A2P 10DLC Background
Business texting is becoming increasingly popular, so mobile carriers have created a new registration process for businesses using 10DLC for A2P messaging—but we have you covered.
We’ll walk you through exactly what these buzzwords mean, how they apply to your business text messaging, and where you can complete your registration.
What is A2P 10DLC?
10DLC refers to a system in the United States that allows businesses to send application to person (A2P) messaging via standard 10 digit long code (10DLC) phone numbers. 10DLC registration is the process by which businesses register their business (brand) and specific messaging use cases (campaign) to the centralized A2P registry, known as The Campaign Registry (TCR).
What is The Campaign Registry?
The Campaign Registry is a central hub for registering A2P 10DLC messaging campaigns. They verify your business to prevent your messages from being filtered by carriers. They are a conduit between your business and mobile carriers.
Why are carriers requiring 10DLC registration?
Carriers require 10DLC registration to prevent spammers from abusing A2P messaging. By verifying your business and the purpose of your messages, they aim to maintain text messaging as a reliable and enjoyable communication channel for both you and your customers.
Starting February 1, 2025, carriers will be blocking all unregistered 10DLC traffic.
How do I register to use 10DLC messaging in Tekmetric?
Who needs to register and by what date?
All Tekmessage users sending messages to US phone numbers need to register. 10DLC registration is not required in Canada. If you're using a Canadian number you only need to register if you are sending messages to US numbers.
We recommend that you submit your registration forms as soon as possible. Starting February 1, 2025 all non registered traffic will be blocked. Registration typically takes ~2 weeks, but can be delayed if your registration is rejected. See these tips on how to avoid rejections.
How do I submit my registration?
Go to Shop Settings > Integrations and click the REGISTER FOR 10DLC button on your Tekmessage card. Once you've submitted your form we'll work with the A2P registry and downstream providers to get your registration approved.
You must have your Tekmessage phone setup in order to register for 10DLC.
What information do I need to provide?
When you register your 10DLC number you’ll need to submit the following information:
Legal Company Name - Legal name must not be abbreviated in any way and must appear exactly as it is filed with the IRS
Doing Business As - Business name presented to your customers
Tax ID / EIN - Ensure you’re entering a valid EIN (US) or BN (Canada). A DUNS number is not acceptable. This should be a 9 digit number.
Company Address - This should match your company business address. Submitting the address of a local branch or any address different from the official registered company address might produce a mismatch.
Business Email - Your business email
Online Presence / Website - Your business website or publicly accessible social media page. A broken website link will lead to rejections.
SMS Privacy Policy & Terms Agreement - We will provide you with an individualized SMS privacy policy and SMS Terms & Conditions for your review when you register. You must agree to the outlined policy and terms to adhere to 10DLC requirements. They will be accessible to your customers on the digital estimate. They do not supersede your broader business privacy policy and terms.
Is a Tax ID required?
Due to the policies of our downstream provider, a valid Tax ID (EIN or BN) is now required in order to verify your business for A2P messaging.
Where can I find my Tax ID / EIN (US)?
If you are a US business, you're required to provide your 9 digit EIN and your legal company name that is consistent with your IRS registration.
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IRS Confirmation Letter: When you first received your EIN, the IRS sent a confirmation letter, which includes your EIN, legal name, and business address. Please enter only the first line as the legal name for the business.
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Business Tax Returns: Your EIN is typically listed on your federal tax return or any correspondence with the IRS.
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Bank Account: If you opened a business bank account, the bank would have required your EIN at the time of opening. You can check your bank documents.
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Payroll Documents: If you use payroll for employees, the EIN is often on payroll tax filings or related forms.
Example confirmation letter:
Where can I find my Tax ID / BN (Canada)?
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CRA Correspondence: When you registered with the CRA, you received a confirmation that included your BN.
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Business Tax Returns: Your BN will be listed on any tax returns or documents you’ve filed with the CRA.
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Bank Documents: If you opened a business bank account in Canada, your bank might have your BN on record.
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My Business Account on CRA: If you have a CRA My Business Account, you can log in to view your business registration information, including the BN.
Please only enter the first 9 numeric digits
What else do I need to do to avoid rejections and delays?
Sometimes reviewers will also check your online presence as part of the business verification process. Addressing the following will help avoid rejections and delays -
- Ensure all information submitted in the registration form is accurate. Legal company name and Tax ID must match exactly what you have in your IRS filing.
- Make sure your website link is working. Broken links will lead to rejections.
- If you have a privacy policy on your website, reviewers will look for acknowledgement that “mobile information collected for SMS communications will not be shared or sold to third parties or affiliates for marketing purposes.” If absent, your registration may be rejected.
- If you have phone number collection fields on your website, ensure it is paired with opt-in text. See example below
How long does the registration process take?
Registration involves a business verification process and a manual review by our downstream provider. This process typically takes ~2 weeks. Rejections can lead to delays.
How will I know the status of my registration?
As your 10DLC registration submission goes through the approval process, you can see the status on your Tekmessage card within the Integrations page. If your submission is rejected you will see an error message - once corrections are made you can resubmit the form.
