September 30, 2026 - Reading time: 3 minutes

SAM.gov Renewal and FCC Form 498: What Service Providers Need to Know

For E-Rate and Rural Health Care service providers receiving payments from USAC, a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) on FCC Form 498 is only part of being ready for payment. Your organization also needs an active SAM.gov registration and the correct bank account associated with that registration. USAC’s current payment process uses SAM.gov banking information for Universal Service Fund disbursements.

The important distinction: your UEI does not expire, but your SAM.gov registration requires annual renewal. Having a UEI on file does not, by itself, mean your registration is active.

When Does SAM.gov Registration Need to Be Renewed?

SAM.gov requires organizations to renew their registration every 365 days to keep it active. Your renewal date follows your organization’s registration cycle, rather than a shared USAC filing or invoicing deadline. Check the expiration date in your entity record instead of assuming it falls on the same date each funding year.

For example, a team that tracks funding windows and invoice deadlines may still overlook a separate SAM.gov expiration date.

We recommend assigning one person responsibility for renewal and setting advance reminders, with a backup contact available if that person is away.

What Should Service Providers Check Before Invoicing?

Use this checklist to review your payment information:

• FCC Form 498: Confirm that the correct UEI appears on the form in USAC’s E-File system.

• Registration status: Verify that your SAM.gov registration is active.

• Expiration date: Check when the registration needs to be renewed.

• Banking information: Confirm that the bank account associated with your SAM.gov registration is the account intended to receive USF payments.

USAC’s public UEI confirmation data can help you check whether a UEI is listed on Form 498. However, it does not confirm registration status, expiration date, or banking information. Those details must be checked in SAM.gov.

What Happens If the Required Information Is Missing?

Submitting an invoice and receiving payment are separate steps.

USAC states that service providers without a UEI on FCC Form 498 can submit invoices, but their payments will be held until the required SAM.gov registration and UEI steps are completed. USAC sends a payment-hold notification to the remittance contact.

Reviewing your registration before invoicing can help prevent an administrative issue from disrupting expected cash flow.

Do You Need to Update Form 498 After Every SAM.gov Renewal?

No. Annual SAM.gov renewal alone does not require a Form 498 update.

USAC explains that once the renewal is completed, SAM.gov informs USAC. Service providers do not need to take additional action on FCC Form 498 solely because they renewed their registration.

This is different from correcting a missing or incorrect UEI, which requires attention to the information on your form.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does a UEI expire?

No. The UEI remains your organization’s identifier. The SAM.gov entity registration is what requires annual renewal.

Where can I renew my SAM.gov registration?

Visit SAM.gov’s entity registration page and access your Entity Workspace to update or renew your registration.

Where can I find USAC’s official requirements?

Visit USAC’s SAM.gov UEI requirement page for guidance on confirming or adding your UEI and checking the associated bank account.

What Is Creating Friction in Your Invoicing Process?

Keeping registration information current is one part of managing an E-Rate or Rural Health Care workflow.

What is your team’s biggest invoicing challenge: tracking deadlines, organizing documentation, or knowing what needs attention next?

Contact E-Rate Profit Works and tell us where your process gets stuck. Let’s discuss whether our software fits your team’s needs.