Free tool
Check your vendor list before you file 1099s
Open your vendor spreadsheet and get every missing TIN, impossible number, duplicate, DBA name and bad address flagged in seconds, then download the checked list.
Your file is read and checked in your browser. It's never uploaded or stored.
Short answer
Before you file 1099s, check every vendor record for a legal name that goes with the TIN, a nine-digit TIN the IRS or SSA could have issued, and a complete U.S. address. Missing TINs mean backup withholding at 24%, and wrong name/TIN combinations come back as CP2100 notices. Vendors paid less than $2,000 in 2026 ($600 in 2025) for services, rent or other income don't need a 1099-NEC or 1099-MISC.
- Legal name on line 1, DBA on line 2
- Duplicate TINs with different names usually mean one is wrong
- Spreadsheets drop leading zeros from TINs and ZIP codes
- Card and payment-app payments don't count toward the threshold
Last reviewed against the IRS 1099-MISC/NEC instructions (Rev. December 2026) and Publication 1281.
What the checker looks for
| Check | What it catches |
|---|---|
| Missing or impossible TINs | Blank TINs, wrong lengths, placeholders like 111-11-1111, and numbers the IRS and SSA never issue. |
| Duplicate TINs | The same TIN on two vendors with different names (one is usually wrong), or the same vendor listed twice. |
| Names that won't match | DBAs, "c/o" and "attn" lines in the legal name field, names over 40 characters, and odd characters. |
| Address problems | Missing street, city, state or ZIP; state names that aren't two-letter codes; ZIPs that lost a leading zero. |
| Vendors under the threshold | If you include an amount column, vendors below the reporting threshold you choose are flagged so you don't file forms you don't need. |
A year-end vendor cleanup in five steps
- Export your vendors from your accounting software with name, TIN, address and the year's payments. Payments by card or PayPal don't count toward a 1099, so leave those out (see Do I need to file a 1099?).
- Run this checker and download the checked list. Everything marked "Ready" can go straight into your filing.
- Request W-9s for every missing or invalid TIN. Our W-9 request generator has a year-end template.
- Fix names. Legal name first, DBA second. Check anything doubtful with the name control generator.
- Confirm with IRS TIN Matching before you file, then e-file by January 31 for 1099-NEC.
Working in Excel? Format TIN and ZIP columns as Text before you type or import, so leading zeros don't disappear. Our import templates are already set up that way.
Related tools
- Check a single number with the TIN format checker.
- Work out the IRS name control for a doubtful name.
- Missing TINs: the W-9 request letter and backup withholding.
- Your whole season: the year-end 1099 checklist.
Sources
- IRS Instructions for Forms 1099-MISC and 1099-NEC (Rev. December 2026)
- IRS Publication 1099 (2026), General Instructions for Certain Information Returns
- IRS: Instructions for the Requester of Form W-9
- IRS Publication 1281, Backup Withholding for Missing and Incorrect Name/TINs
- IRS Publication 5717, IRIS Taxpayer Portal User Guide (CSV rules)
Questions
Vendor list questions
Is my vendor file uploaded anywhere?
No. Your browser reads the file directly from your computer and checks it on the spot. Nothing is sent to EFileForMe or anyone else, and nothing is saved. Close the tab and it's gone. In the results we show only the last four digits of each TIN.
What file formats does it accept?
CSV files and tab-separated text, the formats every spreadsheet program can save as. In Excel, use File > Save As > CSV. You can also copy cells straight from a spreadsheet and paste them in. Include a header row.
Does a clean result mean my 1099s will be accepted?
It means the data is complete and plausible. It can't tell you whether a name and TIN actually belong together; only IRS TIN Matching can. Run TIN Matching on your list before you file to catch mismatches.
Why flag DBAs in the name?
The IRS matches 1099s on the name that goes with the TIN. A trade name in that field is one of the most common causes of name/TIN mismatches and CP2100 notices. Put the legal name first and the DBA on the second name line.
What should I do with the problems it finds?
Fix typos and formatting in your spreadsheet. For missing or invalid TINs, request a fresh W-9 from the vendor. Our W-9 request letter generator has ready-made wording. Then re-run the check.
Clean list? Import it and file.
EFileForMe imports your spreadsheet, checks every form as it's saved, runs IRS TIN Matching on request and e-files your 1099s with the IRS.