7 Best EIN Verification Services in 2026: Features & Best Picks

Every business that pays contractors, vendors, or service providers in the United States needs to verify Employer Identification.

The challenge is that the IRS does not offer a public EIN lookup database. Businesses must either use the government's TIN Matching Program (which requires weeks of registration and prior filing history), manually search scattered public records, or purchase access to commercial verification services.

The right choice depends on how many EINs you need to verify, whether you require real-time API integration, and what additional business intelligence you need beyond basic tax ID confirmation.

If you're wondering whether to go with free government tools, paid databases, or automated API solutions, below is a breakdown of each method, touching on their features and strengths. Let's start.

Quick comparison: 7 Best EIN verification services in the US

TLDR Comparison Table: 7 Best EIN Verification Services

What is EIN verification?

EIN verification is the process of confirming that an Employer Identification Number is valid, active, and correctly associated with a specific business entity registered with the IRS.

How can EIN verification help with US compliance?

EIN verification directly addresses multiple federal and state compliance requirements that govern business transactions and tax reporting:

🟢 IRS Form 1099 reporting requirements: Businesses must file Form 1099 for payments exceeding $600 to contractors and vendors. Verifying the recipient's EIN before filing prevents mismatches that trigger IRS notices, penalties for incorrect information reporting, and costly correction processes that delay your tax reporting cycle.

🟢 Backup withholding obligations under IRC Section 3406: When a payee fails to provide a valid TIN or the IRS notifies you of a mismatch, you're required to withhold 24% of payments as backup withholding. EIN verification helps you avoid triggering these withholding requirements and the administrative burden of remitting withheld amounts to the IRS.

🟢 Know Your Customer (KYC) and anti-money laundering standards: Financial institutions and certain businesses must verify the identity of entities they transact with under the Bank Secrecy Act and FinCEN regulations. Confirming a valid EIN is a foundational step in establishing that a business entity exists and operates legally within the US regulatory framework.

🟢 State business licensing and registration verification: Many states cross-reference federal EINs with state tax accounts and business registrations. Verifying EINs ensures consistency across federal and state filings, preventing complications with state tax withholding, sales tax permits, and maintaining good standing with state revenue authorities.

What to look for in an EIN verification service: 5 must-have features

Reliable EIN verification service should provide these five capabilities to support your compliance and risk management objectives:

Feature #1: Real-time verification against IRS databases

The service should query current IRS records to confirm an EIN's active status, not rely on outdated or third-party datasets. Real-time verification ensures you're working with the most current information available, catching dissolved entities, revoked numbers, or administrative changes that could invalidate your compliance documentation. Delays of even a few weeks in data updates can expose you to filing errors.

Feature #2: Business name and entity type matching

Beyond confirming an EIN exists, the service must validate that the number corresponds to the correct legal business name and entity structure. This cross-reference catches data entry errors, identifies potential fraud where someone provides a valid but unrelated EIN, and ensures your records align with official IRS registrations before you process payments or file forms.

Feature #3: Batch processing capabilities for volume verification

If you manage hundreds or thousands of vendor relationships, manual one-by-one verification becomes impractical. Batch processing allows you to upload multiple EINs simultaneously and receive verification results in bulk, maintaining efficiency during onboarding periods, annual vendor reviews, or pre-filing audits without creating workflow bottlenecks.

Feature #4: API integration with accounting and payment systems

Standalone verification tools that require manual data export create unnecessary friction and increase error risk. API connectivity enables automatic verification within your existing accounts payable, procurement, or payment platforms, flagging issues at the point of vendor setup rather than discovering problems during tax season when corrections are costly.

Feature #5: Detailed audit trails and compliance documentation

Regulators expect you to demonstrate due diligence, not just claim you performed it. The service should generate timestamped verification reports, maintain historical records of checks performed, and provide documentation suitable for audit defense. This creates a clear evidence trail showing when verification occurred, what data was confirmed, and who initiated the check.

7 Best EIN verification services in the US

1. Signzy

Signzy is an AI-powered identity verification and compliance platform founded in 2015 that serves over 1,800 financial institutions globally. The company provides 340+ APIs covering KYC, KYB, AML, and fraud detection across 180+ countries, with particular strength in US business verification through direct connections to IRS and Secretary of State databases.

Signzy processes over 10 million verifications monthly with a 99% success rate and maintains ISO 27001 and SOC 2 Type II for enterprise security requirements.

Signzy EIN verification API - Key Features

Feature 1: Real-time verification with 0.9-second response times

Signzy returns API responses in 0.9 seconds while querying multiple authoritative databases simultaneously. This allows organizations to verify hundreds of vendors during peak periods without workflow delays or staffing increases. Real-time processing enables instant validation at the point of data entry, catching errors immediately rather than discovering mismatches during quarterly reconciliation or tax filing.

Manual verification processes that take minutes per lookup create bottlenecks during high-volume onboarding periods, forcing teams to choose between speed and thoroughness. Slow verification APIs disrupt user experience during vendor registration, leading to abandoned applications and delayed business relationships. Signzy's sub-second response time eliminates these friction points entirely.

Feature 2: Consolidated business intelligence beyond EIN matching

Signzy's verification request can return comprehensive business profiles, including tax identification validation, Secretary of State registration details, UBO information, bankruptcy filings, and watchlist screening results under the same platform. Organizations eliminate coordination overhead and reduce total verification costs by consolidating six separate checks into one platform relationship with unified reporting and audit trails.

"Annual vendor review meant checking 800+ EINs manually through various databases. Took our team almost two weeks every year. Signzy's bulk upload processes the entire list overnight. That time savings alone justified the cost immediately." — Finance Manager, Digital Payments Platform

Feature 3: Bulk processing with API and CSV upload options

Signzy supports both real-time API integration for individual verifications and bulk CSV upload for batch processing of vendor lists. Organizations validate thousands of EIN entries simultaneously during annual reviews, with results returned in structured formats ready for downstream accounting or payment systems without custom scripting or manual data transfer.

Organizations conducting annual vendor reviews or processing large onboarding backlogs face manual one-by-one verification that becomes impractical when managing vendor lists exceeding 500 entries. Accounting teams preparing for tax season need to validate thousands of Form 1099 recipients simultaneously rather than spreading verification across weeks. Signzy's bulk processing handles these scenarios efficiently.

Feature 4: No-code workflow builder for custom compliance requirements

Signzy allows teams to configure verification sequences through a visual dashboard without developer resources, enabling or disabling specific checks based on entity type, transaction value, or jurisdiction. This flexibility allows organizations to meet varying compliance requirements across different business units or product lines while maintaining centralized oversight. Teams can adjust workflows within hours rather than waiting for development cycles.

Different business units often have varying compliance requirements based on transaction values, entity types, or jurisdictions, yet most verification platforms offer rigid workflows. Modifying verification logic typically requires development tickets and sprint planning, preventing compliance teams from adapting quickly to regulatory changes. Signzy's no-code builder puts control directly in compliance teams' hands.

2. Middesk

Middesk is a business identity platform founded in 2018 that connects directly to the IRS and all 50 Secretary of State offices. The platform emerged from its founders' experience in the background check industry, where they identified critical gaps in business verification infrastructure. Middesk serves financial institutions, fintechs, and lenders who need authoritative business data for compliance and risk assessment during customer onboarding.

Middesk EIN verification API - Key Features

• Direct IRS integration with automatic updates: Middesk connects directly to IRS systems rather than relying on aggregated or cached data. The platform updates 92% of business records within 10 days and automatically notifies customers of changes to previously verified businesses.
• Comprehensive business verification beyond EIN matching: Each verification includes Secretary of State registration details, formation documents, registered agent information, entity status, and associated principals. This consolidated view eliminates querying multiple government databases separately.
• Manual review fallback for complex cases: When automated systems cannot definitively match an EIN, Middesk's team conducts manual research and returns results within five minutes. This prevents legitimate businesses from being incorrectly flagged while maintaining speed.
• Built-in monitoring and watchlist screening: Organizations can set up ongoing monitoring to detect business status changes, new liens, bankruptcies, or watchlist hits after initial verification. The API includes OFAC and sanctions database screening.

3. EINsearch

EINsearch operates a proprietary database of over 20 million verified EINs with direct connectivity to IRS TIN matching systems. The service targets accounting firms, tax preparers, and accounts payable departments that need straightforward EIN verification for 1099 compliance. EINsearch positions itself as an affordable alternative to enterprise KYB platforms for organizations processing moderate verification volumes.

EINsearch - Key Features

• Database search with IRS TIN matching integration: Users can search the proprietary database of 20 million verified EINs or validate name and TIN combinations directly against IRS records. Both methods return results within seconds through an interface designed for non-technical users.
• API access for accounting software integration: EINsearch provides API connectivity, allowing financial institutions, accounting platforms, and tax software to embed verification functionality directly into existing workflows. This eliminates manual data entry between systems during vendor onboarding.
• Multi-user access with affordable pricing tiers: The service offers monthly and annual subscription plans structured for teams that need to share access. Pricing targets small to mid-size businesses that find enterprise KYB platforms prohibitively expensive for basic verification.

4. IRS TIN Matching Program

The IRS TIN Matching Program is a free government service that allows authorized payers to verify taxpayer identification numbers directly against IRS master files before filing information returns. Launched in 2003 and expanded beyond federal agencies, the program helps organizations prevent TIN-related errors that trigger backup withholding requirements and IRS penalties.

Access requires registration through the IRS e-Services portal, and eligibility is limited to entities that have filed at least one information return in the previous two tax years.

IRS TIN Matching Program - Key Features

• Direct validation against IRS master files: All verifications query the authoritative IRS database rather than third-party aggregators. The system returns single-character response codes indicating exact match, partial match, or no match status for each name and TIN combination submitted.
• No cost for eligible payers: The service is completely free for authorized users who meet eligibility requirements. Organizations avoid subscription fees while accessing the same government data that powers commercial verification services, though registration and approval can take several weeks.
• 24/7 availability with voluntary participation: The system operates around the clock with minimal downtime for data updates. Participation is voluntary and does not expose organizations to increased penalties, making it a pure risk reduction tool for compliance-focused teams.

5. SEC EDGAR

SEC EDGAR (Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval) is the Securities and Exchange Commission's free public database containing corporate filings from publicly traded companies. Launched in 1992 with mandatory electronic filing since 1995, the system provides access to over 20 years of financial statements, registration documents, and periodic reports.

"We were using the SEC EDGAR database for public companies, but had nothing for private vendors. That covered maybe 20% of our vendor base. Signzy works for all business types, which finally gave us consistent verification." — Vendor Operations Manager, Manufacturing Company.

EDGAR covers only public companies, limiting its utility for comprehensive business verification but offering reliable EIN information when applicable.

SEC EDGAR - Key Features

• Free access to public company filings: Anyone can search and download documents without registration or fees. The database includes annual reports (Form 10-K), quarterly reports (Form 10-Q), current reports (Form 8-K), and registration statements where EINs typically appear in company information sections.
• 20+ years of historical filing data: Electronic filings dating back to 1994 remain accessible through various search methods, including company name, ticker symbol, Central Index Key (CIK), form type, and date range. Users can track business changes and ownership structures over time.
• Real-time filing updates throughout business hours: New submissions appear in the database as companies file them between 6:00 AM and 10:00 PM ET. This allows users to access material event disclosures and financial updates immediately after SEC acceptance rather than waiting for aggregator services.
• No verification or matching functionality: EDGAR functions purely as a document repository without built-in tools to confirm EIN accuracy or match business names to tax identification numbers. Users must manually locate and extract EIN information from PDF or HTML documents.

6. iDenfy

iDenfy provides identity verification services with business verification capabilities integrated into a customizable KYB dashboard. The platform connects to over 180 business registries across 120+ countries and includes EIN verification as one component within broader due diligence workflows.

However, verification rejections have frustrated some users.

"They cost Hetzner a customer by making me upload my passport, my national ID, and my driver's license and rejecting them all as invalid for no apparent reason." — Michael Connors on Trustpilot.

Here, alternatives like Signzy reduce these false rejections through multi-source data validation that cross-references information across government databases, business registries, and credit bureaus, providing higher accuracy rates and transparent verification results that clearly identify which data points failed authentication.

iDenfy - Key Features

• Integrated EIN verification within KYB workflows: EIN validation appears as a configurable checkbox within custom business onboarding flows alongside other verification steps like AML screening, address validation, and UBO checks. The dashboard displays EIN status as either "Verified" or "Not Checked" after processing.
• Instant verification with authoritative database access: The platform validates EINs against official databases and returns results immediately without manual review delays. Verification requests are encrypted and processed through systems compliant with industry-standard security protocols for sensitive tax identification data.
• Custom workflow builder for compliance requirements: Organizations can design verification sequences matching their specific industry regulations and risk appetite. The system allows enabling or disabling EIN verification alongside other KYB components based on entity type, jurisdiction, or business relationship.
• Global business registry connections: Beyond US EIN verification, the platform supports business validation across 180+ registries in 120+ countries. This international coverage benefits organizations verifying suppliers, partners, or customers operating across multiple jurisdictions simultaneously.

7. Equifax Business

Equifax Business operates as one of the three major commercial credit bureaus and offers business verification services that include EIN validation as an add-on feature. The platform aggregates data from credit tradelines, public records, government filings, and proprietary sources to create comprehensive business profiles. Equifax positions its verification products as part of broader risk assessment and credit decisioning tools rather than standalone EIN lookup services.

Equifax Business - Key Features

• TIN Match with real-time IRS validation: The TIN Match add-on performs real-time validation against IRS data to confirm that an EIN matches the company name on file. The service indicates whether the business tax identification number is active, inactive, or cannot be verified through government records.
• Business Verification Report with comprehensive profiles: Reports include company firmographics, principal and guarantor information, address matching, associated businesses, past credit inquiries, and public filings. This broader context supports credit decisions and risk assessments beyond basic identity confirmation.
• Fraud index and adverse event screening: The platform analyzes available business information to generate a fraud risk index score. Reports also highlight potentially adverse events, including bankruptcies, judgments, liens, and legal proceedings that may impact business relationships.
• OFAC screening and compliance support: Business verification includes screening against Office of Foreign Assets Control lists to identify sanctioned entities. This integration consolidates KYB compliance checks that would otherwise require coordinating multiple vendor relationships and data sources.

How to choose an EIN verification service?

Selecting an EIN verification service requires evaluating how the solution aligns with your operational volume, compliance requirements, and existing technology infrastructure.

↪ Match verification frequency to service capabilities and cost structure

Different verification volumes justify different service tiers, with pricing models and feature sets designed for specific use cases.

• Occasional verifications (1-50 per month): Free IRS TIN Matching Program or affordable database services like EINsearch provide sufficient coverage without ongoing subscription costs. Manual processes remain manageable at this scale.
• Moderate volumes (50-500 per month): Database services with bulk upload capabilities or API platforms like Signzy offer the right balance. Subscription pricing becomes economical compared to per-verification fees at this threshold.
• High volumes (500+ per month): API-based platforms like Signzy, Middesk, or Equifax Business eliminate manual workflows and provide bulk processing. Enterprise pricing typically includes volume discounts that significantly reduce per-verification costs.
• Variable or seasonal volumes: Pay-per-verification models from providers like iDenfy or flexible API plans from Signzy avoid paying for unused capacity during slow periods while scaling automatically when verification demands increase.

↪ Determine whether you need EIN verification alone or comprehensive KYB

Pure EIN lookup services verify tax identification numbers but provide limited context about business legitimacy, ownership structure, or financial stability. Platforms offering Secretary of State data, UBO identification, and credit information support more thorough due diligence. Organizations with regulatory KYB obligations typically need these additional data points beyond simple EIN confirmation.

"Needed UBO information for high-value vendors, but that required a separate service from EIN verification. Managing two platforms was annoying. Signzy bundles everything, which reduces our vendor relationships and simplifies compliance tracking." — Compliance Manager, Investment Firm

↪ Assess integration complexity with current systems and workflows

There are three main delivery methods for EIN verification, each with different implementation requirements and operational impacts.

1. API integration: Direct API connectivity from providers like Signzy, Middesk, or EINsearch allows automatic verification within existing accounts payable, procurement, or payment platforms. Systems can flag issues at the point of vendor setup rather than discovering problems during tax season. This approach requires technical resources for initial implementation but eliminates ongoing manual data handling.
2. Dashboard and manual upload: Browser-based interfaces where users manually enter EIN information or upload CSV files work for teams without development resources. The IRS TIN Matching Program and EINsearch offer these options. These tools introduce human error risk and workflow interruptions but require no technical implementation beyond user training.
3. Embedded widgets and plugins: Some platforms offer pre-built integrations or plugins for popular accounting software like QuickBooks or NetSuite. These middle-ground options provide partial automation without custom API development, though they typically support fewer customization options than direct API access.

Why use Signzy for EIN verification?

Signzy's EIN verification API integrates into your existing workflows in 2-4 days, eliminating manual lookups and reducing compliance risk. Whether you're processing dozens or thousands of verifications monthly, our platform scales with your business needs while maintaining the data accuracy and speed your compliance team requires.

Organizations using Signzy's verification APIs experience 4x applicant growth, 80% cost reduction, and 60% fewer customer drop-offs compared to previous verification workflows.

To know more about how exactly Signzy can help, you can book a demo here.