United States EIN validator
How the EIN format works
- Format
- 9 digits, written XX-XXXXXXX; no check digit — the 2-digit prefix must be one the IRS assigns
- Example
- 942404110
Things to watch for
- The prefixes 00, 07–09, 17–19, 28–29, 49, 69–70, 78–79, 89 and 96–97 are not on the IRS list of valid EIN prefixes, so an EIN starting with them is treated as invalid
- Per the IRS, the prefix shows which IRS campus assigned the number or that it was applied for online — it is not a reliable guide to where a business is located
- Format and prefix check only — it doesn't confirm the EIN was issued or matches a business name
^[0-9]{9}$An EIN (Employer Identification Number) is the 9-digit federal tax identification number the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) assigns to businesses and other entities, including corporations, partnerships, LLCs, nonprofits, trusts, estates and employers. It’s written as two digits, a hyphen and seven digits (12-3456789). It’s also called an FEIN or federal tax ID, and it appears on payroll filings, Form W-9 and business tax returns.
Why there’s no checksum
Most identifiers on this site end in a check digit that catches typos. An EIN doesn’t have one, and the IRS hasn’t published any check-digit scheme for it. The only structural rule is the 2-digit prefix. According to the IRS’s published list, 83 of the 100 possible prefixes are valid, and the other 17 don’t appear on it. This tool removes the hyphen, confirms there are 9 digits, and checks the prefix against that list. That’s the whole test.
Because of this, a mistyped digit anywhere in the last seven still passes, and so do most swapped digits. That makes the check much weaker than the checksum on an IBAN or a VAT number. Read a pass as “plausible”, not “verified”.
Prefixes aren’t a location signal
According to the IRS, the first two digits show which IRS campus assigned the number, or that it was applied for online. That reflects how the EIN was issued rather than where the business is based: an EIN applied for online gets an Internet prefix wherever the company operates. Treat the prefix as a validity check only.
What a pass doesn’t tell you
The hyphen is removed before checking, so any 9-digit number with an assigned prefix passes, including a Social Security number typed without dashes. A pass doesn’t mean the EIN was issued, or that it belongs to the business named on a form.
Scope: US EIN format and IRS-prefix validation only. EINs have no checksum, and nothing here confirms issuance or ownership.
Content last reviewed 2026-10-11.
EIN FAQ
Does an EIN have a check digit?
No. Unlike an IBAN or most VAT numbers, an EIN has no check digit, so this tool can't catch most typos. It confirms the number has 9 digits and starts with one of the 83 two-digit prefixes the IRS lists as valid. Nothing else about the number can be verified without IRS records.
How is an EIN different from an SSN or an ITIN?
An SSN identifies an individual and is written 123-45-6789. An ITIN is a 9-digit taxpayer number for individuals who can't get an SSN, and it starts with 9. An EIN identifies a business or other entity and is written 12-3456789. Without hyphens they're all just 9 digits.
Does a valid EIN mean the business exists?
No. A pass only means the format and prefix are plausible. Because there's no check digit, a made-up number with a valid prefix passes too. Confirming that an EIN was issued and matches a business name needs IRS records, for example the IRS TIN Matching program for authorized payers.