Q. How do I find and EIN for a private company?

Finding the EIN, or Employee Identification Number, for a private company can be tricky. The information isn't as readily available as it is for publicly traded companies or for non-profits.

The first thing to try is to ask the company themselves. They might be relucatant to give you the number, unless you are an employee, or need it for another similar reason. There are identity theft issues.

You can also try searching LexisNexis or WestLaw. These are propietary databases, so you will want to check with local colleges and public libraries. COM doesn't have access to them. I did see that UH Clearlake does, so you can contact them and ask if you can use their library.

There are some paid services that look them up. Some of them provide free trials. Success on these is hit or miss. Definitely, before you pay, sign up for the free trial and run the search to see if they have a listing for the company you are looking for.

LexisNexis provides tips on searching for EIN's, along with links. Thier site is linked below.