Third-Party Administrators (TPA)
General Questions
What is the link for Employer e-Services?
https://jobs4tnui.tn.gov/employer/_/
Where can we access the recorded Webinars?
If we have problems or questions, what phone number can we call for help?
You can call the Department’s main phone line at (844) 224-5818 and select the option for Tax. We have staff dedicated to assist callers.
Do TNPAWs log in credentials work in Employer e-Services?
No, TNPAWS logins will not work on Employer e-Services. If you have not already, you will need to sign up for an Online Account on Employer e-Services (Home - Employer e-Services) on or after May 27 in order to access UI Tax functionality.
If I already have an e-Services account set up for Unemployment purposes, will the tax functionality automatically be added to my account?
Yes!
Can we apply for a new client online or will it still be a paper application?
You will apply for new accounts through the system. Our paper applications will no longer be accepted.
Will you need a verification code every time you login?
No, you will not need to enter a verification code each time you log in.
Does the email have to be unique to that FEIN?
Yes, an email can only be used to register once.
Can you explain how to set up TPA account and how to add clients to our account please?
To register with TN as a TPA, visit Employer e-Services (https://jobs4tnui.tn.gov/employer/_/), view the Registering a Business panel and click the Register as a Third Party Administrator (TPA) link.
Once you have created an e-Services account and completed the registration process, you can add clients while logged in to your e-Services account by clicking the Accountant Center link in the upper right-hand corner of your logged-in session. Then view the Client Information panel and click the following link(s):
- Register Client UI Tax Account – to register and access employers that are not registered with TN for unemployment insurance.
- Manage Clients – to access employers already registered with TN for unemployment insurance.
I already have a login for my business account but not as a TPA. Will this create an issue in setting up the TPA?
You can deactivate your web logon and then create the TPA logon using the same web logon.
Do each of our clients have to create their own logon?
Employers registered for unemployment insurance in TN that wish to have access to their online account in e-Services will need to create a logon by visiting the Employer e-Services homepage (https://jobs4tnui.tn.gov/employer/_/) and clicking the Sign Up for an Online Account link on the Signing up for e-Services Access panel.
If we already have an account for our company but need to submit and pay quarterly reports for our clients, do we need to set up a different account in order to do that?
Yes, TPAs or users managing multiple accounts will be able to link and access those accounts under one logon.
For TPA's, are we entering the FEIN of the CPA firm and what letter ID do we use?
Yes, you will enter the EIN of the company you work for that represent clients. You can use any letter ID addressed to your customer account for the UI Benefit system. There is a Request a Letter ID button to get a letter sent to the address of record for your customer if you don’t have one already. Staff can also assist with gaining a letter ID.
Professional Employer Organizations (PEO)
When a PEO registers a client company, will it create a PEO account number and an employer account number that will be suspended until the terminate from the PEO?
It will create a client account assigned to your PEO for that employer. The employer is responsible for taking care of inactivating their other accounts. It does not automatically inactivate their other accounts by joining a PEO as a client.
Currently, as a PEO, we cannot use a client's existing TN account number. Will we still need to do a new registration for any new clients when they join our PEO? And how will we terminate a client?
Yes, the PEO/client relationship will be the same. You will register a new client account for any client that joins your services and not use their own employer account. The PEO will be responsible for inactivating their client accounts whenever employers terminate their contract. You will do this by going into that clients account and going to Employer Services -> Additional Services -> Cease Employer UI Tax Account request.
Account Access
What Letter ID do I need to obtain online access to my UI Tax information in Employer e-Services on or after May 27?
If you have received a letter from the TN Department of Labor's UI Benefits agency within the last year, you may use the Letter ID located in the top right of this letter to complete your web logon registration. If you have not received a letter from the TN Department of Labor's UI Benefits agency in the past year, you may request an access letter via the web logon registration itself. Letters requested in this way will be delivered to your mailing address on file in the current system within three to four business days.
Letter requests for registering a web logon will be available on or after May 27.
I report unemployment for three companies. Will I have three different logins?
No, you will only need one logon to access the three companies you report on behalf of.
Do all clients have to be linked with the agent account in order to bulk upload returns?
No, links to clients are only needed if you need to do something on that account individual.
How do third parties get access to file on clients' accounts (i.e. PEOs)?
You will file on individual client’s account once you have access to their account via the Manage Clients link.
Can multiple employees at our company/CPA firm create individual accounts, or do we need to use a shared account/login?
Yes, multiple employees can each have their own logon, access type and access level.
Can multiple individuals be logged in at the same time under the same log in?
There can be multiple logons to an account that can be logged in at the same time.
As a CPA who files SUTA returns for many clients, I assume that I will need only one sign in. If so, how will I access my clients’ info?
Yes, only one logon is needed, and you can manage all of your clients from that logon.
For TPA accounts, do we have to request access to all our employer client accounts to have access from our agent portal and each employer would have to approve it from their online account before we can see their account in our portal?
Current clients tied to your TPA prior to May 23 will convert over to Employer e-Services. Any new clients can be added by clicking the Accountant Center link in the upper right-hand corner of your logged in e-Services account and then clicking the Manage Clients link on the Client Information panel. This access request doesn't need employer approval. You just need to complete it and log out and back in to see them.
What is benefits access?
There are two types of access available to users in e-Services. Benefit Access grants permissions to respond to unemployment claims. Tax Access allows users to file and pay wage and premium reports. Employers may grant their workers one or both types of access to e-Services.
Designated Access
How do we add secondary logins for other employees of our firm to have access to the clients?
- On the logged in e-Services homepage, click the Manage my Web Profile link on the upper right-hand corner of the homepage.
- On the Manage My Web Profile page, click the More… tab. Then view the My Users panel and click the Manage Secondary Logons link.
- Then on the Secondary Logons page, click the Add link (next to the Filter box).
What is the difference in the "Account Manager" and "Administrator" type of access for a secondary logon.
- Logons with Administrator access have all access to the customer and can manage the access of other logons to the customer.
- Logons with Account Manager access have all access to the customer, but they cannot manage the access of other logons to the customer.
What if payments are managed by someone differently who manages employees and termination?
Each logon can have different levels of access. Payments are under Tax access which would be File and Pay or Pay Only, and managing employees and termination would fall only Benefits Access.
On the logged in e-Services homepage, click the More… tab. View the Access Management panel and click the Manage link. Click the link of the logon you want to manage the access for. Then click the link in the Access level field and select ‘UI Benefits Only’ in the dropdown menu for those that manage employees and termination, and ‘UI Tax File and Pay’ or ‘UI Tax Pay Only’.
If I file my firm's UI report, will my employees be able to access it while filing our client UI reports? Are we able to set up separate access for our employees?
You may set up multiple web logons for one TN employer account or have one logon to manage multiple accounts (if applicable). You can also control which employees have access to what accounts via Customer Groups, where you can set your account up in its own group and only give your logon access to it. This will prevent your own employees from being able to see other staff members wages.
To create a Customer Group:
- Log into e-Services and click the Manage My Web Profile link in the upper right-hand corner. Then click the More… tab.
- View the My Users panel and click the Manage Secondary Logons link.
- Click the Customer Groups tab and click the Add link. Once you’ve created a Customer group, click the Customers tab and click the Default link in the customer Group column to add customers to the respective Customer Group.
TPA Access
If your TPA has access in the current system, will that move over to the new system or do you need to set it up again.
If TPAs already have a link to your account in our current system, it will be granted automatically to Employer e-Services.
How do we set up one account as a TPA and add all clients to it?
You may either create a logon as a TPA or register as a TPA and then add clients via the Manage Clients link.
Does each entity need to give a TPA access to their account or can the TPA do that after they log in?
TPAs will be able to add access to their clients without the need for action on the client's side.
Will we know after we submit for TPA access for an account if they have their marker on their account set to "No" on their end for TPA access? Will we get a denial of sorts?
Yes! If the client account you're attempting to access has TPA access blocked on their end, you will be notified via an error on e-Services and can then reach out to the client to change their settings.
How do we get set up for third party accounts? Do we have to get POA's for each client, etc.?
POAs are no longer needed. You will utilize the manage client link to add/remove clients.
What if we are a third-party filer and are not located in TN, but some clients are?
You will create your web logon or register your TPA as a customer by your FEIN. Try Sign Up for a Web Logon first to see if your FEIN is a customer in the system already. If not, then you will Register as a Third-Party Administrator.
Do CPA's need to get their clients to sign up first, even though the CPA is the one who submits the SUTA information?
CPAs can gain access with no assistance needed from the employer.
Account Information
I am already registered on Employer e-Services. Will I need to do anything different in order to access UI Tax functionality?
No. Existing Employer e-Services users will be able to access UI Tax information with the same logon credentials starting May 27.
How is our history going to transfer over from what we had on TNPAWS?
Historical information will be available on e-Services back to 2019.
Prior quarters will be in Employer e-Services, including reports that were filed in TNPAWS. All rate information will be available on the website. Letters and the data itself.
Wage Reporting
Can we still file on TNPAWS or Third-Party Upload (TPU)?
No. Wage reports will be filed by logging into Employer e-Services on May 27, 2025. TNPAWS and TPU are no longer available to file wage reports.
All rate information will be available on the website, including letters and the data itself.
Can the info still be input manually?
You may enter employee information directly into the system or by uploading a file.
If we are filing for several employers, how do we do that?
The easiest way would be to bulk file their wage reports. Information about bulk filing can be found on the Employer e-Services home page (https://jobs4tnui.tn.gov/employer/_/) and viewing the Wage Reporting File Formats panel. To file a bulk wage report, log into your e-Services account, click the Accountant Center link in the upper right-hand corner and view the Payments and Wage Report panel.
You may also file wage report for each employer by clicking into their account from the logged in e-Services homepage. On the Summary tab, click the File a Wage Report link to file a wage report manually or with a file or view the Account panel and click the View Wage Reports link.
If the employer has not registered, and I as TPA still file a wage report?
As long as the employer has registered with TN for unemployment insurance, you can file wage reports on their behalf. They do not have to have access to their online e-Services account.
If the employer has not registered with TN for unemployment insurance, you can register them in your logged in e-Services account by clicking the Accountant Center link in the upper right-hand corner. Then view the Client Information panel and click the Register Client UI Tax Account. Once you complete the registration process, you can file wages report on their behalf.
Also, after I have done filing, will I get a copy of the web return?
No, but you may view the wage report details at any time by logging into your e-Services account and viewing the account. Then click the View Wage Reports link on the Account panel.
Will we be able to see a list of returns needed for clients?
When you are in the individual clients account, all returns that are due and not filed will display on their summary screen to file.
I am needing to correct someone that has been reported incorrectly. How do I fix them?
You may file an amended wage report for you or your client(s) in your logged in e-Services account. Select the account that you want to file an amended wage report for and on the Summary tab, view the Account panel and click the View Wage Reports link. Then click the View or Amend Return link for the respective period.
File Formats
What are error messages we need to be aware of with bulk filing on the new system that weren't on TNPAWS?
You can see a list of the error messages by visiting the Employer e-Services homepage by viewing the Wage Reporting File Formats panel and clicking the respective link for the file type.
Are the wage reporting ICESA file specs being updated?
Some minor changes have been made to the file specifications. The wage report filing formats are on Employer e-Services homepage. View the Wage Reporting File Formats panel and click the respective link for the file format type.
Where do we get directions to make the bulk file, instead of logging in each account?
Information about bulk filing can be found on the Employer e-Services home page (https://jobs4tnui.tn.gov/employer/_/) and viewing the Wage Reporting File Formats panel.
To file a bulk wage report, log into your e-Services account, click the Accountant Center link in the upper right-hand corner and view the Payments and Wage Report panel. Then, click the File ICESA Wage Report link to upload the file.
Is this format strictly for third party filers or individual business filers?
You may choose the format that works best for your business. You may submit an ICESA file with all accounts/wages listed at once, or you may submit reports individually per account.
Is the file format still a 58 character text file?
We will continue accepting the same file formats in the new system.
For the Error listing, will the EAN also be listed, or will it only be the line #?
Only the line # will be listed on the screen. You will be able to export them to a spreadsheet for better visibility.
Do you need to upload a ICESA formatted file if you are only reporting for one employee?
You are not required to upload an ICESA file. You may enter employee wage information directly into the system or by uploading a file using one of our three text file types.
Can I still submit even though the SSNs are showing as an issue?
Yes, SSNs that the system identifies as Invalid display as warnings. Warnings are displayed for review, and we would like you to update them prior to submitting the wage report. However, we understand you may not have the SSN available so Invalid SSNs can be submitted without the file being rejected.
Rate Exchange
Do we need to establish a client TPA to request the rate exchange file?
Yes. You will only receive the rate exchange for employers that you are linked to.
QuickBooks
Will these changes affect the automatic payments processed from QuickBooks, etc.?
It will depend on how QuickBooks users are set up. QuickBooks does have a bulk filing process for its clients. QuickBooks users may need to contact their representative.
QuickBooks Desktop provide a report to export so I can then import /upload it? Or will TN make filing through QB desktop available?
Our software does not communicate directly with QuickBooks, so any reports or files that your QuickBooks would generate would have to be manually entered or uploaded into our system.