SSN Policy Manual

The Voluntary Nature of the Social Security Number

Title Filing identification number.

Excerpt .. .-(2) Ifneither an Internal Revenue Service employer identification number nor a social security number has been assigned, the word "None" shall be written on the line provided for each of these numbers on Customs Form 5106 and the form shall be filed in duplicate. (c) Assignment of importer identification number. Upon receipt of a Customs Form 5106 without an Internal Revenue Service employer identification number or a social security number, an importer identification number shall be assigned . . . (a) Compliance with the Privacy Act. The collection, maintenance, use, and dissemination of SSNs, EINs, any information derived from SSNs and Employer Identification Numbers (EINs), and income information under this subpart shall be conducted, to the extent applicable, in compliance with the Privacy Act (5 U.S.C. 552a) and all other provisions of Federal, State, and local law. ... (a) That individuals may not be denied any right, benefit, or privilege as a result of refusing to provide their social security numbers, unless the collection is authorized either by a statute or by a regulation issued prior to 1975; and ... (a) Social Security Numbers. As of September 27, 1975. 1 Social Security Numbers may not be used in their 1 entirety as a method of identification for any Bureau record system, unless such use is authorized by statute or by regulation adopted prior to January 1, 1975. (b) The Office shall take such measures as are necessary to ensure that employees authorized to collect information from individuals are advised that individuals may not be required to furnish Social Security numbers without statutory or regulatory authorization and that individuals who are requested to provide Social Secur* numbers voluntarily must be advised that furnishmg the number is not required and that no penalty or den~al of benefits will flow from the refusal to provide it. (a) Neither the Department nor its component un~ts shai deny to any individual any right, benefit or privilege provided by law because of such individual's refusal to disclose his social security number. ...

Code 19 CFR 24.5

Compliance with the Privacy Act and other requirements.

24 CFR 5.212

Use and collection of social security numbers.

28 CFR 16.53

28 CFR 513.31

Jse and collection of social security numbers.

!8 CFR 700.25

Solicitation of social iecurity numbers.

!9 CFR 70a.10