Companies (CAC)
What is an RC number?
A plain explainer of the Nigerian RC number — what it is, where to find it, the BN vs RC vs IT distinction, and how to verify a company by its RC number with the CAC.
Open a corporate bank account, bid for a contract, or invoice another company in Nigeria and you will be asked for your RC number. It is the single most important identifier a registered company has. This explainer covers what an RC number is, where to find yours, how it differs from a BN number, and how to verify a company by its RC number.
What an RC number is
RC stands for Registration Certificate. The RC number is the unique identifier the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) assigns to a registered company at incorporation. It appears on your Certificate of Incorporation and identifies your company in every official context — banking, tax, tenders, contracts.
It is permanent. Once issued, your RC number never changes for the life of the company, even if the company changes its name, directors, or address.
Where to find your RC number
Your RC number is on:
- Your Certificate of Incorporation — printed prominently, usually as "RC 1234567".
- Your CAC status report and any CAC-filed document.
- Bank statements and letterheads, if you have added it.
- The CAC public search portal, by searching your company name.
RC vs BN vs IT — three different prefixes
Not every CAC registration gets an RC number. The prefix tells you the entity type:
- RC — a limited liability company (Ltd or Plc). The classic RC number.
- BN — a registered business name (sole proprietorship or partnership). It has a BN number, not an RC number.
- IT / RC for trustees — an incorporated trustee (NGO, association, church) registered under Part F of the Companies and Allied Matters Act.
Why it matters so much
The RC number is how every other system finds your company. The FIRS ties your TIN to it. Banks verify your incorporation against it. Tender boards check your CAC status by it. PenCom, NSITF and ITF read it on your compliance applications. A wrong or inconsistent RC number across these systems is a common cause of stalled filings, which is why keeping your CAC record clean matters far beyond the CAC itself.
How to verify a company by RC number
Anyone can verify a Nigerian company through the CAC public search using the company name or RC number — useful before paying a new supplier or signing a contract. It confirms the company exists, its registration status, and the registered particulars on file.
If you do not yet have an RC number because your company is not registered, that is a CAC registration. See live filing details on /catalog/CAC.NEW_COMPANY and the CAC hub at /agencies/CAC, and the guide on the cost of registering a company.
Questions
Frequently asked.
What is an RC number?
RC stands for Registration Certificate. It is the unique, permanent identifier the CAC assigns to a registered limited liability company at incorporation. It appears on your Certificate of Incorporation and identifies your company for banking, tax, tenders and contracts.
Where do I find my RC number?
On your Certificate of Incorporation (printed as "RC 1234567"), on your CAC status report and any CAC-filed document, and via the CAC public search by company name.
What is the difference between an RC number and a BN number?
An RC number identifies a limited liability company (Ltd or Plc). A BN number identifies a registered business name — a sole proprietorship or partnership. Incorporated trustees (NGOs, churches) register under a separate Part F category.
Does my RC number ever change?
No. The RC number is permanent for the life of the company, even if you change the company name, directors, or registered address.
How do I verify a company by its RC number?
Use the CAC public search with the company name or RC number. It confirms the company exists, its registration status, and the registered particulars — useful before paying a new supplier or signing a contract.
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