific person for tax purposes. It’s a nine-digit number that can be used over the course of a person’s lifetime to track their earnings, as well as how many years they worked. Social security numbers are issued to US residents, permanent residents, and temporary residents.
- Employer Identification Number (EIN): This is also a nine-digit number. It is issued to businesses operating within the US. It can also be issued to estates and trusts if there is income to be reported. The EIN is also sometimes referred to as the Federal Tax ID Number or Business Tax ID.
- Individual Taxpayer Number (ITIN): Individuals who don’t have a social security number, such as foreign nationals and undocumented immigrants can receive an ITIN. This number is used for tax purposes only and does not impact their immigrant status. It is a nine-digit number.
- Preparer Taxpayer Identification Number (PTIN): All paid tax preparers who operate in the US are required to have a PTIN. This number will appear on all tax returns prepared by that individual. This applies to both foreign and domestic tax preparers if they are operating in the US.
- Adoption Taxpayer Identification Number for Pending U.S. Adoptions (ATIN): This is a temporary number given to children who are involved in domestic adoptions in the US. Their adoptive parents will use this number for the child if they don’t know or have the child’s social security number.
How to Get a Tax ID Number
To obtain a tax ID number, it’s important to first find out whether or not you already have one. For example, if you were born in the United States, your parents likely applied for a social security number for you while completing documents for your birth certificate. If you purchased a business from a previous owner, it is likely that they previously applied for a tax ID number, as well.
Looking up your tax ID number is a good place to start. This will help you determine whether you or your business already has one. If not, you can move forward from there.
How to Lookup a Tax ID Number
- Review Tax Documents
- The easiest way to find your tax ID number is to look at a 1099 or W2 document. If you own a business, you should have tax documents from your most recent filing. These types of documents always have the tax ID number listed on them for easy reference. You can also find your TIN by looking at your business credit report.
- Contact the IRS
- If you do not have these documents available to you, another option is to call the IRS directly. This can be done during their normal business hours: Monday through Friday 7 am-7 pm EST at 800-829-4933. The operator will likely ask some questions about you or your business to confirm your identity before providing any information. The IRS website can also be used to find your TIN.
Can I Lookup the Tax ID Number for Another Business?
There are a variety of reasons for which you may need to perform a TIN lookup for a third party. This is a simple process that can be completed online. Here are a couple of tools you can use for this purpose:
- Online Taxpayer Identification Matching Program: This will allow you to review the TIN and the name of the business to see if they match.
- Social Security Number Verification Services: This allows employers to verify SSNs for their employers to ensure accuracy on tax forms.
There are other online tools available for this task, as well. It’s generally a simple Google search to find the correct website for your state. However, the website links in the section above tend to be the most accurate.
Why a Tax ID Number is Important
Your tax ID number is used for a variety of different tasks. Whether it’s a social security number or a business tax ID, you’ll need it to open bank accounts, apply for loans, and more. It is also necessary to have this number when filing your taxes. Knowing where to find it when you need it can help you save time and therefore money!
