Lesson 2: Navigating the System

Mail Codes

A mail code is a three-digit number assigned to a payee’s 11-digit TIN that serves as a TINS mailing address identifier.

Mail codes are assigned by the system in ascending order (unless overridden), beginning with 000 (then 001, 002, etc.). For example, if assigned by the system, a payee with only one mailing address in TINS would have a TIN with the mail code 000 suffixed to it (7XXXXXXXXX1.000).

Note: A TIN master record must have at least one active mail code for the master to be active in the system.

Any agency may make a payment to an existing mail code or, if the address needed for payment does not exist, the agency may create a new mail code.

Secured mail codes

Agencies may request that a specific mail code be secured to prevent the address information from being changed or, in the case of sensitive or classified information, being viewed by other agencies.

For more on mail code security, see Lesson Three: Standardization, Validation and Security of this training.

REMINDER: Confidential data must not be entered in the TINS payee name and address fields as described in Business and Commerce Code, Section 521.002. Examples include Social Security number (SSN), driver’s license number, account number, direct deposit and medical information. See Texas Government Code, Section 552.352 (the Public Information Act) for the statute on the distribution and misuse of confidential information.

Next: Learning Check