Data Universal Numbering System

<h2 id="details">Details</h2>
The DUNS number is a nine-digit number, issued by D&B, assigned to each business location in the D&B database, having a unique, separate, and distinct operation for the purpose of identifying them. The DUNS number is random, and the digits have no apparent significance. Until approximately December 2006, the DUNS number contained a <a href="/facts/Luhn_algorithm/s44Qds5L">mod-10</a> <a href="/facts/Check_digit/qMlumJpU">check digit</a> to support error detection. Discontinuing the check digit increased the inventory of available DUNS numbers by 800 million. As of 25 February 2017, the website shows that there is no charge to get a DUNS number, and the time to create the number is 24 to 48 hours.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:2" href="#fn:2">2</a> When obtaining a DUNS number online, the wait is usually 30 business days, but the assignment of a number can be immediate for UK businesses that provide their company registration number. When purchasing the "Small Business Starter" from <a href="/facts/Dun_%2526_Bradstreet_Credibility_Corp/rWdtVo1D">Dun & Bradstreet Credibility Corp</a>, the wait time reduces to 5 business days or less.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:3" href="#fn:3">3</a>
Unlike national <a href="/facts/Employer_identification_number/SR5cNsdA">employer identification numbers</a>, a DUNS number may be issued to any business worldwide. Prior to 2022, certain U.S. government agencies required that a vendor have a DUNS number and a U.S. Employer Identification Number (EIN). Other agencies, such as some United Nations offices and <a href="/facts/Australian_government/UAFhWff0">Australian government</a> agencies, require certain businesses to have a DUNS number.
A DUNS number is sometimes formatted with embedded dashes to promote readability, such as "15-048-3782". Modern usage typically omits dashes and shows the number as in the form "150483782". The dashes are not part of D&B's official definition of the DUNS number.
Businesses may choose to append four extra alphanumeric characters to their DUNS number. This is called a DUNS+4 number. The suffix is for the use of the business (for example, to identify different electronic funds transfer accounts). It has no significance otherwise and is not tracked by Dun & Bradstreet.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:4" href="#fn:4">4</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:5" href="#fn:5">5</a>
From October 2003<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:6" href="#fn:6">6</a>
to April 2022<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:7" href="#fn:7">7</a>
the United States government required that all organizations doing business with the federal government use a DUNS number as an identifier. After April 4, 2022, the federal government instead began using the <a href="/facts/Unique_Entity_Identifier/06fmBI9l">Unique Entity ID</a> created in <a href="/facts/System_for_Award_Management/B6lRpr1x">SAM.gov</a>.
Prior to DUNS numbers, the U.S. government used another coding system known as <a href="/facts/ACASS/p5vT1a8V">ACASS</a>. The ACASS number was abolished on 5 October 2005, when a modernized platform replaced the ACASS system.

<h2 id="see-also">See also</h2>
<ul><li><a href="/facts/Australian_Business_Number/sALMkq6h">Australian Business Number</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/CNPJ/qjLSeCo2">CNPJ</a> Brazilian National Registry of Legal Entities</li>
<li><a href="/facts/Commercial_and_Government_Entity_code/ubuEmXo6">Commercial and Government Entity code</a> (CAGE Code), issued by the <a href="/facts/Defense_Logistics_Information_Service/7V7uVm10">Defense Logistics Information Service</a> to identify suppliers to the <a href="/facts/United_States_Department_of_Defense/dWAvf7e3"> Department of Defense</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/Legal_Entity_Identifier/M1LXAXjU">Legal Entity Identifier</a> an identification scheme identifies distinct legal entities that engage in financial transactions</li>
<li><a href="/facts/Paydex/1pzHDwIA">Paydex</a> score, used to determine the creditworthiness of a corporation, similar to the <a href="/facts/FICO/CDxSyoWq">FICO</a> score used for individuals</li>
<li><a href="/facts/System_for_Award_Management/B6lRpr1x">System for Award Management</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/Trading_Partner_Identification_Number/f8QFf2hD">Trading Partner Identification Number</a> (TPIN), issued by the <a href="/facts/Central_Contractor_Registration/B6lRpr1x">Central Contractor Registration</a> of the U.S. Government</li>
<li><a href="/facts/Unique_Entity_Identifier/06fmBI9l">Unique Entity Identifier</a></li></ul>

<h2 id="references">References</h2>

<ol>
<li id="fn:1">"What is a D‑U‑N‑S Number?". Dun & Bradstreet. <a href="https://www.dnb.com/duns-number.html" target="_blank">https://www.dnb.com/duns-number.html</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:2">"What is a D‑U‑N‑S Number?". Dun & Bradstreet. <a href="https://www.dnb.com/duns-number.html" target="_blank">https://www.dnb.com/duns-number.html</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:3">"Obtaining a DUNS Number: A Guide for Federal Grant and Cooperative Agreement Applicants" (PDF). Office of Management and Budget – via National Archives. <a href="https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/sites/default/files/omb/grants/duns_num_guide.pdf" target="_blank">https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/sites/default/files/omb/grants/duns_num_guide.pdf</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:4">"Updating DUNS+4 for Remit Address". United States Forest Service. <a href="https://www.fs.fed.us/business/incident/static/onlinehelp/Content/Company/Updating%20DUNS+4%20for%20Remit%20Address.htm" target="_blank">https://www.fs.fed.us/business/incident/static/onlinehelp/Content/Company/Updating%20DUNS+4%20for%20Remit%20Address.htm</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:5">"Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) Number". Code of Federal Regulations. United States Government Publishing Office. <a href="https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CFR-2008-title48-vol2/xml/CFR-2008-title48-vol2-sec52-204-6.xml" target="_blank">https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CFR-2008-title48-vol2/xml/CFR-2008-title48-vol2-sec52-204-6.xml</a> <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:6">68 FR 38402 <a href="/wiki/Federal_Register" target="_blank">/wiki/Federal_Register</a> <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:7">"Unique Entity Identifier Update The New Unique Entity Identifier is Here". General Services Administration. Retrieved 2023-03-06. <a href="https://www.gsa.gov/about-us/organization/federal-acquisition-service/technology-transformation-services/integrated-award-environment-iae/iae-systems-information-kit/unique-entity-identifier-update" target="_blank">https://www.gsa.gov/about-us/organization/federal-acquisition-service/technology-transformation-services/integrated-award-environment-iae/iae-systems-information-kit/unique-entity-identifier-update</a> <a href="#fnref:7" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
</ol>

Data Universal Numbering System open-in-new

Data Universal Numbering System