Tax Identification Number (TIN)
A Tax Identification Number (TIN) is the number a practice or organization uses with the IRS, usually an Employer Identification Number. In provider data it identifies the billing entity, so it links individual clinicians to the group they bill through.
How is a TIN used in provider data?
Plans contract with, and pay, billing entities identified by TIN. A clinician's record often combines their individual NPI with the group's TIN and an organization NPI.
Why does it matter for directories?
When a clinician moves to a new group, the TIN they bill under changes. Matching NPIs to TINs in claims is one way to see that a provider's affiliation has changed before anyone reports it.
Is a TIN public?
An organization's EIN is not published in a central public registry the way NPIs are, so it usually comes from contracts, rosters and claims.