Happens more often than you’d think. Maybe you applied online and the PDF got buried in your downloads folder. Or your dog ate the envelope—seriously, dogs love tax forms.
If that’s your situation, take a deep breath. You can still find your number without a time machine or a psychic hotline. Let’s go digital.
Check your old business tax returns
If you’ve filed taxes for your business, your EIN is sitting right there on Form 941, Form 940, or any Schedule C you’ve submitted. Look near the top of the first page. It’s that familiar nine-digit string you’ve see once and then completely ignored.
I keep a copy of my last quarterly payroll report because I know I’ll forget my EIN again. It’s my little peace-of-mind trick. You might want to do the same—just snap a photo with your phone.
