To run a Texas Tax ID number lookup, go to the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts website and use one of two free tools: the Franchise Tax Account Status search (also called the Taxable Entity Search) to find a business’s 11-digit Taxpayer ID Number and confirm its standing, or the Sales Taxpayer Search to check whether a business holds an active sales and use tax permit.1Texas Comptroller. Franchise Tax Account Status Search2Texas Comptroller. Sales Taxpayer Search Both searches take about two minutes.
What the Number Is
The Taxpayer ID Number (TID) is the 11-digit number the Texas Comptroller assigns to every taxable business entity in the state. It is tied to franchise tax, sales and use tax, and other state-level obligations.3Texas Comptroller. Identify Taxpayer It is not the federal Employer Identification Number (EIN), which is a separate nine-digit number issued by the IRS. If you are searching for an EIN, the Comptroller’s tools will not help you find one, though you can enter a known EIN as a search input in either state tool.
Looking Up Another Business
The Franchise Tax Account Status search at comptroller.texas.gov accepts three inputs:
- The 11-digit Taxpayer Number or the 9-digit federal EIN
- The entity’s legal name, between 2 and 50 characters
- The Secretary of State file number, which runs 6 to 10 digits
Searching by an exact number is fastest because it returns a single record. If you only have a business name, enter it as close to the legal registration as possible. Common names return long result lists, so filter by city or zip code to isolate the right entity. Each result shows the legal name, TID, Secretary of State file number, and current franchise tax status.
Verifying a Sales Tax Permit
The Sales Taxpayer Search is a separate tool for confirming that a business holds an active Texas Sales and Use Tax permit.2Texas Comptroller. Sales Taxpayer Search You can search by Taxpayer ID, federal EIN, location name, or zip code. Results show the permit holder’s name, address, and whether the permit is active or inactive.
This is the search that matters for vendors accepting resale certificates. If a buyer claims a sales tax exemption but the permit shows inactive, and you skip collecting sales tax, you can end up owing that tax yourself when the transaction is audited.
Finding Your Own Lost TID
If it is your business and you have lost the number, the fastest route is logging into the Comptroller’s eSystems portal, which hosts Webfile. The 11-digit number appears on the account dashboard once you are signed in.4Texas Comptroller. File and Pay
If you cannot get into the portal, check prior correspondence from the Comptroller. The TID is printed on franchise tax notices, previously filed returns, and your original registration certificate. Old email and paper files often produce the number faster than a phone call.
When the records are gone, call the Comptroller. Franchise tax inquiries go to 800-252-1381; sales tax questions go to 800-252-5555. Have the business’s legal name, registered address, and federal EIN ready so the representative can locate the account and verify your identity before releasing the number. Sole proprietors who never obtained an EIN will need to provide a Social Security Number instead, because that number serves as the primary identifier for their sales tax account.5Texas Comptroller. Texas Online Tax Registration Application
If you recently registered and have not yet received a confirmation, call the same lines. The representative can tell you whether the application is still processing or whether a number has already been assigned.
Reading the Status on Your Results
A Texas Tax ID lookup returns more than a number. The status field is the reason most people run the search, because it tells you whether the entity has the legal right to do business in Texas.
Active
The entity is current on franchise tax filings and payments and holds its corporate privileges in good standing. For most contract signings, loan applications, and real estate closings, this is what you want to see.
Not Taxable
The Comptroller recognizes the entity but does not impose franchise tax on it. Certain exempt organizations and sole proprietorships commonly show this status. It does not indicate a problem.
Forfeited
This status should stop you before you sign anything. The Comptroller forfeits an entity’s right to transact business when the entity fails to file a required franchise tax report or pay the tax owed within 45 days after the Comptroller sends a notice of forfeiture. Refusing to let the Comptroller examine company records also triggers forfeiture.6State of Texas. Texas Tax Code 171.251 – Forfeiture of Corporate Privileges
A forfeited entity loses its right to sue or defend itself in Texas courts.7State of Texas. Texas Tax Code 171.252 – Effects of Forfeiture If a dispute arises with a forfeited counterparty, they may not be able to enforce the contract, and any judgment you win against them could prove uncollectible. During the forfeiture period, the corporate liability shield also drops: each director and officer becomes personally liable for debts the company creates or incurs in Texas between the missed due date and the date corporate privileges are revived.8State of Texas. Texas Tax Code 171.255 – Liability of Director and Officers
Franchise Tax Involuntarily Ended
This is more permanent than forfeiture. The entity’s registration has been terminated by the Comptroller or the Secretary of State because of the tax default, and the entity has effectively ceased to exist for the purpose of doing business. Reinstatement is possible but requires clearing both the Comptroller and the Secretary of State, not just paying a past-due balance.9Texas Comptroller. Reinstating or Terminating a Business
When You Need an Official Certificate Instead
The free online search is fine for day-to-day due diligence. It is not, however, an official certificate. The Comptroller issues a formal Certificate of Account Status (COAS), which the Texas Business Organizations Code requires as proof that state taxes have been paid before an entity can voluntarily terminate its existence through the Secretary of State.10Texas Comptroller. Requesting Tax Certificates and Tax Clearance Letters
For most private-party purposes, such as a contract or loan file, the online search printout is enough. Banks and commercial partners are not required to obtain a COAS. But if you are winding down a business or filing termination documents, you will need the formal certificate. Some entities must request it by mail using Form 05-359 rather than through Webfile, including entities that are part of a combined reporting group, entities active for franchise tax less than one year, limited liability partnerships, and entities with an active audit.10Texas Comptroller. Requesting Tax Certificates and Tax Clearance Letters
What the Public Search Will Not Show
The Comptroller’s public tools are intentionally limited. You will see an entity’s name, TID, Secretary of State file number, and franchise or sales tax permit status. You will not see revenue figures, tax payment history, filing details, or any individual’s Social Security Number. Those records are protected under state and federal tax confidentiality rules. To get anything beyond the public fields, you have to request it from the business directly or through a legal process such as a court order.