What is the difference between an EIN and a resale certificate?
SHORT ANSWER
An EIN is a federal tax ID for your business. A resale certificate is a state-level document used when buying qualifying inventory for resale.
They come from different places and do different jobs. The EIN comes from the IRS and identifies the business. The resale certificate is issued or accepted under state rules and relates to sales tax on goods you intend to resell.
Suppliers often ask for both, which is why operators assume they are the same thing.
For example
Your EIN goes on the credit application. Your resale documentation goes to the supplier's tax file.
Why it matters
Getting the two confused is the most common reason a first wholesale account stalls.
The mistake to avoid
Assuming an EIN alone lets you buy without the supplier collecting sales tax.
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LAST UPDATED 2026-09-16 · REVIEWED BY REGISTIX OPERATIONS TEAM