How to Find Your New York Sales Tax ID (Certificate of Authority Number)

New York identifies businesses for sales tax purposes using a sales tax vendor identification number, also called your Certificate of Authority number or Sales Tax ID. This guide explains what the number is, where to find it, and how to obtain one.

What Is My New York Sales Tax ID?

Your sales tax vendor identification number is the number the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance uses to identify your sales tax account. It appears on your Certificate of Authority, the document that authorizes your business to collect sales tax, make taxable sales in New York State, and issue or accept most sales tax exemption certificates.

For most businesses, this number is the federal Employer Identification Number (EIN). If your business did not have an EIN when it registered, the Tax Department assigned a temporary New York ID number instead.

After your application is approved, the Tax Department mails your Certificate of Authority to the address on your application, typically within about five business days. New York requires the certificate to be displayed in plain view at your place of business.

Where to Find It

If you've already registered with the Tax Department, you can find your sales tax ID in any of the following places:

• Your Certificate of Authority. Because New York requires this certificate to be displayed at your place of business, a physical copy is often posted on-site. Your vendor identification number is printed on it.

• Your Business Online Services account. Log in to your Business Online Services account at http://tax.ny.gov and review your account summary to confirm the number on file. This is the same account used to file New York sales tax returns.

• A previously filed sales tax return. Your vendor identification number appears at the top of Forms ST-100, ST-101, and ST-810, whether the return was filed by you or by a previous provider.

• Your New York Business Express approval correspondence. If you applied through New York Business Express, the Tax Department sends application updates, including your approval notice, to the email address linked to your NY.gov Business account. Check that inbox for the confirmation and approval messages tied to your application.

• New York State Tax Department correspondence. Notices, letters, and account-related communications reference your sales tax ID.

⚠️ Important: Two other New York documents use similar names. A New York State Vendor ID is a separate 10-digit number for businesses that sell goods or services to New York State government agencies. A Certificate of Authority from the Department of State is the document that lets an out-of-state business operate in New York, which is a business registration matter, not a sales tax one. The number you need here comes from your sales tax Certificate of Authority issued by the Department of Taxation and Finance, and it is usually your EIN.

Still Can't Find It?

If your Certificate of Authority has been lost or destroyed, you can request a duplicate or replacement from the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance. Contact the Sales Tax Information Center at (518) 485-2889.

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