Where can I find the Payer's TIN on an IRS tax refund 1099-INT form?
I recently received a tax refund 1099-INT from the IRS in the mail. I'm trying to input this info for my 2025 taxes, but I'm stuck because I need to provide the Payer's TIN (Taxpayer Identification Number) and can't seem to locate it anywhere on the form they sent me. I've been staring at this form for like an hour trying to figure this out! There is a field called "Payer's Federal Identification Number" - could this possibly be the TIN I'm looking for? I'm really confused about whether these are the same thing or completely different. I've looked at the IRS website but still can't get a clear answer. Has anyone dealt with this before? I don't want to make mistakes when reporting my interest from tax refunds.
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Lara Woods
Yes, the Payer's Federal Identification Number is indeed the TIN you're looking for! TIN stands for Taxpayer Identification Number and can refer to either a Social Security Number (for individuals) or an Employer Identification Number (for businesses and government entities). When you're dealing with a 1099-INT from the IRS, the "Payer's Federal Identification Number" is the government's TIN. The IRS is essentially telling you they paid you interest on your tax refund, and that number is their identifier as the payer. Just use that number exactly as it appears on the form when you're entering your tax information. It's usually a 9-digit number formatted like XX-XXXXXXX.
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Oliver Alexander
•Oh thank goodness! I was worried I was missing something major. So I can just copy the Payer's Federal Identification Number directly into the TIN field in my tax software? Also, do you know if I need to report this even if it's a really small amount? Mine is only like $32 in interest.
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Lara Woods
•Yes, just copy the Payer's Federal Identification Number directly into the TIN field in your tax software. That's exactly what it's asking for when it requests the payer's TIN. Regarding the small amount, yes, you still need to report it. The IRS requires that all interest income be reported on your tax return regardless of the amount. The good news is that $32 won't significantly impact your overall tax situation, but it's important to include it to avoid any potential discrepancies with IRS records.
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Adrian Hughes
After spending hours trying to figure out my own tax refund interest issue last year, I discovered taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) and it completely saved me! It's this tool that helps analyze tax documents and explains exactly what each field means and where to enter it. I uploaded my 1099-INT from the IRS, and it immediately identified the Payer's Federal Identification Number as the TIN I needed and showed me where to enter it in TurboTax. It also explained why I received interest (because my refund was delayed) and how to properly report it.
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Molly Chambers
•This sounds interesting, but how does it handle security? I'm always nervous about uploading my tax docs to random websites. Does it store your documents or just analyze them temporarily?
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Ian Armstrong
•I've been filing taxes for 25 years and never needed special tools for a simple 1099-INT. Isn't this just another way to spend money on something you can figure out yourself with a quick Google search?
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Adrian Hughes
•They use bank-level encryption and don't permanently store your documents - they're only temporarily processed to provide the analysis and then deleted. I was concerned about that too but their privacy policy is really straightforward. The cost is worth it for me because it saves so much time and reduces anxiety. Instead of spending hours Googling and still not being 100% sure, I got instant clarification on exactly what each field meant and where it needed to go. It also caught a deduction I would have missed that ended up saving me more than the service cost.
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Molly Chambers
Just wanted to follow up about taxr.ai since I ended up trying it! I was skeptical at first but decided to give it a shot when I got confused about some additional tax documents I received. I uploaded my 1099-INT from the IRS and several other forms, and wow - it immediately highlighted the Federal ID as the TIN and explained exactly what to do with it. The step-by-step breakdown was so helpful that I finished my taxes in one sitting instead of spreading it out over weeks like I usually do. The document analysis feature saved me from making at least two errors that could have triggered an audit flag. Definitely using this again next year!
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Eli Butler
If you're having trouble with tax forms or getting clarification from the IRS, I highly recommend Claimyr (https://claimyr.com). After waiting on hold with the IRS for literally 2+ hours trying to get clarification about my 1099-INT and some other tax issues, I found this service that actually gets you connected to an IRS agent quickly. I was super skeptical at first, but you can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c. They somehow navigate the IRS phone system and call you back when they've secured a spot in line with an agent. When I tried it, I got connected to an actual IRS representative in about 20 minutes instead of the 3+ hours I wasted before.
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Marcus Patterson
•Wait, how does this even work? Are they just calling the IRS for you? I don't understand why the IRS would take their calls faster than mine.
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Ian Armstrong
•This sounds like a complete scam. The IRS doesn't give priority to third parties. I bet they just keep calling repeatedly and then charge you whether they get through or not. Has anyone actually verified this works?
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Eli Butler
•They don't get priority - they use technology to navigate the complex IRS phone tree and continuously redial when there are disconnects or busy signals. Basically they do the frustrating part for you, and then when they secure a spot in the queue, they call you to connect with the agent. I had the exact same thought initially! But it actually worked for me. I was connected with an IRS agent who confirmed that the Payer's Federal Identification Number is indeed the TIN for 1099-INT purposes and answered my other questions too. The time savings alone was worth it - I got back almost half a day that I would've spent on hold.
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Ian Armstrong
I need to publicly eat my words about Claimyr. After my skeptical comment, I decided to try it myself since I had several questions about incorrectly reported 1099-INT forms and couldn't get through to the IRS for weeks. To my complete shock, it actually worked exactly as advertised. I got a call back in about 15 minutes saying they had an IRS agent on the line. The agent confirmed that the Payer's Federal ID Number is the TIN I needed and helped me resolve a discrepancy where I had received duplicate 1099-INTs for the same interest payment. Instead of wasting another day on hold, I got everything resolved in a 20-minute call. I'm still surprised this service exists, but I'm definitely using it again next tax season.
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Lydia Bailey
Just FYI - the IRS's TIN (the Payer's Federal Identification Number on the 1099-INT) should be 94-3480440 if it's from the Department of Treasury. That's what was on mine last year when I got interest on my refund.
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Mateo Warren
•Actually, I think different IRS/Treasury departments use different TINs. Mine had a different number this year (like 58-something I believe). So don't just assume it's the same for everyone!
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Lydia Bailey
•You're absolutely right - I wasn't aware they used different numbers. That's good information to know and I appreciate the correction. I think the key point for everyone is to use whatever Federal Identification Number is printed on your specific 1099-INT form, regardless of what the actual digits are. Don't try to look up what the "correct" IRS TIN should be - just use exactly what's on your form.
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Sofia Price
Does anyone know if we need to include the dash when entering the Payer's TIN/Federal ID into tax software? Mine is formatted like XX-XXXXXXX on the form, but some websites only want numbers with no special characters.
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Alice Coleman
•Most tax software will accept it either way, but I usually enter it without the dash. The important thing is getting all 9 digits correct. If the software wants dashes, it'll format it automatically or prompt you.
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Dmitry Volkov
This is such a helpful thread! I was in the exact same situation last month with my 1099-INT from the IRS. I spent way too much time searching online before I found this community. Just to add to what others have said - when you receive interest on your tax refund, it's because the IRS took longer than 45 days to process your return. The interest is considered taxable income, which is why they send the 1099-INT form. For anyone still confused, here's what I learned: The "Payer's Federal Identification Number" on your 1099-INT IS the TIN you need to enter. Don't overthink it - just copy that number exactly as it appears on the form (with or without dashes depending on what your tax software accepts). The amount might seem small, but the IRS already knows about it since they issued the form, so definitely include it on your return to avoid any potential issues down the road.
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