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TIN (ITIN) Match – Taxpayer Identification Number Verification

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Frequently nonresident and resident aliens, their spouses, and dependents who cannot get an SSN apply for a TIN.

An ITIN, or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number, is a tax processing number only available for certain nonresident and resident aliens, their spouses, and dependents who cannot get a Social Security Number (SSN). It is a 9-digit number, beginning with the number “9”, formatted like an SSN.

Taking a second look at applicants who provide a TIN instead of SSN number

While there are legitimate and perfectly legal reasons to use a TIN (Taxpayer Identification Number), employers must be watchful as to why. Oftentimes, sole proprietorship businesses may use a TIN instead of the individual owner’s SSN.

If they have a valid SSN, why do they provide an ITIN instead?

Here is where it gets a little bit trickier. ITIN numbers cannot be verified to the individual’s true identity (DOB, aliases, and former addresses). In order to properly check into someone’s past, an employer must verify that a person is whom they say they are. Otherwise, you may be searching for a non-existent person with obviously, clean records. For instance, a TIN match may verify that “John Doe” has a valid ITIN issued to his name, but does not reveal his exact DOB. Thus, a criminal records search may return a “false negative” if John Doe provided a slightly different DOB. Interestingly enough, John Doe’s legal name could be Johnny Doe or Juan Doe and still get a match from the IRS TIN match at an 80% match threshold. This can also throw off a criminal background check.
Lastly, a new employee could be collecting unemployment insurance compensation using their SSN as that could very well be the reason why they are providing the employer a TIN number.

As an employer, what steps can I take if given a TIN number?

Our TIN match service does not just stop once we obtain a TIN match. We go the extra step to verify their true identity using different algorithms in order to confirm the information they provided and alert you to that effect so that you may now process a valid criminal background check.

Reporting incorrect SSN or TIN number to the IRS and/or State revenue agencies may hold you accountable for reporting W-2 or Form 1099 income to the wrong Taxpayer Identification Number.

IRS TIN/Name mismatch penalties have increased for 2018. Now $260 per mismatch, $3,218,500 maximum.

In the example below applicant provided the following information:

Name John S. Doe
SSN 960-55-1212
DOB 01/10/1985
Address 1120 No Oak Ln, Anytown, MO 89542

TIN Matching Report

Unable to Verify Name/Address Records Associated with SSN Input

This could be due to recently issued SSN, DHS work-only Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN), minor’s status or invalid SSN input. It is also recommended to verify employment eligibility thru uscis.gov/e-verify

Our TIN Matching Service has provided these results:

TIN and Name combination matches IRS SSN records
EIN not found: TIN is an SSN. 
No Death Master File Match Found.
No GIIN provided. GIIN lookup skipped.
Address verified as valid, checked for proper Postal Service format and standardized if necessary
USPS Standardized address: (changes have been highlighted)
1120 No Oak Ln
Anytown, MO 89542 Delivery Point Code: 558
OFAC/SDN List: No Match Found
Nevada GCB Excluded Person List: No Match Found
Mississippi Gaming Commission Exclusion List: No Match Found
Illinois Gaming Board Exclusion List: No Match Found
Missouri Gaming Commission Exclusion List: No Match Found
New Jersey Casino Control Commission Exclusion List: No Match Found
Denied Persons List: No Match Found
Excluded Parties List: No Match Found
Health And Human Services List: No Match Found
Central Intelligence Agency: No Match Found
FBI: Most Wanted Terrorists: No Match Found
FBI: White Collar Crime: No Match Found
FBI: Additional Violent Crimes: No Match Found
FBI: Crime Alerts: No Match Found
FBI: Crimes Against Children: No Match Found
FBI: Cyber Crimes: No Match Found
FBI: Criminal Enterprise Investigations: No Match Found
FBI: Domestic Terrorism: No Match Found
FBI: Seeking Information: No Match Found
FBI: Seeking Terror Information: No Match Found
FBI: Ten Most Wanted: No Match Found
FBI: Violent Crimes – Murders: No Match Found
Department of State: No Match Found
Foreign Sanctions Evaders (FSE) List: No Match Found
IRS FATCA GIIN List: No Match Found
EU Sanctions List: No Match Found
Arms Export Control Act List: No Match Found
Foreign Financial Institutions Subj. 561 List: No Match Found
IRS Exempt Organizations List: No Match Found
Iranian Sanctions Act List: No Match Found
Sectoral Sanctions Identifications List: No Match Found
Unverified List: No Match Found
Entity List: No Match Found
Palestinian Legislative Council List: No Match Found
Ukraine-Russia Related Sanctions List: No Match Found
Anti-Terrorism Financing Entities List: No Match Found
Iran-Syria Nonproliferation Act List: No Match Found
Anti-Terrorism Financing List: No Match Found
United Nations Consolidated: No Match Found
Treasury Consolidated: No Match Found
US Commodity Futures Trading Commission. Administrative Sanctions: No Match Found
US Commodity Futures Trading Commission. Reparations Sanctions: No Match Found
US Commodity Futures Trading Commission. Reparations Sanctions: No Match Found
US Commodity Futures Trading Commission. Reparations Sanctions: No Match Found
US Commodity Futures Trading Commission. Reparations Sanctions: No Match Found
Government of Canada Justice Laws Freezing Assets of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act: No Match Found
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