Lesson 3: Standardization, Validation and Security

Number Validations

TINS validates each identification number (ID) submitted for setups or changes. This validation process checks to see if the ID number meets the issuing federal agency’s numbering scheme for that type of number; for example:

• The Social Security Administration (SSA) issues Social Security numbers (SSNs) and has a randomized numbering scheme
• The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has guidelines that govern employer identification numbers (EINs) and Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITINs)

The TINS number validation process is not to match a person to the SSN they present or confirm the name of a business to an EIN, but to ensure that the federal agencies’ numbering guidelines are followed and valid numbers are set up in TINS.

More on federal agency numbering guidelines

You should refer to these federal websites for their guidelines:

• The SSA provides Social Security Number Randomization FAQs on ssa.gov
• The IRS provides the guidelines for an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) and Employer Identification Number (EIN) on the irs.gov website

Next: What is an ITIN?