Guides
RC, NIF, NIS, AI, which identifiers does an auto-entrepreneur actually need?
What the four identifiers requested on an invoice mean, which ones actually apply to an auto-entrepreneur, and what to answer when a client asks for a trade register number.
By the MyHissab team 3 min read
Invoices from Algerian businesses often carry a line reading "RC / NIF / NIS / AI." An auto-entrepreneur does not have all four identifiers, and that is normal. This guide explains what each one designates, which ones apply to you, and how to respond to a client who insists on them.
The four identifiers
| Abbreviation | Meaning | Who holds it | Applies to the auto-entrepreneur? |
|---|---|---|---|
| RC | Trade register, issued by the CNRC | Traders and companies | No: the status does not require it |
| NIF | Tax identification number | Any person or entity known to the tax administration | Yes, if you have been issued one |
| NIS | Statistical identification number (ONS) | Registered businesses | Generally no |
| AI | Tax article | Taxpayers attached to a tax center | Depends on your tax situation |
What identifies the auto-entrepreneur
On your documents, it is your name and your auto-entrepreneur card number issued by the ANAE that serve as identification. Add your NIF if you have one: it helps business clients' accounting departments and the tax administration process your invoices.
The trade register is not required. If a client asks for your RC, the answer is simple: "I fall under the auto-entrepreneur status (law no. 22-23), which does not require a trade register. My identifier is my card number, and here is my NIF." You can attach a copy of your card to the first invoice.
How to get a NIF
The NIF is obtained from the General Directorate of Taxes, generally when you register for the auto-entrepreneur tax regime. If you don't have one yet, contact your local tax center with your auto-entrepreneur card and an ID document. The exact procedure depends on your situation and may change: the tax center is the only reliable source.
Your clients' identifiers
Conversely, your business clients do have an RC, a NIF, often a NIS and an AI. You can include them on the invoice you send them: it helps their accounting. But these fields remain optional: a missing client identifier never prevents issuing a valid invoice. For an individual client, name and address are enough.
On your documents, concretely
Issuer block:
Amine Kaci
Auto-entrepreneur
No. AE 16-00123-24
NIF: 0000 0000 0000 000 (if issued)
Client block (business):
Hydra Services SARL
Hydra, Algiers
RC: 16/00-1234567 B 20 NIF: ... NIS: ... AI: ... (if provided)
In MyHissab
Your auto-entrepreneur profile includes your card number and an optional NIF field. Each client record offers the RC, NIF, NIS, and AI fields, all optional: they print on documents when filled in, and the PDF remains complete when they are not.
This information is provided for practical purposes and reflects the texts in force on the update date. It does not replace advice from the ANAE, the tax administration or a professional. Always check the latest version of the official texts.
Official sources
Texts and bodies consulted for this guide. For any formal procedure, these sources prevail.
- Directorate General of Taxes (DGI) — www.mfdgi.gov.dz
- National Trade Register Centre (CNRC) — www.cnrc.dz
- National Agency for Auto-Entrepreneurs (ANAE) — www.anae.dz
From theory to your first invoice.
MyHissab applies these rules automatically: legal mention, amount in words, revenue caps. Free, no credit card.