UEI Validation Problems: Troubleshooting Guide for SAM.gov Registration

Why UEI Validation Fails

UEI (Unique Entity ID) validation in SAM.gov checks your business information against IRS records. Most failures come from minor data mismatches—your business name, address, or EIN doesn't exactly match what the IRS has on file. The solution is usually simple: verify your exact legal information with the IRS and update SAM.gov to match precisely.

70%

Name Mismatch Issues

20%

Address Problems

10%

EIN/Other Issues

Problem #1: Business Name Mismatch

The most common cause of UEI validation failure. Your SAM.gov business name must exactly match your IRS records—including punctuation, abbreviations, and spacing.

Common Name Mismatches

SAM.gov Entry (Wrong)	IRS Record (Correct)
ABC Company LLC	ABC Company, LLC
Smith & Jones Inc	Smith and Jones Inc.
J.D. Services L.L.C.	JD Services LLC
The Johnson Group	Johnson Group

Solution: Verify with IRS

Request IRS Letter 147C

Call IRS at 1-800-829-4933 and request your exact legal business name

Check Your EIN Assignment Letter

The CP 575 letter shows your exact name as registered with IRS

Update SAM.gov to Match Exactly

Copy character-for-character, including punctuation

Problem #2: Address Discrepancies

Address validation also checks against IRS records. Use your registered business address exactly as the IRS has it—not your current mailing address if different.

Common Address Issues

Street Abbreviations

"Street" vs "St." vs "St" — must match IRS record

Suite/Unit Numbers

"Suite 100" vs "Ste 100" vs "#100" — formatting matters

Changed Address

If you moved, IRS may have old address. File Form 8822-B first

PO Box vs Physical

SAM.gov requires physical address; match what IRS has

Solution

1. Check your business tax return for the address used
2. Call IRS to verify your address on file
3. If address changed, file Form 8822-B before resubmitting
4. Use USPS standard abbreviations consistently

Problem #3: EIN/TIN Validation Issues

Your Employer Identification Number (EIN) must match the business name you're registering. If you have multiple EINs or changed your business structure, this can cause problems.

Common EIN Problems

Wrong EIN for Entity

Using a sole proprietor SSN/EIN when you should use the LLC EIN, or vice versa. Each legal entity has its own EIN.

Typo in EIN

Double-check every digit. One wrong number = validation failure.

Recent EIN Assignment

New EINs may not be in IRS database yet. Wait 2 weeks after getting a new EIN.

Problem #4: Registration Stuck in "Submitted"

Sometimes registrations stay in "Submitted" status for weeks without moving forward.

Possible Causes

!High volume periods (fiscal year end, after policy changes)
!Manual review queue (triggered by certain responses)
!IRS database delays
!Incomplete submission (missing required fields)

What to Do

1. Wait 10 business days — this is normal processing time
2. Check your email — look for requests for additional information
3. Log into SAM.gov — check for in-app notifications
4. Contact Federal Service Desk — if over 15 business days

Getting Help

Federal Service Desk

Official support for SAM.gov issues

Phone: 866-606-8220
Hours: M-F 8am-8pm ET
Web: fsd.gov

Have your UEI request ID or SAM.gov username ready

IRS Business Line

For verifying your exact business information

Phone: 1-800-829-4933
Request: Letter 147C
Have ready: EIN, business info

Best called early morning for shorter wait times

Avoid Scam "Assistance"

There's no legitimate paid service to "speed up" UEI validation. Companies charging for registration assistance are often scams. The Federal Service Desk is free and is the only official support channel.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does UEI validation take?

Typically 1-3 business days for the UEI assignment itself, but overall SAM.gov registration takes 10-15 business days total including IRS TIN validation.

Can I resubmit after a rejection?

Yes. Fix the identified issues and resubmit. There's no penalty for resubmitting. Each submission is reviewed independently.

What if my IRS information is wrong?

You'll need to update your information with the IRS first (Form 8822-B for address, or call to correct name issues), then wait for their systems to update before resubmitting to SAM.gov.

My DBA name was rejected—what do I do?

SAM.gov validates your legal name, not your DBA (doing business as). Register under your legal entity name. You can add your DBA as an alternate name after registration is complete.

I have an ITIN, not an EIN. Can I register?

Sole proprietors can use their SSN or ITIN for SAM.gov registration. However, most government contractors operate as LLCs or corporations with EINs. Consider formalizing your business structure.

Once Registered, Start Finding Contracts

After your UEI validation succeeds and SAM.gov registration is active, use BidFinds to discover government contract opportunities matched to your business.

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SAM.gov Registration Guide

Complete step-by-step process

CAGE Code Guide

Next step after UEI validation