What is the Format of an EIN?

Frequently Asked Questions | FAQs

An EIN always features nine digits. An EIN may not have less or more than the designated nine digits. If an EIN features five digits or 12 digits, it is not an official tax ID number. In a recognizable employer identification number, the first two numbers occur as a separate entity from the rest of the nine digits. The remaining seven numbers are preceded by a dash. An example of a make-believe EIN or FEIN number is as follows:

00-0000000

Notice that an EIN differs from a social security number by the manner in which the numbers are separated by dashes.