Quick option: To run a TIN Check, go to Forms, select the forms you want to check, click TIN Check, and then click Proceed to Checkout. Adams Tax Forms Helper checks the name and Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) on each form against IRS records and emails you the results.
TIN Check is optional, but it helps you catch name and TIN mismatches before you file. In Adams Tax Forms Helper, payers and employers are called Issuers, and TIN Check checks both the Issuer and the recipient on each form you select. You can also start a TIN Check from the Recipients page by selecting recipients and clicking TIN Check.
Before you start
Each recipient you want checked needs a TIN on file.
Run a TIN Check
Click the menu icon in the top left, then click Forms.
Check the box on each form you want to check.
Click TIN Check in the bar that appears at the bottom of the page.
Review the list under Will be checked, then click Proceed to Checkout. The list shows each Issuer and recipient, the cost of each, and your total.
REVIEW: In UAT, with prepaid credits on the account, Proceed to Checkout placed the order right away with no payment or confirm step, even though the page says nothing is added to your cart until you click it. Confirm what customers without credits see (a payment step?) and add a step if needed.
Click View My Forms on the You're All Set! page.
REVIEW: The confirmation page uses generic eFile wording ("We will send them to the agency", "Filed forms are now locked and ready for processing"). Confirm whether a TIN Check order locks forms; if not, flag this copy to the product team.
What happens next
Your TIN Check runs overnight, and the results are emailed to you. Until then, each checked form shows TIN check pending on the Forms page. During busy filing periods, results can take up to 48 hours.
REVIEW: Confirm the status labels customers see after results come back (for example, matched or mismatched) and add them here.
Common questions
Should I wait for my results before I eFile?
We recommend it. eFiling doesn't wait for TIN Check results, so wait for your results email, fix any rejected names or TINs, and then file.
Why does it say none of my forms need a TIN Check?
If you start a TIN Check from your cart, this means the recipients on those forms are already verified, already have a check in progress, or don't have a TIN on file. Add the missing TIN or choose different forms.
Why was I asked to run a TIN Check before eFiling?
Adams Tax Forms Helper reminds you when some recipients have unverified TINs. Click Run TIN Check First to check them before you file, or Skip TIN Check to eFile now without the check.
How much does a TIN Check cost?
Each TIN Check is $0.99, and each Issuer and recipient listed under Will be checked counts as one check. Any prepaid TIN Check credits you have are applied at checkout.
What do I do if a name and TIN don't match?
Update the name or TIN on the Issuer or recipient so it matches IRS records exactly, then run a new TIN Check. Rejection Reason: TIN and Name Must Match IRS Records explains what to look for.
Once your results are in, you're ready to eFile with the IRS or SSA.