Short answer: no. The EIN is for taxes and payroll, the D-U-N-S Number is for business credit, and the Unique Entity ID is for federal awards.
Last checked against official sources: October 30, 2026.
DUNS vs EIN vs UEI, side by side
| EIN | D-U-N-S Number | Unique Entity ID (UEI) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Issuer | IRS | Dun & Bradstreet | SAM.gov (GSA) |
| What it is | A federal tax ID number for businesses, tax-exempt organizations and other entities | A unique nine-digit business identifier linked to a Dun & Bradstreet business credit file | The identifier SAM.gov and other GSA systems use for entities since April 4, 2022 |
| Cost | Free from the IRS | No charge to receive; an optional expedite is paid | Not stated on the SAM.gov page we checked |
| Who asks for it | The IRS; employers; banks (for banking or state tax purposes) | Some lenders, suppliers, partners and other agencies and companies | Federal awards: contracts and grants |
| Format | First two digits show the IRS campus, or that you applied online | Nine digits | Assigned in SAM.gov; the pages we read do not state a format |
| Lookup | Confirm yours with an IRS notice, transcript or call | Anyone can use D&B’s D-U-N-S Lookup tool | View yours in SAM.gov if you are registered |
Which one do you need
This is a lookup of what each source says, not a recommendation.
Employees, taxes or a bank account
The IRS says you need an EIN if you have employees or pay employment or excise taxes. It also says you can request one for banking or state tax purposes even if you do not need one federally.
Federal contract or grant
SAM.gov says that to apply for federal awards as a prime awardee you need a registration, and it assigns your Unique Entity ID during that registration.
A business credit file
Dun & Bradstreet says other companies may use your D-U-N-S Number to evaluate your business credit profile and to onboard your company.
How to get each
EIN. The IRS says you can get an EIN for free, directly from the IRS, in minutes. Use the IRS online EIN application. It asks for the responsible party’s SSN or ITIN. No SSN? See how to get an EIN without an SSN. Need to find a number that already exists? See how to find a company’s EIN.
D-U-N-S Number. Check first whether your company already has one with D&B’s lookup tool, then request one on dnb.com. D&B says there is no charge. Normal processing can take up to 30 business days, and a paid expedite is offered at checkout.
Unique Entity ID. Sign in to SAM.gov through Login.gov, then choose Register Entity or Get a Unique Entity ID. A UEI-only request needs only your legal business name and physical address. See SAM.gov entity registration.
For the history of the DUNS number, how business credit scores work and how D&B updates your file, read the full DUNS number guide. This page is educational and is not legal, tax or financial advice.
Common Questions
Is a DUNS number the same as an EIN?
No. An EIN is a federal tax ID number the IRS issues to businesses and other entities. A D-U-N-S Number is a nine-digit business identifier from Dun & Bradstreet that links to its business credit file. Different issuer, different purpose.
Is a DUNS number a federal tax ID?
No. The IRS calls the EIN a federal tax ID number. The D-U-N-S Number is issued by Dun & Bradstreet, a private company, and is not a tax number. Dun & Bradstreet describes it as separate from a personal identity and used to evaluate a business’s credit profile.
Do I need a DUNS number for my LLC?
Dun & Bradstreet says a D-U-N-S Number is not required for U.S. federal government contracts, though many other agencies, governments and companies still use it. Lenders, suppliers and partners may ask for one to evaluate your business credit profile. Whether you need one depends on who is asking.
Did the UEI replace the DUNS number?
For federal awards, yes. GSA announced that on April 4, 2022, SAM.gov and other GSA systems switched to the Unique Entity ID and stopped using the DUNS number to identify entities. The D-U-N-S Number still exists and is still issued by Dun & Bradstreet.
Is a DUNS number free?
Dun & Bradstreet says there is no charge to receive a D-U-N-S Number. Normal processing can take up to 30 business days. At checkout you can pay for an expedited request, which D&B says can deliver within eight business days. The expedite is optional.
Can I have a DUNS number without an EIN?
Dun & Bradstreet’s request form asks for the business’s legal name, address, phone, owner or CEO name, legal structure, year created, industry and number of employees. An EIN is not on that list. The IRS, for its part, issues an EIN to businesses and other entities on its own application and does not require a D-U-N-S Number.
Sources
- IRS, Employer ID Numbers (EIN is a federal tax ID; free from the IRS; who needs one; banking and state tax use)
- IRS, Get an employer identification number
- IRS, Apply for an EIN online (SSN or ITIN of the responsible party required)
- Dun & Bradstreet, D-U-N-S Number: start here (nine-digit identifier; free to get; not required for U.S. federal contracts; lookup tool)
- Dun & Bradstreet, Get a D-U-N-S Number (no charge; 30 business days normal, eight with paid expedite; information requested)
- Dun & Bradstreet, What is a D-U-N-S Number (links to a business credit file; free to request)
- SAM.gov, Entity registration and Unique Entity ID
- GSA, GSA Systems Switch to Unique Entity ID (SAM) on April 4, 2022