What is the tax identification number for employers referred to as?

The tax identification number for employers is commonly known as the Employer Identification Number (EIN). The EIN is a unique nine-digit number assigned by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) specifically for identifying businesses and entities for tax purposes. It functions similarly to a Social Security Number but is exclusively used for business entities. Employers utilize this number for various tax responsibilities, including filing tax returns, making federal tax deposits, and reporting income taxes.

In contrast, a Social Security Number (SSN) is primarily assigned to individuals for tracking earnings and benefits. A Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) is a broader category that includes EINs, but it also encompasses SSNs and Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITINs), which are for individual taxpayers who are not eligible for an SSN. The Federal Registration Number (FRN) is not a widely used term in the context of tax identification for employers specifically.