A Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) is used to identify individuals and businesses for tax purposes.
Selecting the Correct Format
Most businesses (labeled "Payer" on your tax form) use an EIN as their TIN, formatted as XX-XXXXXXX.
However, some businesses may use their SSN as their TIN, formatted as XXX-XX-XXXX.
For the purpose of filling out your forms, the only difference between these two options is the formatting (i.e. where the hyphen is placed).
- EIN: If the TIN on your form is in the format XX-XXXXXXX, select “EIN” from the dropdown menu.
- SSN: If the TIN on your form is in the format XXX-XX-XXXX, select "SSN" from the dropdown menu.
If you're unsure which format to use, you may refer to your tax form.