Is a fax header required by law?

Yes. Under 47 U.S.C. § 227(d)(1)(B) of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), every transmitted fax page must clearly show the date and time sent, the sender's name or business name, and the sender's telephone number. Missing any of these three elements is a federal violation carrying penalties of up to $500–$1,500 per fax.

What is the difference between a fax header and a fax cover sheet?

A fax header is a compact line of text automatically generated by the sending machine or service — it appears in the margin of every page and contains sender ID, date, and time. A fax cover sheet is a full, separate first page that the sender prepares manually, providing recipient details, a subject line, page count, and any special instructions. Professional faxing uses both.

What three things must every fax header include?

Per TCPA and FCC rules: (1) the date and time of transmission, (2) the name of the sending business or individual, and (3) the telephone number of the sending fax machine or sender. These must appear on every page or on the first page of the transmission.

What is a TSID on a fax machine?

TSID stands for Transmitting Subscriber Identification — the identifier string broadcast by your fax machine during the T.30 protocol handshake. It typically contains your fax number and optionally a name. The TSID drives what appears in both your outbound fax header and the recipient's activity log. Configuring the TSID is the first step to a legally compliant fax header.

How do I fix an incorrect fax header on my fax machine?

Go into your machine's menu (usually Menu → Initial Setup → Station ID or Fax Header), update the name and fax number, then verify the machine's internal clock is correct — the date/time stamp comes from that clock. Send a test fax to yourself to confirm the header looks right before sending to clients or regulated recipients.

Fax Header: What It Is, Requirements & How to Set It Up

A fax header is the strip of identifying information printed automatically at the top of every fax page. Federal law requires it — and misconfiguring it can expose your business to TCPA fines. Here's what goes in it and how to set it up on any device.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a fax header required by law?: Yes. Under 47 U.S.C. § 227(d)(1)(B) of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), every transmitted fax page must clearly show the date and time sent, the sender's name or business name, and the sender's telephone number. Missing any of these three elements is a federal violation carrying penalties of up to $500–$1,500 per fax.
What is the difference between a fax header and a fax cover sheet?: A fax header is a compact line of text automatically generated by the sending machine or service — it appears in the margin of every page and contains sender ID, date, and time. A fax cover sheet is a full, separate first page that the sender prepares manually, providing recipient details, a subject line, page count, and any special instructions. Professional faxing uses both.
What three things must every fax header include?: Per TCPA and FCC rules: (1) the date and time of transmission, (2) the name of the sending business or individual, and (3) the telephone number of the sending fax machine or sender. These must appear on every page or on the first page of the transmission.
What is a TSID on a fax machine?: TSID stands for Transmitting Subscriber Identification — the identifier string broadcast by your fax machine during the T.30 protocol handshake. It typically contains your fax number and optionally a name. The TSID drives what appears in both your outbound fax header and the recipient's activity log. Configuring the TSID is the first step to a legally compliant fax header.
How do I fix an incorrect fax header on my fax machine?: Go into your machine's menu (usually Menu → Initial Setup → Station ID or Fax Header), update the name and fax number, then verify the machine's internal clock is correct — the date/time stamp comes from that clock. Send a test fax to yourself to confirm the header looks right before sending to clients or regulated recipients.