First, look at your old tax returns from last year. Yes, that manila folder you shoved in a drawer next to expired coupons is suddenly a treasure chest. Any official document from the taxman will have your TIN plastered on it like a badge of honor.
If that fails, check your pay stubs. Your employer didn’t just invent those numbers on your paycheck for fun—that top line is your golden ticket. If you still can’t find it, you might be a ghost employee, which is a surprising fact: about 3% of Americans at any given time technically have a TIN they’ve never actually seen.
