The “article number” on a New Jersey Certificate of Formation is what the state officially calls the Entity ID: a 10-digit number assigned by the Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services when your filing is accepted. It appears on the certificate itself, printed near the top of the page close to your entity’s legal name.1Business.NJ.gov. Register Your Business New Jersey never uses the phrase “article number” on its own forms, so if a bank, vendor, or out-of-state filing is asking for one, this is the number they want.
Why the Name Confusion Happens
The same 10-digit number travels under different labels depending on which state system you are using. On the Certificate of Formation it is the “Entity ID.” On the annual report portal it appears as the “NJ Business Entity Identification Number.” On the tax registration system it shows up as “Business Entity ID #” or “Corporate ID #.”2State of New Jersey. State of New Jersey Online Annual Report3State of New Jersey. State of New Jersey Online Tax/Employer Registration All of these are the same identifier. Other states use “article number” for their equivalent, and generic third-party software often uses whatever label its template defaults to. In New Jersey, look for “Entity ID.”
Where to Find It on Your Certificate
When the Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services accepts your Certificate of Formation, it returns a stamped or digitally processed copy. The Entity ID is printed near the top, close to the entity name. If you filed online through the state’s business formation portal, the Entity ID also appears on your confirmation screen and in the confirmation email.1Business.NJ.gov. Register Your Business
The format of the certificate itself differs between LLCs and corporations. An LLC’s certificate under N.J.S.A. 42:2C-18 is short, listing the company’s name and registered agent.4Justia. New Jersey Revised Statutes Section 42-2C-18 – Formation of Limited Liability Company; Certificate of Formation A corporation’s certificate of incorporation under N.J.S.A. 14A:2-7 includes the business purpose, authorized shares, incorporators, directors, and duration.5Justia. New Jersey Revised Statutes Title 14A – Corporations, General The Entity ID appears on both.
Looking Up Your Entity ID If You Lost the Certificate
If the certificate is gone, you can retrieve the number for free through two state portals.
The Business Name Search tool lets you search by business name, keyword, or Entity ID. Searching by your entity’s exact legal name returns the matching Entity ID in the results.6State of New Jersey. Business Name Search
The Business Records Service covers corporations, LLCs, trade names, and trademarks, with filing history and status information alongside the identifier.7Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services. Business Records Service Searching either tool is free; ordering copies of the underlying documents costs extra.
Don’t Confuse the Entity ID With Other Numbers
A New Jersey business accumulates several identifiers, and handing over the wrong one delays whatever you are trying to do. The three most commonly mixed up:
- The Entity ID is the 10-digit state identifier assigned at formation. It identifies your entity with the Division of Revenue and stays with the business for its entire life.
- The Employer Identification Number (EIN) is a nine-digit federal tax ID issued by the IRS, formatted XX-XXXXXXX. It is used for federal tax returns, hiring, and bank accounts, and has nothing to do with the state.8Internal Revenue Service. Employer Identification Number
- The New Jersey Tax ID is a 12-digit number assigned when you register for state taxes. It is your EIN with a three-digit suffix (typically “000” at the start) and is used for sales tax, employer withholding, and other state tax obligations.9Business.NJ.gov. Register for Taxes
Individual filings like amendments and annual reports also generate their own filing or document numbers. Those identify a specific transaction, not your entity. When someone asks for your “business number” or “state ID,” ask which agency the information is going to before you answer.
What You Use the Entity ID For
You will need the Entity ID for almost every interaction with New Jersey after formation. The most routine use is the annual report, which every domestic corporation, foreign corporation, and LLC must file. The online system asks for the NJ Business Entity Identification Number before letting you start, and the report fee is $75.2State of New Jersey. State of New Jersey Online Annual Report10State of New Jersey. State of NJ – NJ Treasury – DORES Filing Fees
The Entity ID is also required when you amend the certificate (for example, to change your registered agent or entity name), register for state taxes, apply for state licenses, or respond to correspondence from the Division. Banks routinely ask for it alongside your EIN when opening a business account, since it confirms the entity legally exists in New Jersey.
It becomes especially important if your business falls out of good standing. New Jersey can void a domestic entity’s charter, or revoke a foreign entity’s authority, after two consecutive missed annual reports, and the reinstatement process asks for the same Entity ID (labeled “corporation identification number” on that page) along with the month and year the entity was formed.11State of New Jersey. Reinstate a Revoked or Voided Business – NJ.gov Keep the number somewhere you can find it, because every path back to active status starts with it.