An LLC registration number is the state-issued entity number assigned when your LLC is formed. It may also be called an:
- Entity number
- File number
- Document number
- Charter number
- Business ID
- Secretary of State ID
Your LLC formation date is ****. The state assigns the registration number after approving the formation documents.
Your LLC registration number is not usually the same as your EIN.
Where to Find Your LLC Registration Number
Check these records:
- Your Articles of Organization or Certificate of Formation
- The approval letter or email from your state
- Your state Secretary of State business search
- Your LLC annual report or certificate of good standing
LLCs are generally registered with the state agency responsible for business filings, often the Secretary of State. That agency assigns the LLC its identification number after approving the formation documents.
LLC Registration Number vs. EIN
| Number or document | What it identifies | Issued by |
|---|---|---|
| LLC registration number | Your LLC in the state business registry | State business agency |
| EIN | Your business for federal tax purposes | IRS |
| Business license number | A local or industry-specific operating license | City, county, or state agency |
| DBA or trade name registration | A name used other than your legal LLC name | State, county, or city agency |
The IRS says an LLC should be legally formed with the state before applying for an EIN. An EIN is a federal tax identification number, not normally the state registration number.
What Should You Enter on a Form?
- If the form says "LLC registration number," "entity number," or "state file number," enter the number shown in your state formation records.
- If it says "EIN," "Federal Tax ID," or "Employer Identification Number," enter your nine-digit IRS EIN.
- If it asks for "state of registration," enter the state where you formed the LLC.
- If you formed the LLC in one state and registered it to do business in another, use the registration details for the state named on the form.
If you cannot find the number, search your LLC's legal name in the state's official business entity database. The U.S. Small Business Administration also lists state business-registration offices through its state registration lookup.