What is a Business Registration Number? – Its Importance, How to Get One for Your Business, and More!

Are you planning to start your business and have gotten all the things ready? But what about a business registration number? (No, then you are in for huge trouble with the legal authorities.)

So, what is a business reg number?

It is an ID allocated to businesses by the government so they can be easily identified when it’s time for tax filing and other reporting purposes. It’s practically a necessity for every business out there if they want to avoid any legal issues. 

Want to learn more about BRN? Then jump straight into the blog and get to know how to get one and how to locate it if you already have one.

What is a Business Registration Number?

A business registration number, also known as a company registration number, is an identifier that is assigned to businesses by a government agency for tax reporting and other legal purposes.

It is a unique code that works as an official ID for the business and helps other entities identify its credibility. It is an 8-character code, which is either 8 digits or 2 letters followed by 6 digits.

Companies use this number throughout the time they are up and running, meaning that even if the address, name, etc., are changed, you can still track the company. You get this number on the same day your company is incorporated.

Type of Registration Numbers

Typically, there are various types of business registration numbers that you may encounter, and these include:

1. Business Registration Number

   As I’ve already mentioned, BRN is a unique identifier provided to business entities for their identification.

2. Company Registration Number (CRN)
   This number is issued by the state or country where the business is registered and is used as a general identifier. It is used for companies that are incorporated as a legal entity and is also known as a commercial registration number.

3. Employee Identification Number (EIN)
   It is a unique nine-digit number allocated by the IRS for tax reporting purposes. It is mainly used by LLCs and corporations and is formatted as XX-XXXXXXX.

4. State Registration Number
   This one is issued when the business is registered with the Secretary of State in its home state.

Why Do You Need a Business Registration Number?

There are many situations when a business is required to show its identity to various authorities and bodies using the BRN. Although it’s not necessary to have this number; it would be much better and safer to get a BRN to secure your business from future risks.

If you are curious why you or your company needs a BRN, take a look at the factors below!

Transparency and Legitimacy

A BRN serves as proof of the legitimacy of your business. Since this number is easily available in the public registry, stakeholders, like investors and creditors, can quickly locate the company and find whether the company is still up and running.

Administrative Tasks

A company registration number is also needed to do many administrative tasks, such as opening a bank account, tax accounting, and applying for business licenses.

Taxation and Regulations

This number makes it easy for the IRS to track and locate businesses for taxation and regulation purposes.

Legal Purposes

A BRN is said to be an important part of legal identification and plays a huge part in legal documents and contracts.

How to Get a Business Registration Number?

Now, the main question is, how can you get a company registration number? No need to worry! I’ve got you!

First of all, when do people need an EIN? You can get an EIN if you are trying to:

• Hire employees
• Operate a partnership or corporation
• Pay sales and excise taxes
• Change business structures or ownership
• Administer certain trusts, retirement plans, and estates

Before you apply for an EIN, here are some things you may need!

• You’ll need to find your business entity type.
• The social security number or taxpayer ID number of the party in control of your business or organization.
• If you’re a third-party designee, you are required to have a signed authorization to apply.
• LLC Operating Agreement.
• Articles of Incorporation and Organization.
• Partnership Agreement.

To get a BRN, you need to apply to the IRS using Form SS-4 or through the IRS website. Here, I’ve jotted down the steps you need to follow to get the number for your company.

1. First of all, you need to decide the legal structure of your business, i.e., the type of business you have and the state you are registering in. It will help you decide the type of registration and forms you’ll need.

2. The next step is to apply for an EIN from the IRS. You can do that through,
   • Applying for an EIN on the IRS official website
   • Download and mail in Form SS-4
   • Fax Form SS-4 to the IRS.

3. Then, you need to register your business with the state. You can do that with the Secretary of State’s office, a Business Bureau, or a Business Agency. For that, submit your formation documents and pay the required fees.

   However, whether it needs to be done offline or online varies depending on the state. So, it is recommended that you research the requirements in your state.

If you are trying to form a legal entity (LLC, partnership, corporation, or tax-exempt organization), you should form your entity with the state first; otherwise, your EIN application might be delayed.

How Long Does It Take to Receive an EIN?

If you have applied for an EIN online, you will receive it immediately after applying. However, if you have filled out the Form SS-4 and applied it by fax, you will receive a return fax within a week.

If you have mailed it, you can expect it within 4 to 5 weeks.

How do I Find My Business Registration Number?

The United States Federal Trade Commission issues a business reg no to all the businesses that are involved “in the manufacture, importation, distribution, or sale of textile, wool, or fur products.”

Once your business is registered with the authorities, you will get many official documents that include your BRN. To find your business reg no., you can look for these documents.

These documents include:

• Registration of Documents: These are the confirmation documents you receive once you register your business.

• Secretary of State Website: Most states have an official website where you can search for your business and look for your company registration number.

• Account Reminders: Any correspondence you receive from the state, such as reminders for fee payments and annual reports, usually has your BRN.

• State Website: Every state’s Secretary of State website has a search tool where you can look up your registration number.

Business Registration Number Lookup

A business reg number lookup means verifying a business’s registration number and its legitimacy. Verifying a business helps you to deal with any potential legal issues and ensure a business’s credibility when an issue arises.

There are multiple tools you can use to verify a business registration number, and these include:

State Secretary of State Offices

Almost all of the US businesses are registered at the state level, and every state’s Secretary of State office has its own search tool that you can use to verify the BRNs.

SEC’s EDGAR System

You can also use the SEC’s Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval (EDGAR) system to look up various publicly traded companies. Just enter the company name, ticker abbreviation, or CIK number, and you’ll be able to locate the business.

Automated Third-Party KYB Systems

Various platforms on the internet offer automated KYB (Know Your Business) systems. These systems have all the data from the government agencies, which makes it easier to verify various businesses at once.

Through these tools, you can easily find out whether the companies you are working with are legitimate or are working within the necessary regulations. It helps you protect yourself from any legal complications and maintain a healthy relationship with businesses.

Difference Between Business Registration Number (BRN) and Employer Identification Number (EIN)

Generally, Employee Identification Number and Business Registration Number are considered two different things. It’s because EIN is a unique ID that the IRS issues to companies for tax purposes, while BRN is an identifier that government agencies use to track businesses.

Business Registration Number (BRN)	Employer Identification Number (EIN)
It is issued by a government agency or regulatory authority	It is issued by the IRS (Internal Revenue Service)
Used to identify the businesses in the country of registration	Used for tax reporting and identifying business entities
Used to track businesses for taxation, regulation, and legal purposes.	Required for businesses that want to hire employees, work as a corporation or partnership, and have other tax obligations.
Also known as a company registration number (CRN)	It is a business’s equivalent of a Social Security number used for tax purposes

However, in the US, BRN is often referred to as EIN, so you don’t need to be confused.

Wrapping Up!

To sum it all up, a business registration number is just a code or number that a government agency issues to registered businesses. It is useful in tax filing and proving to other entities that a business is complying with the legal regulations.

If you are a US resident and are looking to get a business reg number, you can apply through the IRS website or the Form SS-4.

Other than that, if you want to find your BRN, you can look for the documents you received after filing your business or contact the IRS website if necessary.