Your Delaware company gets its file number the moment it exists.
Its EIN can take another six weeks, and that gap is where most non-resident founders lose time.
The short answer
| File number | EIN | |
|---|---|---|
| Issued by | Delaware Division of Corporations | the IRS |
| Format | 7 digits | 9 digits, XX-XXXXXXX |
| When | instantly, at formation | after a separate application |
| Public? | yes | no |
| Used for | state filings, franchise tax | banking, tax, payroll |
| Changes? | never | never |
They are not alternatives. A working Delaware company needs both, and they do completely different jobs.
The file number
Delaware assigns it at the moment the Certificate of Formation is accepted.
- Seven digits, no prefix
- Sequential, so a low number means an old entity
- Permanent, including through a change of name
- Public, and searchable on the state's entity search
What you use it for:
- Paying the annual franchise tax
- Ordering a Certificate of Good Standing
- Any filing with the Division of Corporations
- Confirming the entity exists, to a counterparty
What you cannot use it for: anything federal, and anything involving a bank. It is a state identifier.
The file number proves the company exists in Delaware. It proves nothing about tax status, and no US bank will open an account on the strength of it.
The EIN
The Employer Identification Number is the company's federal tax identity, issued by the IRS.
- Nine digits, written
12-3456789 - Issued once, permanent for the entity
- Not public. There is no free federal lookup the way there is for state records
- Required for a US bank account, for federal filings, for payroll, and by most payment processors
Despite the name, you do not need employees to need one.
Why the EIN is the bottleneck for non-residents
This is the practical heart of the matter.
If a responsible party has an SSN or ITIN, the online application returns an EIN immediately.
If nobody has one, which is the normal situation for a foreign-owned single-member LLC:
- The online route is unavailable
- You file Form SS-4 by fax or by mail
- Processing takes weeks, and mail is slower than fax
- Errors on the form restart the clock rather than being corrected
The consequence for planning: the company exists long before it can bank. Founders who schedule a launch around the formation date, then discover the EIN is six weeks out and the bank needs the EIN, lose the entire quarter.
Plan the sequence in this order:
- Form the company, get the file number instantly
- Apply for the EIN the same week, not after
- Approach banks only once the EIN letter is in hand
Which number does the form want?
A quick decision table for the situations that come up most.
| Who is asking | What they want |
|---|---|
| Delaware franchise tax portal | file number |
| A US bank opening an account | EIN |
| Stripe, PayPal, a payment processor | EIN |
| A customer requesting a W-9 | EIN |
| A registered agent | file number |
| A counterparty checking you exist | file number, it is public |
| The IRS, on any filing | EIN |
Rule of thumb: if the request is about money moving or tax being reported, it is the EIN. If it is about the company's existence as a Delaware entity, it is the file number.
Numbers that are neither
Delaware companies collect more identifiers than people expect.
- Delaware business licence number, if the company actually operates in Delaware. Most non-resident LLCs never have one
- State tax ID in another state, if you have nexus there. Separate registration, separate number
- ITIN, which belongs to a person, not a company. An owner may need one; the LLC does not have one
- DUNS number, issued by a private data company. Not a government identifier at all
What happens to each over time
| Event | File number | EIN |
|---|---|---|
| Change of company name | unchanged | unchanged |
| Change of registered agent | unchanged | unchanged |
| New members or owners | unchanged | usually unchanged |
| Change of tax classification | unchanged | unchanged |
| Dissolution | retired, not reissued | closed on request, never reissued |
| Forming a new entity | new number | new EIN required |
The last row is the one that catches people who dissolve and re-form. You cannot carry an EIN across to a new legal entity, even with the same name and the same owner.
Getting the sequence right at formation avoids most of this, which is part of what makes the full first-year picture worth understanding before you file.
The summary
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Which arrives first? | The file number, instantly |
| Which does a bank want? | The EIN |
| Which is public? | The file number |
| Can I get an EIN without an SSN? | Yes, by SS-4 on fax or mail, in weeks |
| Do I need both? | Yes, for any operating company |
| Do either change with a rename? | No |
Frequently asked questions
What is a Delaware file number?
The seven-digit identifier assigned by the Delaware Division of Corporations when the entity is formed. It is public and permanent.
Is the file number the same as an EIN?
No. The file number is a Delaware state identifier. The EIN is a nine-digit federal tax identifier issued by the IRS.
Which number do I give my bank?
The EIN. A US bank will not open a business account on a state file number alone.
How long does an EIN take?
Immediately online if a responsible party has an SSN or ITIN. Several weeks by fax or mail using Form SS-4 if nobody does.
Can a non-resident get an EIN?
Yes. You file Form SS-4 by fax or mail rather than using the online application.
Where do I find my Delaware file number?
On the stamped Certificate of Formation and in the state's public entity search.
Is the EIN public?
No. There is no free public lookup for EINs the way there is for Delaware entity records.
Do I need a new EIN if I change the company name?
No. Both numbers survive a name change.
Do I need a new EIN if I dissolve and re-form?
Yes. A new legal entity needs a new EIN, even with the same name and owner.
Does the file number tell me if the company is in good standing?
No. It identifies the entity. Standing is a separate status you have to check.
Sources
- Delaware Division of Corporations: entity search and file numbers
- IRS: apply for an Employer Identification Number
- IRS: understanding your EIN
Formats and issuing practice are as published by the Delaware Division of Corporations and the IRS in September 2026. Processing times for an EIN obtained without a US taxpayer identification number vary considerably and are not a published service standard. Example numbers show the shape only.