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MA113 Remark Code: TIN Invalid per the IRS

MA113 means your taxpayer identification number (TIN) is incomplete or invalid according to the IRS. The claim cannot be processed, you may not bill the patient while it is being corrected, and there are no appeal rights; resubmit after notifying the payer of your correct TIN.

Quick facts

Code
MA113 (RARC MA113)
Status
Active In use since January 1, 1997.
Code set
Remittance Advice Remark Codes (RARC)
Group codes
  • CO (Contractual Obligation): The claim is unprocessable because of the provider's TIN. The official text says the patient may not be billed pending correction.
Official description
Incomplete/invalid taxpayer identification number (TIN) submitted by you per the Internal Revenue Service. Your claims cannot be processed without your correct TIN, and you may not bill the patient pending correction of your TIN. There are no appeal rights for unprocessable claims, but you may resubmit this claim after you have notified this office of your correct TIN.
X12 Remittance Advice Remark Codes, retrieved September 25, 2026
Last verified
against the official X12 list.

What MA113 means

MA113 is serious because it affects every claim under the same TIN, not just one. The payer compared your taxpayer identification number with IRS information and found it incomplete or invalid. The official text spells out three consequences: the claim cannot be processed, you may not bill the patient while the TIN is being corrected, and there are no appeal rights. You may resubmit after you notify the payer of your correct TIN.

Common causes

  • A typo in the TIN in CMS-1500 item 25.
  • The legal business name on file does not match the name the IRS associates with the TIN.
  • An SSN was reported where an EIN was expected, or the wrong box was checked in item 25.
  • The practice changed ownership or structure and received a new TIN that was not updated with the payer.

How to fix it

  1. Check your IRS records for the exact legal name and TIN.
  2. Compare them with payer enrollment and correct anything that does not match.
  3. Notify the payer of the correct TIN through its enrollment process.
  4. Correct item 25 in your billing system.
  5. Resubmit held claims once the payer confirms the update.

How to prevent it

  • Validate the legal name and TIN against IRS records when you enroll or revalidate.
  • Update every payer immediately after a change in ownership or tax status.
  • Watch for MA113 across claims; see provider enrollment denials.

Codes that may appear with MA113

  • CO-16 (Claim/service lacks information or has submission/billing error(s).): The claim has a submission error, identified by MA113 as an invalid TIN.
  • CO-A1 (Claim/Service denied.): Some payers use a general denial reason with MA113 to explain the unprocessable claim.
  • MA130 (Your claim contains incomplete and/or invalid information, and no appeal rights are afforded because the claim is unprocessable.): A general notice that the claim is unprocessable with no appeal rights.
  • N257 (Missing/incomplete/invalid billing provider/supplier primary identifier.): The billing provider's primary identifier was missing or invalid.
  • MA112 (Missing/incomplete/invalid group practice information.): The group practice information was missing or invalid.

MA113 FAQ

Can I bill the patient while the TIN is fixed?

No. The official MA113 text says you may not bill the patient pending correction of your TIN.

Can I appeal MA113?

No. The official text states there are no appeal rights for unprocessable claims. Notify the payer of your correct TIN and then resubmit.

How do I confirm my TIN is correct?

Compare the name and TIN on the claim with IRS records, such as your IRS assignment letter, and with what you reported during enrollment.