Symptoms
- I am an Asset Store or Ads publisher.
- I am filling in my tax interview and am getting an error.
- I have entered my TIN number but it is coming up with a "TIN not valid" error.
Cause
There are a number of reasons why this might occur:
- You are entering your U.S. TIN in the Foreign TIN field.
- You are entering a U.S. TIN that is not registered in the U.S. IRS database for that name, resulting in a Name - TIN mismatch.
- You are entering a U.S. TIN including hyphens. Please, do not include hyphens when entering your U.S. TIN.
- You are entering an invalid U.S. TIN.
- You are entering an invalidly formatted foreign TIN. For example, you are entering a VAT number instead of a TIN.
- You are copying and pasting your TIN instead of typing it out.
Resolution
If you cannot proceed in the tax interview, it will likely be due to a part of the form being entered incorrectly. The form itself will specify exactly what needs to be altered in red text for you to be able to proceed.
Please check the causes above and ensure you are not entering your TIN incorrectly or in the wrong part of the form. If in doubt, please contact your local tax authority for advice.
More Information
Disclaimer: Information in this article does not constitute tax, legal, or other professional advice. To find out how this legislation will affect you or your business, or if you have other questions, please contact your tax, legal, or other professional advisor. Please keep in mind the IRS may update their forms and requirements at any time. While we do our best to keep this information up to date, the IRS may have made changes. The most current IRS form, information and instructions will supersede any information provided in this FAQ. All IRS forms and instructions are available online at http://www.irs.gov.