How do I Find a Missouri State Employers ID Number?

In Missouri, an employee can find their employer’s federal Employer Identification Number (EIN) by looking at box b on their W-2 form. The EIN is a 9-digit number with a dash separating the second and third digit (XX-XXXXXXX). The EIN is found above the employer’s name and below their address. An individual can also ask a business for the company’s EIN.

An employer or business that has lost or misplaced their own EIN can find it by contacting the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) at 800-829-4933 between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. local time. The IRS worker will ask the caller for identifying information to make sure they are an authorized person.

An authorized person includes a sole proprietor, a partner in a partnership, a corporate officer, a trustee of a trust or an executor of an estate.

A business owner can also find the computer-generated notice issued by the IRS when they first applied for their EIN. If they used their EIN to open a bank account or to apply for a state or local license, they can contact the bank or agency to determine their EIN. An EIN will be on a previously filed tax return.

An individual can obtain the EIN for a nonprofit from the Internal Revenue Service. Just as a for-profit business, a tax-exempt organization needs an EIN to file its annual returns and to pay unrelated business income and employment taxes. An individual who is employed by the nonprofit can look at box b of their W-2 form.

They can also ask the nonprofit for its EIN or look at its website or fundraising materials. A person can determine whether an organization is tax-exempt by searching the IRS’ database of such organizations.

A Missouri business has another, different identification number, an 8-digit number issued by the Missouri Department of Revenue. This number is called the Missouri state sales tax number, the Missouri tax ID number, the Missouri state ID number, the Missouri ID number or the state ID number. A business gets this number after obtaining its sales tax license with the Missouri Department of Revenue (MDOR).

A state issues a sales tax license to businesses in order to oversee how the business collects, reports and pays its sales tax. A business’ sales tax license is distinct from its business license. A city or county issues a company its business license.

The sales tax is not the only state tax a business may have to pay. It may also have to pay a vendor’s use tax, consumer’s use tax, withholding tax, unemployment tax, tire and lead acid battery fee, and corporate income tax.

A business is required to get a state sales tax license if it sells tangible personal property like goods or taxable services, such as fees for teaching yoga. A business can register with MDOR by utilizing the online registration system or submit a Missouri Tax Registration Application (Form 2643). Some businesses will be required to get a sales tax exemption. Information needed to complete registration includes:

• Social Security number, address and birth date of each owner, officer, partner or member.
• Physical address and mailing address of the business.
• Federal EIN.
• Business’ estimated monthly sales, so MDOR can determine the business’ filing frequency.
• Business’ estimated monthly wages paid, so MDOR can determine its withholding filing frequency.
• Corporations or limited liability company (LLCs) charter number or certificate of authority number from the Missouri Secretary of State.
• Previous owner’s name and address, if applicable.
  
• Previous owner’s tax identification number and purchase price of the business.
  
• Completed Power of Attorney Form 2827, if the applicant wants someone other than the listed owner to sign the application or handle tax matters with MDOR. The appointee and a listed owner, member or officer must sign the form.

After a business completes its online registration, it will receive a confirmation number and additional information about registration. The business should allow two to three business days for MDOR to process the application. It must have its state sales tax number to obtain a city or county business license.

The Missouri Secretary of State states that the steps to starting a business must come in a certain order. Before starting the business, the owner should consult a professional experienced in this process, such as a corporate attorney. The steps are:

• Create a business entity by filing a creation document such as articles of incorporation with the Missouri Secretary of State.

• Register the business for required state sales taxes with MDOR.

• Register with the Division of Employment Security of the Missouri Department of Labor & Industrial Relations for unemployment taxes.

• Apply for a federal EIN with the IRS.

• Obtain workers' compensation insurance. A business can determine whether it is required to carry coverage by reviewing information with the Division of Workers Compensation of the Missouri Secretary of State.

• Register with other Missouri agencies, if required in the industry.

• Register for a business license and other necessary permits with the local city or county.

Taking the steps out of order can cause a business to suffer setbacks.

MDOR provides actions that can cause concerns:

• Applying for a tax number after starting a business. A business must register with MDOR before starting.

• Not stating all tax types for which the business is applying when it registers for its state sales tax number.

• Failing to provide the type of ownership of the business. If the type of ownership has a corresponding “number” field to complete, the business must include the owner’s number issued by the Secretary of State’s office.

• Someone other than a listed owner, officer, member or partner signing the application for the state sales tax number.

• Failing to provide the legal name of the business, as well as the owner’s name and address.
  

If the business is a sole proprietorship, the name listed should be the name of the sole proprietor. If the business is a corporation, the corporation’s name should be listed. If the business is an LLC, the name of the LLC should be entered.