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Entity ID

An Entity ID is a number a state business registry uses to identify one business record. The official label and meaning vary by state.

An Entity ID is a number a state business registry uses to identify one business record. It may be assigned when a domestic business is formed or when an out-of-state business registers. The issuing office and official label vary by state.

Entity ID is a useful general term, but it is not a nationwide standard. It is not always interchangeable with SOS ID, File Number, Filing Number, Document Number, or Charter Number. In some states, those labels identify the entity. In other states, a filing or document number identifies one document in the entity’s filing history.

Use the exact label printed on the official state record. If a form asks for both an entity number and a filing or document number, they are different numbers.

Entity ID vs. EIN

An Entity ID and an Employer Identification Number are different identifiers:

  • State registry ID: Assigned by a state filing office and often visible in the public business record.
  • EIN: Assigned by the IRS for federal tax purposes. Do not use it as a state registry number unless the state form specifically requests an EIN.

Other state agencies may also assign tax, employer, licensing, or account numbers. Those are not automatically the same as the business registry’s Entity ID.

Where to Find Your Entity ID

Start with the official state business registry:

  1. Search for the legal business name.
  2. Open the full entity record.
  3. Copy the number together with its official label.
  4. Compare that label with the field on the form you are completing.

An accepted formation or registration document may also display the entity-level number. A filing-history document can carry its own separate number, so verify the label before using it.

When Might You Need It?

A filing office may request its entity-level number when a business files a periodic report, orders a certificate, changes registry information, or submits a dissolution or reinstatement document. Requirements differ by state and form.

Do not assume a state tax or licensing agency wants the same number. Use the identifier named in that agency’s official instructions.

Sources Reviewed

The official sources below were retrieved and confirmed on August 20, 2026.