TIN Verification configurations

What these configurations cover

TIN Verification confirms that a name and Taxpayer Identification Number match a record in the Internal Revenue Service database. Its configurations are the set of Verification checks the template requires, which is what decides whether an attempt ends up passed or failed.

TIN Verification offers required or un-required Verification checks.

Where to find it in the Dashboard

Documentation > Verification Checks lists every check available. Find the section for TIN checks.
Inquiries > Templates is where the change is made for a TIN Verification Template inside an Inquiry Template. Select the template, use the left panel of the Flow Editor to head to Verifications, select the TIN Verification template, then open Checks.
Verifications > Templates is the path for a TIN Verification Template that is not attached to an Inquiry Template. Select the TIN Verification template, then open Checks.

What the settings control

Each check is either required or not required. A required check must pass for the Inquiry as a whole to be marked completed, so the set you require is the strictness of the template. See What is a Required Verification Check? for what that status means in practice.

TIN Verification accepts an ITIN, an EIN, or an SSN, and no two entities share the same combination of TIN and legal name. It is a common fallback to Database Verification for people who do not have a Social Security Number, and a standard part of KYB where a business supplies its EIN.

When to reach for it

Reach for these settings when the checks you require are not matching how you use TIN Verification, for example a KYB flow where the EIN result carries the decision.

Where the Verification runs matters as much as which checks you require. The IRS system behind the request goes down from time to time, so Persona directs customers to run TIN Verification in a Workflow that triggers after the Inquiry completes, with staggered retries about an hour apart, rather than leaving an end user waiting inside the Inquiry.

For the full walkthrough, see Configuring TIN Verification checks. To read what the checks report once they have run, see Understanding TIN Verification results.

Plans Explained