How to look up New Jersey entity information

New Jersey business entity information, including entity name, type, number, and formation date, is available through the New Jersey Division of Revenue & Enterprise Services business search portal at no cost. This free online database provides immediate access to the key details you need for onboarding, compliance, or business transactions.

In this brief guide, we'll walk you through exactly how to search the New Jersey database, where to find each piece of information, and what format each data point takes in New Jersey's system.

Summary table: Finding your New Jersey entity information

How to search for New Jersey business entities

Access the New Jersey business entity search to look up any registered business by name, entity number, or keyword search with wildcard support. New Jersey's system supports partial matches and wildcard searches using the "%" symbol for unknown characters, but using your complete legal name as registered ensures you get precise results.

New Jersey offers multiple search options, including business name, keyword, and entity ID lookups. The keyword search function is particularly useful when you're unsure of the exact spelling or want to find related entities. 

Click on the entity name in your search results to access the full business profile, which includes your 10-digit entity number, formation date, registered agent information, and compliance status. 

New Jersey prominently displays compliance information, making it easy to verify a business's good standing for contracts or other business transactions.

What you'll see in search results

• Legal entity name (exact spelling and punctuation)
• Entity type (LLC, Corporation, LP, LLP, Not-for-profit Corporation, etc.)
• Entity ID (ten-digit format)
• Formation/incorporation date
• City of incorporation
• Current status (active, inactive, dissolved, revoked)

How to find your entity number in New Jersey

Your New Jersey entity number, officially called your "Entity ID," is a 10-digit number (1234567890) assigned by the Division of Revenue & Enterprise Services when your entity was formed.

Where to locate your New Jersey entity number

1. New Jersey business search (fastest method)

• Located: Prominently displayed in search results and at the top of the entity details page
• Labeled as: "Entity ID" or "Business ID"
• Format: Ten consecutive digits (1234567890)

2. Certificate of Formation/Organization/Incorporation

• Usually at the top of the document
• May be labeled as "File Number," "Document Number," or "Entity ID"
• Stamped by the Division of Revenue & Enterprise Services

3. Annual reports and state correspondence

• Appears on most official DORES documents for registered business entities
• Used as your account identifier for all state filings, online portal access, and status reports where applicable
• Required for online portal access and status reports

New Jersey entity number format

• Format: Exactly ten digits with no letters or prefixes
• Example: 1234567890
• Pattern note: Always enter leading zeros when searching by entity number to ensure accurate results

How to find your entity type in New Jersey

New Jersey recognizes multiple business entity types, listed exactly as shown in your business search results and formation documents.

Where to find your New Jersey entity type

1. New Jersey business search (most accessible)

• Displayed: In the main search results table under "Type" column
• Listed as: "Entity Type" on the detailed business profile page
• Shows standard abbreviations: LLC, Corp, LP, LLP, etc.

2. Certificate of Formation/Organization/Incorporation

• At the top of your formation document
• May state "This is a [Entity Type]" or appear in the document title
• Uses full legal designations (Limited Liability Company, Corporation, etc.)

3. NJ annual reports

• Listed in entity information section
• Cannot be changed without a formal conversion or amendment filing
• Determines specific filing requirements and fees

How to find your formation date in New Jersey

Your formation date appears in New Jersey business search results, but is generally not printed on your Certificate of Formation/Organization.

Where your New Jersey formation date appears

1. New Jersey business search (easiest access)

• Listed as: "Formation Date," "Incorporation Date," or "Date Filed"
• Location: Main search results table and detailed entity profile page
• Always shown in MM/DD/YYYY format

2. Certificate of Formation/Organization/Incorporation

• Top of the document with official state stamp
• May say "Filed on [date]" or "File Date: [date]"
• Sometimes includes both filing and effective dates

3. Annual report confirmations

• Used to calculate annual report due dates and compliance periods, which are based on the original filing date
• Critical for maintaining good standing status
• The confirmation documents do not directly reference the original filing date

Formation date vs. effective date

New Jersey allows businesses to specify a future effective date when filing, creating two different dates:

• Formation date (file date): When DORES processed your paperwork (use this one)
• Effective date: When your entity officially began operations (if you specified a later date)

Most New Jersey entities have identical formation and effective dates since delayed effective dates are uncommon for standard business formations.

Onboard your entity to Discern in minutes

You've gathered what you need from New Jersey's system: business name, entity type, Entity ID, and formation date. Now enter those details into Discern and let our platform handle annual reports, deadline tracking, registered agent coordination, and compliance management across all your jurisdictions.

Book a demo to see how we transform overwhelming compliance management into effortless automation.