Tips on Faxing to TIAA-CREF

To ensure we respond to and complete your inquiries and requests in a timely, accurate manner, please follow the tips below when sending a fax to TIAA-CREF:

• Do not include social security numbers, passwords, or bank transfer numbers in a fax. Faxes are not secure transmissions. Should you mistakenly send it to the wrong number, you will have entrusted your most personal information to a stranger.

• Use a fax coversheet. Indicate the item(s) being sent, the total number of pages, and your name and contact information. If the information is intended for multiple recipients, please include a complete list of the individuals. By including a cover sheet with your fax, a TIAA employee will be able to easily contact you if we encounter any problems with your fax.  

• Include your plan number on all correspondences and forms.

• Send single-sided pages or use your machine’s duplex faxing feature. If your form is double-sided, make a photocopy of the second side and fax sequentially. To prevent separation, include all pages in the same fax; avoid sending each side in a separate fax.

• Confirm the fax number to which you are sending.  If you are using a pre-programmed number, ensure that the number is accurate. 

• Disable your fax machine’s “faxing to memory,” or “grouping” features to be sure each fax is assigned its own record.

• Use your fax machine’s error detection feature to confirm that the fax was sent successfully.

• Save the fax confirmation sheet for your records and note that the date and time of the fax are correct.

• Be aware of your outbound fax number.  If your institution uses a switchboard, the inbound number we use to send you faxes may not match the number on your fax to us.  Keep a record of the numbers you use to send and receive faxes.

At TIAA-CREF, we are committed to consistently processing all faxes within two hours of receipt. By following these simple tips, you will help us serve you even better. 

For your reference, TIAA-CREF’s general fax number is: 1 800 914-8922.  Please check with your liaison if you have been using a different fax number.