Entity ID
Definition: The unique number a state assigns to a business entity when it is formed or registered.
An entity ID is the number a state assigns to a business when it files. It never changes, even if the company changes its name, so it is the most reliable way to find a record. The SOS ID is the same idea under another name.
| State | What the number is called |
|---|---|
| Florida | Document number |
| Georgia | Control number |
| New York | DOS ID |
| North Carolina | SOSID |
| Washington | UBI number |
| Maryland | Department ID |
| Connecticut | Business ALEI |
Entity ID is not an EIN
The Employer Identification Number comes from the IRS and is used for federal taxes. State business searches rarely display it. Florida is one exception that lets you search by FEI/EIN. You get an EIN free from the IRS after forming, as covered in the claim a business name guide.
You can find every state's ID label in the directory table, or open a state page such as Washington.
Related: Florida Sunbiz search, EIN lookup.
Entity ID questions
Is the entity ID the same as an EIN?
No. The entity ID is assigned by the state register. The EIN is a federal tax number from the IRS.
Does an entity ID change?
No. It stays with the entity for life in that state, even if the company changes its name.
Sources
Data Updated Recently