TAP Frequently Asked Questions
Who can use TAP?
Businesses, individuals, and authorized representatives, such as your accountant, can use TAP to manage your tax accounts. Only you, or persons you authorize, can gain access to your accounts.
Registration is a 2-step process:
- Go to TAP and follow the instructions for online registration. (more information here) In this first step, you provide preliminary information. Within a few minutes, you receive an e-mail that includes an authorization code. You need this authorization code for the second step of the process. (You do not need this code after this.)
- Once you receive your authorization code, return to TAP and logon. Now, you can complete registration of your various tax accounts.
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You need to add each tax account that you want to access.
System requirements:
Any modern web browser can be used to access TAP.
Browser options include:
- Internet Explorer 7.0 or higher Download Now
- Mozilla Firefox 4.0 or higher Download Now
- Safari 5.0 or higher Download Now
- Chrome 11.0 or higher Download Now
- Opera 11.0 or higher Download Now
To view and print TAP documents, you need a PDF reader available from one of the below:
- Adobe Reader Download Now
- Foxit 4.3 version PDF Reader Download Now
There is not normally a charge to upgrade or download these programs to your computer.
Tax types available for online access:
| Corporate Income and Franchise | Gaming | Withholding | |
| Pass-Through-Entity | Insurance Premium | Individual Income | |
| Beer Excise | Finance Privilege | ||
| Tobacco Excise | Beer and Tobacco permits |
Tax implementation schedule:
- October 2013, Sales and Use Taxes (including special city and county taxes and others)
- October 2014, Miscellaneous Taxes (including severance, regulatory taxes, and others)
- October 2015, Alcoholic Beverage taxes
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Online registration for new tax accounts:
You can register for these taxes: Sales and Use; Withholding; Corporate and Franchise; Pass-through-Entity; Gaming; Insurance Premium; Finance Privilege; Beer Excise; Tobacco Excise; Gas, Oil and/or Timber Severance; Beer and/or Tobacco Permits.
Depending on where your business is located, you may be liable for a special city or county tax. If so, the DOR registers your business for the special city / county tax. Additionally, based on the type of business you conduct, the DOR may register your business for the Trauma Care Fee, Prepaid Wireless 911 Fee, Motor Vehicle Rental Tax, or the Waste Tire Fee.
If you need an Alcoholic Beverage permit, more information is found here.
If you need to register for Petroleum taxes, more information is found here.
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Forgot your password?
If so, from the logon page click “Forgot your password? and enter your User ID, the secret question and answer you selected when registering for TAP. You are asked to enter a new password. An e-mail is sent to you with an authorization code to use the next time you logon. You do not need the code after your first logon with your new password.
Safety and Security of Information
Combined with the built-in security, DOR recommends the following to help keep your information safe:
When filing returns, making payments, or updating profile information, always log directly into TAP using your User ID and password. TAP does not provide links containing your transaction or personal information to any external web site.
- Never respond to an e-mail that asks for transaction or personal profile information.
- E-mail from the DOR advises that you have new information to view in your TAP account.
- Log-in to TAP with your User ID and password. Once you are in TAP, you may view information about why the DOR sent the e-mail.
- Always log-out of TAP when you are finished using the application.
The DOR keeps your information safe and your privacy secure by using multiple security layers within this system. Information transferred to and from your computer is over a Secure Socket Layer. Only the tax accounts you request publish to your on-line profile are available for your use
- Don't provide your User ID or password to anyone.
- After completing a TAP transaction, remember to log off. TAP closes the session and requires the next user to logon using a valid logon ID and password combination.
- Choose your own User ID and password when you register; passwords cannot be the same as your User ID. The password must include digits, letters, and special characters.
- Change your password regularly to increase the security of your account.
As an added security measure, TAP logs you out automatically after several minutes of inactivity. (Security Policy is found here.)
Information needed to register in TAP:
If you have an existing tax account with the DOR, you do not need numbers 2,3 or 8 from this list.
For your security, if you have to step away and your computer is idle several minutes, your session times-out. If this occurs, you lose all of your information and must start over.
- Identification Number
A sole proprietorship needs either a Social Security Number (SSN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN).
A corporation, LLC, Pass-Through-Entity, or other needs a Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN). On the IRS website, look for “Apply for an Employer Identification Number (EIN) Online”. - Name, address and ID information is needed for officers & directors of a Corporation or LLC (only needed if the company is not publicly traded, and there are less than 35 owners / shareholders / partners.
- The Business ID assigned to your company by the MS Secretary of State’s Office. If you do not have a Business ID, you may apply for one on the Secretary of State’s website. Look for “Business Services” then, “Fees and Forms”.
- The business name, location address, and mailing address.
- Contact information for the person or department responsible for preparing and filing tax returns, including name, phone, e-mail, and fax number. Provide information for the person responsible for preparing and filing tax returns.
- You are asked to choose a User ID, password, and security question. Passwords cannot be the same as your User ID. The password must be 8-15 characters long and include at least one number and one special character (~!@#$%^&*+-). (Do not use your Social Security Number, or your Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN) as your password.) The security question is used to reset and change your password.
- If you already have a tax account with the DOR, you need the Letter ID from the letter that provided your new account number(s.) The Letter ID is in the upper, right-hand corner of the letter.
- If you are claiming non-profit status when registering for Corporate Income, you need to attach documentation from the IRS confirming this status. If you are unable to attach a copy, you can mail it to Registration Section, P. O. Box 1033, Jackson MS. Non-profit status is not allowed without qualifying documentation. Government agencies are not required to submit documentation supporting non-profit status.
Color-coded textboxes and fields
In TAP, textboxes, fields, drop-down-lists, checkboxes, etc., are shaded different colors for easy recognition.
- A yellow box indicates required information.
- A green box indicates optional information.
- A red box indicates missing information or an error. Click on the box to find out what's wrong.
- A white box is view-only.
- A small triangle shape in the upper left corner indicates required information.
- A green checkmark indicates the step is complete.
- A red exclamation point indicates the step is not complete or there is missing information.
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Signature documents not required
Paper signature documents are not required. When you file a return or make a payment, TAP asks you to re-enter your password. This password is your electronic signature.
There are situations where you may need to mail an original document, as example, a surety bond.
How will I file my tax returns in TAP?
Once you have registered your accounts, you will see multiple options in TAP. “My Accounts” lists all accounts you have registered.
From “My Accounts,” select the tax account you need. On the “Account Summary” page, all available filing periods are listed. From this list, choose the tax period you want to file a return for. Select “File Now. “
How do I view a return already filed?
Tax periods that are already filed have a “View Return” link. Use this link to look at a return previously filed.
How do I view or amend a return already filed?
Tax periods that are already filed have a “View Return” link. Select this link, then click the “Amend” button and make the necessary changes. Complete by following the same procedure for filing a return.
How do I print a copy of my return?
Click “View Return” on the filing period list from your account page and use the browser print option to print the return. If your return includes schedules, select "Click here for (the schedule name) and use the browser print option to print the schedule.
Paper copies of returns filed in TAP are for your records only and should not be-mailed to the DOR.
Why can't I print my electronic return copy?
TAP uses Adobe Reader to view your return. If you have trouble printing, make sure your computer has Adobe Reader installed. Go to www.adobe.com to download the latest version of Adobe Reader. Paper copies are for your records only and should not be mailed to the DOR.
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Why did I get a bill from DOR even though I made a payment?
The bill was scheduled to go out before the payment was processed. Once the payment is processed, you can check your current balance due in TAP.
Why did my tax account numbers change?
If you have an existing tax account with the DOR, your current tax account number changed to an 8-digit number. All taxpayers received a letter providing the new tax account number(s). Please use your new account number(s) when filing tax returns or sending correspondence to the DOR. You need your new account numbers to register for TAP.
Why did I receive a message that my session has “timed out”?
For security purposes, TAP times-out if there has been no activity for several minutes. You need to logon again.
Why was my ACH Debit rejected by the bank?
If you have selected to pay by ACH debit and have an ACH debit block on your bank account, you must inform your financial institution of the DOR’s Company Identification number or Originator ID to avoid your payment being rejected. The Company Identification Number/Originator ID is a 10-digit number used to identify an originator of the transaction. The DOR's number is 1646000832.
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What is a Letter ID?
The Letter ID is a unique number printed on all correspondence. The Letter ID is always in the upper right-hand corner of the letter. If you contact the DOR about a letter, whether by phone or mail, always refer to that letter’s identifying number. The person working your issue can view an exact copy of the letter. This helps reduce confusion and allows DOR to get right to work on your issue. *only for tax types implemented into the new system.
What are "Requests?"
Every return, payment, or account change that you submit to the DOR is referred to as a “request.” Examples of requests include filing a return, making a payment, or adding another account. Use the “Requests” link to view a list of all requests waiting to be processed and all completed requests.
Requests are processed by TAP at various times throughout the day. Some requests are processed immediately, others are processed overnight.
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What is a Statement of Account?
If you owe the State of Mississippi any tax, interest or penalty (for a tax type in this system) you receive a monthly Statement of Account. The statement provides a listing of the taxes due, including a notation if the amount is under appeal or bankruptcy. If you elect to go paperless, your statements are available in TAP.
Find more information about your Statement of Account here. You may pay your liability online through TAP.
At this time, only the taxes included in this system are included in the Statement of Account. (Individual Income, Withholding, Corporate, Pass-Through-Entity, Franchise, Fiduciary, Gaming, Insurance Premium, Finance Privilege, Beer or Tobacco.) If you owe another type of tax or related penalties, the other liabilities remain due and payable to the State. If you owe another type of tax or related penalties, the other liabilities remain due and payable to the State.
If you believe any liability is in bankruptcy and that is not indicated on the Statement, please contact the Bankruptcy Section at (601) 923-7393. The Statement of Account is not a demand for payment of pre-petition taxes. If you desire to pay the amount to avoid the further accumulation of interest and/or penalties, please go to “TAP” and follow instructions for paying online. Additionally, you may mail your payment to the Mississippi DOR, P.O. Box 23075 Jackson, MS 39225-3075. You may pay by credit card or electronic check at www.officialpayments.com. There is an additional convenience fee charged by Official Payments. Jurisdiction code for Mississippi is 3400.
What is a "Period" or "Filing Period?"
A period or filing period is the reporting time for your tax return. If you file a monthly return, the period is the first of a month through the last day of that month. If you file annually, the period is the first day of the business year to the last day of the business year. Often you see only the last day of the period listed as the date of the filing period.
What is Balance Due?
You see “Balance Due” on most pages in your TAP account, even if the amount is zero. Balance Due is the amount you owe, or the amount due on accounts you have registered in TAP. Tax accounts not in TAP are not included in this total. The amount displayed is current through the day that a payment is processed.
Balance Due shown in your main window is for all accounts registered in TAP. When you are looking at a specific tax account, the balance due is just for that specific account.
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What is a Pass-Through Entity Account?
A Pass-Through-Entity (PTE) account is the account used by S-Corps, Limited Liability Companies, and Partnerships to report income passed through to their shareholders, partners, members, and other entities. The profits and losses of the business pass through to its owners, who report them on their respective tax returns. DOR previously used separate returns for each of these entity types. In the new system, Pass-Through-Entities file a separate form than Corporations providing easier reporting for taxpayers and better reporting of income.
Form 84-105 is available from your provider or here.
When is the filing date if the due date falls on a holiday or weekend?
The return and payment are due the next business day. The next business day means the first day after a Sunday or Holiday when banks and other financial marketplaces are open for trading. All permit or license renewal fees are due before the expiration date, regardless of weekends and holidays
When will changes to my account update?
An update such as an address change is processed within a few minutes. If you are closing your account, the request must be reviewed before it can complete processing.
A payment takes several days to process because it must be transmitted to and cleared by your bank. Your account is updated each night to include returns and payments processed that day.
When will my payment process?
Payments submitted for a particular filing period are not posted to the account until the associated return has been received and processed.
Payments are verified by the bank before they post to your account. This may take a few days. Please note that the processing time does not affect the payment effective date. Your payment posts with the effective date that you provided* when you submitted the payment, regardless of the amount of time it takes to process the payment. *You cannot date a payment with a past date! BUT, you can specify that the payment be made at a future time. The effective date is the date you specify when you make the payment.
When will II receive paper return forms?
If you file electronically, paper return forms are not mailed to you.
