SIREN
Nine-digit identification number assigned to each French legal entity. It identifies a company unambiguously in the announcements.
Definition
The SIREN is the nine-digit identification number assigned to each French legal unit, that is, to each legal person or sole proprietorship listed by INSEE. It is used to identify an entity uniquely, independently of its name, which solves the problem of similar names or homonyms.
It is assigned upon registration and remains attached to the entity throughout its life, and after its dissolution. The SIREN appears on extracts from the trade and companies register, on invoices, on notices published in the BODACC and on most administrative forms. It is the key that makes it possible to link scattered information to the same company.
The SIREN must not be confused with the SIRET. The SIRET identifies an establishment: it is composed of the SIREN followed by a five-digit sequence number, called the NIC, which distinguishes the locations of the same company. A company has only one SIREN and as many SIRETs as it has declared establishments.
How it works
Assignment and the directory
The numbers are assigned by INSEE and compiled in the Sirene directory, which describes each legal unit and its establishments. Registry offices contribute to it by transmitting registration, amendment and removal data.
Its use in notices
To find a company's publications, the SIREN is the most reliable criterion. Two companies may have very similar names, a name may change, a number does not. The notices published in the BODACC mention the identification number, which makes it possible to reconstruct a company's history even when its name has changed.
What it is used for in everyday life
A supplier checks the SIREN before granting a payment period. A customer makes sure that it is contracting with the right entity. A creditor uses this number to retrieve all the publications concerning a company, including judgments in collective proceedings. Government agencies use it as a unique identifier to link the filings of the same entity.
For tax purposes, the intra-community VAT number incorporates the SIREN, preceded by the country code and completed by a check key. This construction is a reminder that the SIREN is the basis for the identification of French companies.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I find a company's SIREN?
It appears on registration extracts, invoices, quotes, official publications and institutional directories. A search by company name can also retrieve it, provided the registered office and business activity are verified.
Can the SIREN change?
No. A change of name, address or manager does not change the number. Only the disappearance of the entity ends its use, as the number is never reassigned.
What is the difference from the SIRET?
The SIREN identifies the company, the SIRET identifies the establishment. The latter always begins with the former, followed by five digits that distinguish the place of business.