SIRET Number

What is a SIRET Number?

The SIRET (Système d'Identification du Répertoire des Établissements) is a 14-digit French identifier for business establishments. It is the primary business identifier used in French e-invoicing.

Structure

A SIRET number combines two components:

Component Digits Purpose
----------------------------
SIREN First 9 Identifies the legal entity (company)
NIC Last 5 Identifies the specific establishment (location)

A single company can have multiple SIRETs — one per physical establishment. But it has only one SIREN.

Example

SIRET:  12345678901234
        └─SIREN──┘└NIC┘
        123456789  01234

In French E-Invoicing

France is implementing mandatory B2B e-invoicing through PDP (Plateformes de Dématérialisation Partenaires) platforms. The SIRET is the primary business identifier:

12345678901234

In Factur-X invoices, the SIRET identifies both seller and buyer establishments.

SIRET vs Other French Identifiers

Identifier Format Scope
---------------------------
SIREN 9 digits Entire company
SIRET 14 digits (9+5) Specific establishment
TVA intracommunautaire FR + 2 + SIREN EU VAT transactions
NAF/APE 4 digits + letter Business activity code

In Chorus Pro (B2G)

For invoices to French government entities via Chorus Pro, the SIRET is required for both seller and buyer. The buyer's SIRET determines which public entity receives the invoice.

Common Errors