Key Takeaways

  • An IRS business name search helps verify name availability and avoid trademark conflicts.
  • The IRS does not maintain a searchable public business name directory, but business name verification occurs during the EIN application process.
  • You should check federal, state, county, and domain name databases to confirm business name availability.
  • EIN verification can confirm a business’s legitimacy; nonprofits’ EINs are publicly accessible via IRS tools.
  • Alternatives like credit checks, SEC filings, and IRS Form 4506-T can help verify EINs or related information.

An IRS corporation name search is the process by which a new business checks to make sure the name it plans to use is not already taken by another entity. This is one of the first steps in setting up your company. You need to know what your operation will be called before you can open a bank account or make business cards and other printed materials. This kind of search takes time, and you have to know where to look.

Why Do I Need an IRS Corporation Name Search?

An IRS corporation name search helps you avoid trademark infringement. A thorough search on the front end means you are less likely to have to change the name of your business later.

How an IRS Business Name Search Protects Your Brand

Conducting an IRS business name search early helps you avoid costly disputes and branding issues. A unique name safeguards you from infringement claims and rebranding expenses. Even if your business is small or local, duplicate or similar names can confuse customers and dilute your brand identity. It’s also important when applying for an EIN or setting up a business bank account, as the IRS may flag duplicates during the application process.

While the IRS does not directly offer a public name search tool, they will verify name availability as part of the EIN process, ensuring that your chosen name isn't already tied to a registered entity in their system.

Where Do I Look?

  • The easiest place to start your search is your favorite online search engine. Just enter the name you'd like to use and analyze the results. If you immediately find a corporation that is already using the name or even one that is very similar, you may want to reconsider. Also, use the free online trademark searches available.
  • Contact your county clerk's office or the office that handles business registrations, and ask them to check their records for the business name you want to use.
  • Contact the division of your state's government that handles the establishment of new corporations. The staff there can check to see if your name is already in use by another entity, or they may give you instructions on how to check their database on your own. Your state may also have a trademark database that you can search. The secretary of state's office should be able to help you access it.
  • The United States Patent and Trademark Office maintains an online database called the Electronic Search System. Search it for your proposed name to see if it is already in use. 

Additional Resources for Business Name Availability

In addition to search engines, state databases, and the USPTO trademark system, consider these resources for a complete check:

  • Business Entity Search Tools: Most Secretary of State websites offer free business entity name searches.
  • Domain Name Registrars: Tools like GoDaddy or Namecheap let you see if a web domain matching your business name is available.
  • Social Media Platforms: Check username availability on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram to maintain branding consistency.
  • Local Chamber of Commerce: They may provide insights into similarly named local businesses not yet registered at the state level.

Using multiple sources ensures your business name is available both legally and practically.

What Happens Next?

Contact the Internal Revenue Service to apply for an Employer Identification Number (EIN). As part of that process, you'll provide the name you want to use. The IRS representative who processes your application will check their records to be sure your chosen business name is available.

Verifying Business Identity Using EIN

Although the IRS doesn’t allow public access to EIN databases for private businesses, there are still several ways to verify business identity through EIN information:

  • Form 4506-T: This IRS form allows a third party with proper authorization to request tax return transcripts, including EINs.
  • Credit Bureaus: Some commercial credit reporting services like Dun & Bradstreet, Experian, and Equifax can validate a business’s EIN and identity.
  • SEC Filings: Public companies must include EINs in SEC filings, accessible via the EDGAR database.
  • Nonprofit Search Tool: Use the IRS’s Tax Exempt Organization Search to find EINs for charities and tax-exempt organizations.
  • Business Credit Reports: If you're working with or investing in another company, a business credit report can often confirm the EIN used.

This verification is helpful in cases of due diligence, business transactions, or confirming the legitimacy of a business you're planning to work with.

More About the EIN

The EIN is a nine-digit number similar to an individual's Social Security number. It is used on payroll checks, for issuing 1099s to contractors, and for receiving payments for contracted services. This number is private and can only be verified by someone with proper authorization from the company (except for nonprofit or exempt organizations). Trusts also have an assigned EIN, but their authorized representative is the executor or the trustee.

The EIN is used when filing tax returns and other IRS documents, so it is important to use the correct number. The IRS will reject forms with incorrect numbers. If an authorized representative needs to verify an EIN, they can call the IRS at 800-829-4933. Once the representative gives the proper identification, the IRS can give the EIN over the phone. A company representative can give authorization to someone else using IRS Form 2848 Tax Information Authorization. The EIN is required to complete this form, so if your authorized representative doesn't know it, he or she will still have to call the IRS to get it.

Running a credit check is another way to confirm an organization's EIN. An authorized representative can obtain the credit report to confirm the company name and address associated with the EIN.

Exempt and nonprofit organizations are an exception to this rule. Exempt organizations are those with a not-for-profit status, so their information is publicly available. The EIN of a charitable organization can be checked online with the Exempt Organization Select Check tool on the IRS website. This is helpful to do if you are thinking of making a contribution to an entity and want to be sure it is tax deductible.

You can also see if the charity is in good standing with the IRS. Nonprofits still have to file tax returns verifying income and can lose their status if they don't do that. The site will tell you if the tax-exempt status of that organization has been revoked for failure to file tax returns, usually IRS Form-990. 

Can You Search the IRS Database for a Business Name?

The IRS does not offer a publicly searchable business name database like a traditional “IRS business name search.” However, when you apply for an EIN through the IRS, they check the name you submit to ensure it is not already associated with another EIN in their system. This is an indirect way to verify that your name is not in use at the federal level.

For most purposes, a comprehensive name search should include:

  • State-level entity search
  • USPTO trademark search
  • IRS EIN confirmation via application process
  • Third-party verification tools (e.g., credit reports, domain checks)

To fully confirm your name’s uniqueness, conduct both federal and state-level searches in tandem.

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. What is the IRS business name search?
    An IRS business name search refers to the process of verifying a business name’s availability and confirming EIN information through the IRS or related government databases.
  2. Can I look up a business by EIN?
    Only for nonprofits or tax-exempt organizations. Their EINs can be found using the IRS’s Tax Exempt Organization Search tool. For other businesses, EIN lookup requires authorized access or alternative verification tools.
  3. Does the IRS check business name availability?
    Yes, but only during the EIN application process. The IRS verifies that the business name isn’t already registered under another EIN, helping avoid duplicate records.
  4. Where should I search for business name availability?
    Check your state’s Secretary of State website, the USPTO trademark database, business directories, domain name registrars, and social media platforms.
  5. Can I get a business’s EIN online?
    For nonprofits, yes — the IRS makes this information public. For private businesses, EINs are not publicly available but may be found on SEC filings, W-9 forms, or through authorized credit checks.

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