Browse pay stub totals and identifying information.
On US federal tax documents, EIN means Employer Identification Number. It identifies the employer, not the employee. Some internal systems use similar labels differently, so the full field heading still matters.
How to read this entry
Use the meaning Employer identification number alongside the column heading. An earnings amount, an employee deduction and an employer-cost memo can have different effects even when their labels look similar.
Example on a pay statement
An EIN is commonly written as two digits followed by a hyphen and seven digits. An SSN follows a different grouping. Neither number is an earnings amount.
Examples illustrate the checking method. They are not a personal tax calculation or a promise of a particular benefit.
What to check with payroll
Match the employer name and EIN on your W-2 with the organisation that paid you; ask payroll about an unexpected change of employing entity.
Compare related entries
Read the pay stub totals and identifying information guide to compare the entries in this part of your statement. Use the full pay stub code directory when a second abbreviation is unfamiliar.
Reference and scope
Official guidance on pay stub totals and identifying information provides background on the underlying rules. The actual plan, tax year, jurisdiction and payroll record determine how the rules apply.