DUNS Number vs EIN: Which 9-Digit Number Does the Form Want?
A DUNS number and an EIN are 2 different 9-digit identifiers. The EIN is the IRS tax ID, issued for $0on Form SS-4, and is what a bank, a W-9 and a payroll return want. The D-U-N-S Number is a free identifier from Dun & Bradstreet that anchors a business credit file. Since April 4, 2022, federal contracts use a 12-character UEI instead of the DUNS number.
The short answerA DUNS number and an EIN are different 9-digit identifiers from different issuers. The EIN comes from the IRS at $0 on Form SS-4 and is required for federal tax filings, payroll and business bank accounts. The D-U-N-S Number comes from Dun & Bradstreet, is free to request, and anchors a business credit file. For federal contracts and grants, the 12-character Unique Entity ID issued in SAM.gov replaced the DUNS number on April 4, 2022; the EIN remains the tax identifier on the same registration.
How do a DUNS number, an EIN and a UEI compare?
Three identifiers, 3 issuers, 3 jobs. The EIN is the only 1 the IRS recognises; the UEI is the only 1 federal procurement recognises; the DUNS number lives in the commercial credit world.
| Attribute | EIN | D-U-N-S Number | Unique Entity ID (UEI) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Issuer | IRS (federal government) | Dun & Bradstreet (private company) | GSA, generated in SAM.gov |
| Format | 9 digits, XX-XXXXXXX | 9 digits, no hyphen | 12 characters, letters and digits |
| Purpose | Federal tax, payroll, 1099s, bank KYC | Business credit file and trade references | Identifying an entity in federal contracts and grants |
| Governing rule | 26 U.S.C. § 6109; 26 CFR § 301.6109-1 | Dun & Bradstreet's proprietary system | GSA rule effective April 4, 2022 |
| Cost | $0 | $0 (stated by Dun & Bradstreet) | $0 (part of SAM.gov registration) |
| Application | Form SS-4: online, fax, mail or phone | Request on dnb.com | SAM.gov entity registration |
| Expires | Never | Stays with the business | Stays with the registration |
| Required for a bank account | Yes | No | No |
| Required on Form W-9 | Yes (Part I) | No | No |
| Required to bid on federal work | Yes, as the TIN on the registration | No, retired for this use in 2022 | Yes |
Sources: IRS, Employer Identification Number; SAM.gov, Unique Entity Identifier update; Dun & Bradstreet, D-U-N-S Number [1], [2], [3].
Which number does each form or counterparty want?
Anything that touches tax, payroll or banking wants the EIN. Anything that touches trade credit wants the DUNS number. Anything that touches a federal award wants the UEI with the EIN beside it.
| Who is asking | Number they need | Why |
|---|---|---|
| IRS, on any business return (Forms 941, 1065, 1120, 990) | EIN | The identifying number required by 26 U.S.C. § 6109 |
| A client sending Form W-9 | EIN | Part I asks for the TIN; Form 1099-NEC is filed under it by January 31 for payments of $600 or more |
| A bank opening a business account | EIN | KYC and beneficial-ownership checks under 31 CFR § 1010.230 |
| A payroll provider | EIN | Form 941 deposits and W-2s carry the employer EIN |
| Stripe, PayPal, Amazon seller tax interview | EIN | Form 1099-K is reported under the TIN |
| A supplier offering net-30 terms | D-U-N-S Number | The supplier pulls the Dun & Bradstreet credit file |
| A developer or vendor program that verifies legal entities | D-U-N-S Number | Used by the program as its entity-verification key |
| SAM.gov registration for federal contracts or grants | UEI + EIN | UEI identifies the entity since April 4, 2022; the EIN is the TIN on file |
| A state revenue department | EIN, then a state ID | The state issues its own number after recording the federal one |
The 3-2-4 grouping of an SSN and the 2-7 grouping of an EIN are compared on the EIN vs SSN page; the umbrella term TIN is explained on the EIN vs TIN page.
Why did the federal government stop using the DUNS number?
On April 4, 2022, the General Services Administration replaced the DUNS number with a government-owned identifier, the 12-character Unique Entity ID generated inside SAM.gov, so federal registration no longer depended on a private company’s numbering system.
Entities that were already registered in SAM.gov were assigned a UEI automatically; new entities get 1 when they register, at no cost, and a SAM.gov registration is renewed every 365 days to stay active. The change closed a 20-plus-year period in which federal awards had keyed on the 9-digit DUNS number. The EIN did not change role: SAM.gov still validates the registrant’s TIN with the IRS, so every federal contractor and grantee holds an EIN and a UEI. The DUNS number remains in use only in the commercial world, where Dun & Bradstreet continues to issue it free of charge.
In what order should a new business get the 3 numbers?
EIN first, bank account second, UEI only if federal work is planned, DUNS number when a supplier asks. The EIN gates the other 3 steps, because each of them records the business’s TIN.
| Step | What to get | From | Time | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | State formation document (Articles) | State Secretary of State | Same day to 10 business days, by state | State filing fee |
| Step 2 | EIN on Form SS-4 | IRS | 15 minutes online; 4 business days by fax | $0 |
| Step 3 | Business bank account, opened on the CP-575 notice | Bank | 1 to 5 business days for KYC review | $0 to $25 monthly, by bank |
| Step 4 | Unique Entity ID (only for federal contracts or grants) | SAM.gov | Issued at registration; full registration validation takes up to 10 business days | $0 |
| Step 5 | D-U-N-S Number (only when a supplier or program asks) | Dun & Bradstreet | Not published by D&B | $0 |
Sources: Instructions for Form SS-4 (Rev. December 2025); SAM.gov entity registration guidance [1], [2].
How do you get the EIN half of the pair?
File Form SS-4 with the IRS at $0: 15 minutes online with an SSN or ITIN, 4 business days by fax, about 4 weeks by mail, or on the call at 267-941-1099 for applicants with no US residence.
A founder with no SSN or ITIN writes the word Foreign on line 7b and files by fax to 855-215-1627 from inside the US or 304-707-9471 from abroad. ein-number.com prepares and files the form for $69 (Standard) or $99 (Fast, filed within 24 hours), with a second reviewer on every line and a full refund if an error on our side causes a rejection. Once the CP-575 notice arrives, the bank account, the W-9 and the UEI registration all follow from it; the EIN for a bank account page lists what the bank checks. Keep the IRS record current afterwards: Form 8822-B reports a new address or responsible party within 60 days, and Form 2848 or Form 8821 lets an accountant request a Letter 147Con the business’s behalf.
Get the EIN filed right, from $69What else do people ask about an EIN vs a DUNS number?
Is a DUNS number the same as an EIN?
No. Both are 9 digits, but the EIN is issued by the IRS under 26 U.S.C. § 6109 and identifies the business for federal tax, payroll and banking, while the D-U-N-S Number is issued by Dun & Bradstreet, a private company, and identifies the business in its commercial credit file. The 2 systems share no data, and neither number can be entered in place of the other.
Can I put a DUNS number on Form W-9?
No. Part I of Form W-9 asks for a taxpayer identification number, which for a business is the 9-digit EIN and for a sole proprietor is the SSN. A DUNS number is not a TIN under 26 U.S.C. § 6109. A payer who files a 1099 with a DUNS number in the TIN box receives an IRS mismatch notice, and 24% backup withholding under 26 U.S.C. § 3406 follows.
Do federal contractors still need a DUNS number?
No. On April 4, 2022, the federal government stopped using the DUNS number for contracts and grants and switched to the 12-character Unique Entity ID (UEI) generated inside SAM.gov at no cost. A SAM.gov registration still requires the EIN as the tax identifier, so a contractor today holds a UEI and an EIN, and needs a DUNS number only for commercial credit.
Which number do I need to open a business bank account?
The EIN. US banks verify the 9-digit EIN and legal name against the IRS CP-575 notice or Letter 147C, together with the state formation document and ID for each owner holding 25 percent or more under the beneficial-ownership rule in 31 CFR § 1010.230. No bank asks for a DUNS number to open an account; some lenders consult the D&B file later when extending credit.
Do I need a DUNS number to build business credit?
A D-U-N-S Number is the key to a Dun & Bradstreet credit file, which many suppliers consult before granting net-30 or net-60 payment terms, so a business that wants trade credit under its own name requests 1. Getting the number is free from Dun & Bradstreet. It has no role in federal taxes, and the IRS neither issues nor records it; the EIN covers those.
Which should I get first, an EIN or a DUNS number?
The EIN, because Dun & Bradstreet and every other registration asks for the business's legal name and formation facts first, and the EIN is required within the first 30 days for payroll, banking and 1099 reporting. The IRS issues it for $0 in 15 minutes online or 4 business days by fax. Request the DUNS number afterwards, when a supplier or platform asks for 1.
Can a non-US resident get both numbers?
Yes. The EIN route for a founder with no SSN or ITIN is Form SS-4 by fax with the word Foreign on line 7b, or by phone at 267-941-1099 (Monday-Friday, 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Eastern time), at $0. Dun & Bradstreet issues D-U-N-S Numbers to businesses outside the United States too, through its international request process, for a business with a legal name and a physical address.
How much does each number cost?
$0 for both from the issuers. The IRS charges nothing for an EIN on any of its 4 routes and never charges a renewal fee. Dun & Bradstreet states that getting a D-U-N-S Number is free; it sells paid credit-monitoring and reporting products separately. A filing service such as ein-number.com charges $69 or $99 for preparing and submitting Form SS-4, not for the number.
Why are both numbers 9 digits long?
Coincidence of design, not a shared standard. The EIN format, 2 digits, a hyphen and 7 digits, is set by the IRS and the first 2 digits show the issuing campus. The D-U-N-S Number is 9 digits with no hyphen and no IRS meaning. A 12-character mix of letters and digits is the UEI, and a 9-digit number grouped 3-2-4 is an SSN or ITIN, never a business ID.
What if my business has neither number yet?
Get the EIN first: $0 from the IRS in 15 minutes online with an SSN or ITIN, or 4 business days by fax without one. Open the bank account with the CP-575 notice. Register for a UEI in SAM.gov only if you will bid on federal work. Request a D-U-N-S Number when a supplier, marketplace or developer program asks for 1.
Which primary sources back this page?
Every fee, deadline, form number and phone line above is taken from the 5 official documents below. No third-party blog is cited.
- SAM.gov (GSA). Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) replaced the DUNS number
- Dun & Bradstreet. D-U-N-S Number (Dun & Bradstreet)
- IRS. Employer Identification Number
- IRS. Taxpayer Identification Numbers (TIN)
- Cornell LII. 26 U.S.C. § 6109 — Identifying numbers