TAC Code Explained — What the First 8 Digits of an IMEI Mean

Last updated: October 2025 · 5 min read

Every IMEI starts with an 8-digit Type Allocation Code, or TAC. This code identifies the device type — the manufacturer and model — without any communication with the device itself. Understanding how TAC codes work helps you interpret what a device lookup result does and doesn't mean.

What a TAC Is

The TAC is the first eight digits of a 15-digit IMEI number. It is assigned to a specific device model by the GSMA (the Global System for Mobile Communications Association), the international standards body that administers the IMEI system. Before a manufacturer can put an IMEI on a new phone model, they apply to the GSMA for a TAC allocation for that model.

The same TAC appears in every IMEI for a given device model from that manufacturer. So every iPhone 13 of the same configuration shares the same 8-digit TAC prefix, while the remaining 7 digits (serial number + Luhn check digit) make each individual phone unique.

How TAC Allocations Are Made

When a manufacturer creates a new phone model, they submit a request to the GSMA for a TAC. The GSMA maintains the central IMEI database (the GSMA IMEI DB) and allocates TAC ranges to manufacturers. The process is documented in the GSMA's guidelines for terminal manufacturers.

Each TAC is specific to a device configuration — different memory configurations of the same model sometimes have different TACs, and regional variants (US vs. EU models, for example) may also differ. A manufacturer shipping a device in multiple countries may request multiple TACs for the same underlying hardware if the regulatory or hardware configuration differs between markets.

What This Site's TAC Lookup Does

When you check an IMEI on this site, the tool extracts the first 8 digits (the TAC) and looks them up in a built-in reference table. This table is compiled from publicly available TAC allocation information and covers a selection of common devices.

This is a lookup table for common devices — it is not the GSMA's full IMEI database, which is a restricted commercial resource. The GSMA IMEI DB contains all registered TACs globally, but public access to its complete content is not available.

Why a TAC Lookup Returns "Unknown" or "Not Recognized"

If this site shows "TAC not in database" for your IMEI, it means the first 8 digits of the IMEI are not in this site's reference table. There are several normal reasons for this:

• Newer device: The phone was released after this site's reference table was last updated
• Regional variant: The phone is a market-specific model with a TAC not represented in this table
• Less common model: The device is not among the ~120 models this table covers
• Carrier-specific model: Some carrier-branded phones have different TACs from their unlocked equivalents
• Enterprise or industrial device: Rugged phones, IoT devices, and mobile data terminals often have TACs not widely documented publicly

What a TAC Match Tells You

When the TAC lookup returns a match — for example, "Apple iPhone 13" — it means the first 8 digits of the IMEI correspond to a TAC that was allocated by the GSMA for that device model. This is useful for:

• Confirming that the device model stated by a seller is consistent with the IMEI they provided
• Spotting obvious mismatches (an IMEI whose TAC points to a Samsung Galaxy when the seller claims it's an iPhone)
• Identifying the manufacturer when you don't know the device model

A TAC match does not confirm that the phone is genuine (IMEI cloning is possible), that the device is the specific configuration claimed, or that the phone is in any way "safe" to buy. See the full list of what this tool checks for more detail.

IMEI Cloning and TAC Abuse

IMEI cloning involves copying a legitimate IMEI onto a counterfeit or stolen device. Because the cloned IMEI passes format and TAC checks, no software validation can detect it. A cloned IMEI can cause network conflicts (two phones on the same network with the same IMEI may both experience connectivity issues) and can make a stolen phone appear to have a clean IMEI record. Physical inspection and carrier verification remain the most reliable checks for this risk. See our IMEI cloning guide for more.