First, let me say that I am so sorry for taking so long to respond. Now, to your question and a great one at that. The Individual ID Number is simply a number that helps the Originator identify the Receiver. Usually, an account number, but it can really be anything. The ACH Operating Rules (2009 version) page OR 97 define Individual ID Number as:

“Except as otherwise noted below, this field contains the accounting number by which the Receiver is knows to the Originator. It is included for further identification and for descriptive purposes. The RDFI should assume no specific format to be present (e.g.,presence or absence of dashes), but can assume that the field is pre-edited so that is suitable for description as is (including blanks in unused positions).” The definition then goes on to discuss it’s uses as they relate to CIE and MTE transactions.

As to why no ACH Processing Payment System has ever asked you for the number is that it doesn’t mean anything to them. It is a number unique to you and that Originator.

I hope this helps,
ACHGuy

In the WEB record as described in the ACH Rules guide, the debit record can contain both a Receiving DFI Identification Number (the receiver’s account number in bytes 13-29) and a the receiver’s Individual Identification Number in bytes 40-54. I am not sure what the individual identification number is and how it is different than the account number. When I look it up on Google the individual ID number is defined as “in CIE entry the Individual ID Number is used by the Receiver to identify the account”. This sounds like an account number to me?

Is this correct? If not, where can I as a consumer find my individual ID number and why have no ACH processing payment systems ever asked me for it? Could you say something about this?

Thanks!