EIN number search (United States)
Free, official, source-cited — updated 2026-06.
Search Company Records in United States
3 free lookups per day. No sign-up required.
How do I look up a company by its registration number in United States?
Enter the EIN to look up a United States company directly on SEC EDGAR. Unlike a name search, an EIN returns exactly one entity, which is why it is the identifier to use for KYC, invoicing and contract checks.
Step-by-step
- 1
Find the EIN on the paperwork
The EIN normally appears on invoices, contracts, the website footer or official correspondence. It is the number counterparties are required to quote.
- 2
Search the EIN
Enter the number exactly as printed. Punctuation and spacing vary between documents — strip them if the search returns nothing.
- 3
Confirm the returned entity
Check the legal name on the returned record matches the name on your paperwork. A mismatch between quoted number and quoted name is a serious warning sign.
- 4
Verify at SEC EDGAR
For anything contractual, confirm the number against the primary source at https://www.sec.gov/edgar.
https://www.sec.gov/edgar
Frequently asked questions
What is a EIN in United States?
It is the identifier SEC EDGAR assigns to a registered entity. It stays with the entity even if the trading name changes, which makes it the reliable way to track a company over time.
Is a EIN lookup free?
Yes. Looking up a company by EIN on SEC EDGAR is free and requires no account.
What if the EIN returns no result?
Re-enter it without spaces or punctuation first. If it still returns nothing, the number may be mistyped, belong to a different country's register, or not exist — ask the counterparty to confirm it in writing.
Should I use the EIN or the company name?
The EIN. Names are duplicated across entities within a group; the number is unique to one entity.
How do I look up a US company?
For public companies, search SEC EDGAR by company name to find filings like 10-K annual reports and 8-K material events. For private companies, you'll need to search the specific state's Secretary of State website where the company is incorporated.
People also ask about look up a company by its registration number in United States
The exact questions searchers type into Google — answered from the primary source.
Is the United States company register free to search?
Yes. Basic company lookups on the SEC EDGAR / State Registries are free — you can search by company name or registration number, view legal status, registered address and (usually) directors at no cost. Some jurisdictions charge a small fee only for downloading full filed documents.
What is the official United States business registry?
The SEC EDGAR / State Registries is the official public register of companies incorporated in United States. It is operated by the government and is the primary source cited on this page — https://www.sec.gov/edgar.
Related guides and tools
More United States guides
- Search companies by name
Find any registered company from a partial name — free, no signup.
- Search the company register
What the official register holds, and how to search it free.
- Search the business registry
Match a trading name to the registered legal entity behind it.
- Find the right entity
Tell apart several entities registered under near-identical names.
United States data
- United States company search
Search every SEC EDGAR / State Registries record.
- SEC EDGAR guide
SEC Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval