Your employer’s Employer Identification Number is a nine-digit federal tax ID written as XX-XXXXXXX, and to find the Employer Identification Number on a pay stub, look near the top of the stub next to the company’s name and address. It is usually printed in an “Employer Information” block by the company logo, though some payroll systems tuck it into the footer instead. If your stub does not show it at all, that is not unusual, and there are a few reliable places to look next.
Where the Number Appears on the Stub
Start with the header. The EIN commonly sits in the same block as the company name, address, and logo. The format is the giveaway: nine digits with a single hyphen after the first two, like 12-3456789. It will not match your Social Security number, your employee ID, or any dollar figure on the page.
If the header does not have it, check the footer. Some payroll processors print the EIN at the bottom of the stub near the year-to-date withholding totals or tax summary. On pressure-seal (folded) stubs, it often sits near the return-address window.
Labels to Look For
Pay stubs almost never write out “Employer Identification Number.” Instead you will see one of these:
- EIN, the most common shorthand
- FEIN, for Federal Employer Identification Number
- Federal Tax ID or Fed ID, informal labels used by many payroll processors
- Employer ID, a shortened version that drops the word “federal”
Don’t Confuse It With the State ID
Some stubs also list a State Employer Identification Number, sometimes shown as SEIN or State ID. That is a separate number your employer uses for state tax reporting and cannot substitute for the federal EIN. When two ID numbers appear, the one you want is labeled “federal,” “FEIN,” or plain “EIN.”
Ignore Internal Payroll Codes
A number labeled “Employee ID,” “Badge #,” or “Payroll ID” is an internal tracking code assigned by the company’s payroll system. It means nothing to the IRS and is not the EIN.
Why Your Stub May Not Show an EIN at All
No federal law requires an employer to print its EIN on your pay stub. The Fair Labor Standards Act recordkeeping rule at 29 CFR Part 516 tells employers what payroll data to maintain for government inspection, and the employer’s tax identification number is not on that list.1eCFR. 29 CFR Part 516 – Records to Be Kept by Employers
Pay stub content is largely governed by state law, and states vary. Some require itemized wage statements that include the employer’s tax ID; others leave the format to the employer. Whether your stub shows the EIN depends on where you work and which payroll system your employer uses.
Other Documents That Show the EIN
If the stub does not have it, several other documents will.
Form W-2
The most reliable place is Box b on your W-2 Wage and Tax Statement, which is specifically designated for the employer identification number.2Internal Revenue Service. Form W-2 Wage and Tax Statement Employers must issue W-2s by the end of January, so a recent copy should be available for any employer you worked for during the prior tax year.
Form 1099-NEC
If you were paid as an independent contractor, the payer’s tax ID appears on Form 1099-NEC in the “PAYER’S TIN” field near the top.3Internal Revenue Service. Instructions for Forms 1099-MISC and 1099-NEC Payers who gave you $600 or more in nonemployee compensation during the year are required to send this form.
Form 1095-C
If your employer is an applicable large employer (generally 50 or more full-time employees), it must send you a Form 1095-C each year reporting your health coverage. The employer’s EIN appears on Line 8.4Internal Revenue Service. Instructions for Forms 1094-C and 1095-C
What to Do If You Still Cannot Find It
Try these steps in order:
- Contact your payroll or HR department. A quick call or email is the fastest route, and administrative staff can pull the EIN from internal records.
- Check your online payroll portal. Employers using systems such as ADP, Paychex, or Gusto typically let you view or download prior pay stubs and tax forms that include the EIN.
- Look at prior-year tax documents. An employer’s EIN does not change, so any past W-2 or 1099-NEC from the same company will show the correct number.
If You Never Received a W-2
If your employer has not sent your W-2 by the end of January, contact the employer to confirm it is coming. If it still has not arrived by the end of February, call the IRS at 800-829-1040 with your employer’s name, address, and phone number, along with the dates you worked there. The IRS will contact your employer and send you Form 4852, which serves as a substitute W-2 for filing your return.5Internal Revenue Service. If You Don’t Get a W-2 or Your W-2 Is Wrong Use your pay stubs to estimate your wages when completing it.