Glossary

Command line (aka Line 1)

The starting point or home location on TINS screens for data entry of commands.

Comptroller-assigned number

Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts-issued 11-digit number beginning with 3, assigned to a payee by the Comptroller's office when a Social Security number (SSN), Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) or an Employer's Identification Number (EIN) does not exist or is not appropriate for use as the basis of a TIN. Examples of Comptroller-assigned numbers are temporary numbers, taxpayer numbers and agency repeater numbers.

EFT (electronic file transfer)

Electronic file transfer or EFT is a batch process that agencies submit electronically in which transactions process overnight in TINS. Errors are reported the next day on non-processed reports and on the PMTHIS screen in TINS.

Employer identification number (EIN)

A nine-digit number assigned to a business by the Internal Revenue Service. The nine-digit EIN may serve as the base number for the 11-digit TIN.

Line 1 (aka command line)

The starting point or home location on TINS screens for data entry of commands.

Mail code

A three-digit number unique to each mailing address or direct deposit account under the 11-digit TIN.

Online entry

The processes of entering payee, direct deposit and hold records directly into TINS.

Payee

• Association
• Business trust
• Corporation
• Distributee(s) of an estate
• Estate
• Government or governmental subdivision or agency
• Individual
• Organization
• Partnership
• State employee
• Surviving spouse
• Trust

Paying agency

A state agency that initiates a payment.

Payment

A state warrant or an electronic funds transfer (direct deposit).

Social Security number (SSN)

A nine-digit number assigned to an individual by the Social Security Administration (SSA). The SSN is required for setup of certain ownership types in TINS.

State agency

The term includes but is not limited to the following governmental entities in the executive, legislative or judicial branch of state government:

• Board
• Commission
• Council
• Committee
• Department
• Office
• Agency

The term also includes an institution of higher education, but not a public junior college or community college.

Summary numbers

Used by agencies to apply for a special payee identification number for low dollar, one-time payments to multiple payees.

Temporary TIN

A Comptroller-issued TIN beginning with 3 that is used by a state agency for payments to foreign payees without an SSN, EIN or ITIN.

Texas Identification Number (TIN)

A unique 11-digit number created for the purpose of identifying any payee receiving a payment from the state of Texas.