If you are completing a Request for Live Scan Service form in California, you may notice a field labeled Billing Number. That often leads to questions such as what is billing number, who provides it, and whether you need one before completing your fingerprints.
A billing number on a Live Scan form is not normally a number that an individual applicant creates for themselves. It is associated with an authorized agency’s billing arrangement for fingerprint processing fees.
If your applicant agency has provided a billing number, it should be entered exactly as instructed. If no billing number was provided, you should not make one up.
At Downtown Live Scan, we provide professional Live Scan fingerprinting services and can help applicants understand the information appearing on their fingerprinting forms before their fingerprints are captured.
What Is Billing Number on Live Scan?
So, what is billing number on Live Scan paperwork?
A billing number is an identifying number used when an authorized agency has established an account that allows certain fingerprint processing fees to be billed to that agency rather than collected from the applicant at the time of fingerprinting.
The California Department of Justice (DOJ) refers to this as a billing number associated with an agency’s billing account. The requesting agency determines whether its billing number should be used for a particular applicant or transaction.
This is different from several other numbers that may appear on a Live Scan form, including the ORI number and ATI number.
What Is an Agency Billing Number for Live Scan?
An agency billing number Live Scan applicants see on their form generally relates to the organization requesting their fingerprints.
An authorized requesting agency may establish billing arrangements for applicable fingerprint processing fees. When appropriate, the agency provides its billing number for the transaction.
For example, an employer, licensing organization, government entity, or other authorized applicant agency may arrange to have certain fees billed through its account rather than requiring the applicant to pay those specific fees.
That does not necessarily mean the entire Live Scan appointment is free.
Depending on the arrangement, the applicant may still be responsible for other charges, including the fingerprint rolling fee or other applicable service fees.
Organizations that regularly send applicants for fingerprinting can also learn more about our corporate billing options for Live Scan services.
Is a Billing Number the Same as an ORI Number?
No. A billing number Live Scan field and an ORI number serve different purposes.
The ORI identifies the agency authorized to receive the results of the fingerprint-based background check.
The billing number, when applicable, relates to the agency’s billing arrangement.
You should not enter an ORI number into the billing-number field simply because both appear on the same Request for Live Scan form.
If you’re unsure about the ORI on your paperwork, Downtown Live Scan also has a guide explaining what an ORI number is and why it matters for Live Scan.
You may also see other agency-specific information on your form, including an OCA number. Learn what an OCA number means for fingerprinting.
Is a Billing Number the Same as an ATI Number?
No.
The ATI number—Automated Transaction Identifier—is associated with your fingerprint transaction after the Live Scan is performed.
The billing number relates to billing.
The ATI number relates to the fingerprint submission itself and can later be important when checking your background check status.
This distinction is important:
ORI Number → identifies the authorized recipient/requesting agency
Billing Number → relates to an agency billing account
ATI Number → identifies the Live Scan transaction
If you need help locating your ATI number after fingerprinting, read our guide on how to get your ATI number for Live Scan.
Where Is the Billing Number on a Live Scan Form?
On California’s Request for Live Scan Service paperwork, the billing information appears in the agency-related portion of the form.
The exact appearance of your request for Live Scan paperwork may vary depending on the applicant type or agency involved, so don’t assume every form will look identical.
If an agency billing number Live Scan transaction requires has already been entered on your form, don’t alter it unless instructed to do so by the requesting agency.
What If My Live Scan Form Does Not Have a Billing Number?
This is one of the most important things to understand:
Not every Live Scan applicant will have a billing number.
If the billing-number field is blank, that does not automatically mean your Live Scan application is incomplete.
A billing number generally applies when the requesting organization has an appropriate billing arrangement and has instructed that the number be used.
If you believe your employer or agency is supposed to pay the applicable government processing fees but no billing information appears on your form, contact the requesting agency before your appointment to confirm the payment arrangement.
Do not guess or enter a number yourself.
Who Gives Me the Billing Information?
If a billing number is required, it should come from the appropriate agency—not from the applicant inventing one and not from the Live Scan provider arbitrarily assigning one.
Your employer, licensing organization, government department, law enforcement agency, or other authorized organization requesting the fingerprints may provide the necessary billing information when applicable.
A Live Scan operator processes the transaction based on the information supplied for the authorized fingerprint request.
Does a Billing Number Mean My Live Scan Is Free?
Not necessarily.
This is an excellent distinction to make because applicants sometimes assume that an agency billing number means there will be no charge at the fingerprinting location.
An agency’s billing arrangement may cover specified government processing fees, but a Live Scan provider may still charge a separate rolling fee for capturing and submitting the fingerprints.
Other fees may also apply depending on the type of background check and services requested.
If your organization gave you a billing number, ask exactly which fees the agency is covering.
What Information Is Needed for a Live Scan?
The information required depends on the applicant type and requesting agency.
Your Live Scan paperwork may include information such as:
- Applicant name
- Date of birth
- Applicant type
- ORI number
- Agency information
- Billing number, when applicable
- Other identifying or transaction information required for the authorized background check
Applicants should generally arrive with their completed form, photo ID, and payment for any applicable fees.
Downtown Live Scan can then complete the fingerprint capture portion of the process.
What Happens During the Live Scan Appointment?
During your appointment, the Live Scan operator reviews the required paperwork and identification before capturing your fingerprints electronically.
Your fingerprint images are submitted according to the information contained on the Live Scan form for the appropriate authorized background check.
Live Scan is commonly used for employment, licensing, certification, permits, volunteering, and other legally authorized purposes.
The fingerprinting provider does not determine the outcome of your criminal history record check and does not decide whether an applicant receives a license, position, or clearance.
Can I Use Someone Else’s Billing Number?
You should only use billing information specifically authorized for your fingerprint transaction.
A billing number belongs to an agency’s established billing arrangement and should not be copied from another person’s form or another transaction simply to avoid paying fingerprint processing fees.
If you’re uncertain whether a billing number applies to you, contact the agency that requested your fingerprints.
What If the Billing Information on My Form Is Wrong?
Do not simply replace agency information with what you think it should be.
The information on your Request for Live Scan Service form determines how the transaction is processed and where appropriate results are directed.
If you believe the applicant agency, ORI, billing number, or applicant type is incorrect, contact the requesting organization for clarification or a corrected form before completing your fingerprints.
That can help prevent avoidable problems with your submission.
Can I Get a Copy of My Live Scan Background Check?
A standard applicant Live Scan transaction is generally performed on behalf of an authorized requesting agency. The Live Scan location itself does not receive your complete criminal history record simply because it captured your fingerprints.
If your purpose is to request a copy of your own California criminal history record for personal review, that is a different process commonly referred to as a Record Review.
Applicants seeking a Record Review should follow the appropriate process for requesting and receiving their own record rather than using an employer or licensing agency’s Live Scan request.
In other words, asking to receive a copy of your own record and completing fingerprints for an employer or licensing agency are not necessarily the same type of Live Scan transaction.
How Do I Check My Live Scan Background Check Status?
After completing your fingerprints, keep your copy of the Live Scan form.
Your ATI number and date of birth are important when you need to check the status of the fingerprint submission.
Remember that fingerprint background check status and the status of an employment or licensing application are different things.
Your fingerprints may have already been processed while the requesting agency is still reviewing your application.
For more information, read our guide on how to check your Live Scan results in California.
Frequently Asked Questions About Live Scan Billing Numbers
What is billing number?
A Live Scan billing number is associated with an authorized agency’s billing account and may allow specified fingerprint processing fees to be billed to that agency.
What is billing number on Live Scan?
The billing-number field identifies an agency billing arrangement when one applies to the fingerprint transaction. It is not the same as your ORI or ATI number.
Do all Live Scan forms need a billing number?
No. A blank billing-number field does not automatically mean the form is incomplete.
Can Downtown Live Scan give me an agency billing number?
The appropriate billing information should come from the requesting agency when its billing account applies to your transaction.
Will I still pay a rolling fee if my agency has a billing number?
Possibly. An agency billing arrangement may cover certain processing fees while the fingerprinting location’s rolling or service fee remains the applicant’s responsibility.
What if I don’t know my billing number?
If your agency told you that it will cover applicable processing fees but you weren’t given the necessary billing information, contact the requesting agency before completing your Live Scan.
Need Live Scan Fingerprinting Services in Los Angeles?
If you have your Request for Live Scan Service form and are ready to complete your fingerprints, Downtown Live Scan provides professional Live Scan fingerprinting services in Los Angeles.
We’ll capture your fingerprints electronically and process the fingerprint transaction according to the information provided on your authorized Live Scan form.
Ready to Complete Your Live Scan?
Bring your Live Scan form, photo ID and payment for applicable fees, and we’ll help you complete the fingerprinting process.