SIREN / SIRET

What are SIREN and SIRET?

SIREN and SIRET are the official numbers that identify businesses in France, issued by the national statistics institute (INSEE). The numbers appear on invoices and other official documents. In the French e-invoicing reform, they are central to how invoices are addressed and routed, because they identify exactly who an invoice is from and who the recipient is.

The difference between SIREN and SIRET

The SIREN number is a 9-digit number that identifies the company as a legal entity. The SIRET number is a 14-digit number that identifies a specific establishment or location of that company. It holds the 9-digit SIREN plus a 5-digit code (called the NIC) for the individual site. This means that one company has only one SIREN, but it can have several SIRET numbers, one for each of its establishments.

Why they matter for e-invoicing

In the French e-invoicing system, the SIREN is used to route invoices. When an invoice is sent, the recipient's SIREN is looked up in L'Annuaire, the central directory, to find which platform should receive it. The SIRET can then be used to direct an invoice to a specific site within a larger organisation. Correct SIREN and SIRET numbers are therefore crucial, because an invoice with a missing or incorrect number cannot be routed or delivered.

What it means for your business

You will need to make sure your own SIREN and SIRET are correct in your setup, and that you use your trading partners' correct numbers on invoices. Your accredited platform uses these numbers to register you in L'Annuaire and to route invoices to the right recipient. An accredited platform like Inexchange helps you keep this information correct, so your invoices reach the right company, and the right location, every time.