TinCheck

For 2026 filings: $60 per form if corrected within 30 days, $130 by August 1, and $340 after August 1. A name/TIN mismatch is penalized under both IRC 6721 (IRS copy) and 6722 (payee copy), so it stacks to roughly $680 per payee. It also triggers a 24% backup-withholding obligation until the TIN is corrected.

The IRS e-Services TIN Matching program is free but bulk and batch-oriented, requires an application tied to prior filing history, has no real-time single-check flow for onboarding, and returns only a match code. TinCheck adds real-time checks, sanctions screening, address validation, and a usable interface, priced for small teams.

Your first real-time TinCheck verification is free, with no payment method required. After that, monthly plans start at $19.95/month with volume discounts. Use the free check on your single highest-risk payee.

TinCheck is operated by Sovos Compliance, LLC, one of the largest dedicated tax-compliance providers in the world, handling tax determination and information reporting for a large share of the Fortune 500. TinCheck is the self-serve front door to that same verification infrastructure.

Both, in the same check. Alongside IRS TIN and name matching it screens OFAC and SDN sanctions lists, US state watch lists, and global sanctions lists, plus Death Master File and USPS address validation. OFAC enforcement is strict liability, so this bundled screening is a major part of the value.

Only if that platform already performs IRS TIN matching for every payee type you use. Many do not, especially for international or vendor payments. Verify what your platform actually checks; if there is any gap, run those payees through TinCheck.