SSN Policy Manual

Employment Issues

religious beliefs, whether or not the employer believes there is a religious basis for the employee's objection.

Going on Your Own While starting your business or being self-employed is difficult for many of us, it is probably the easiest and least stressful alternative for the unenumerated to consider. One of the greatest blessings of living in America is all of the fantastic opportunity available to anybody who has a little bit of imagination, a lot of drive and self-discipline and who is willing to work hard for their own personal reward. For a lot less energy than the unenumerated spend trying to educate prospective employers, dealing with the rejection and considering their options, most of us can begin a new career by discovering a special market niche in our community and filling it. It may be as simple as marketing your professional talents as a consultant, or perhaps you may have been thinking about changing careers, providing paralegal services or doing landscape maintenance. If you have some cash set aside, maybe its time to open a small store or shop. There are many very good books available for people who are thinking about going it on their own. We recommend that you visit your local book store and review some of these. Starting your own business is a very important decision that should be studied carefully. If done right it will be the most personal and financially rewarding experience of your life. Individual Taxpayer Identification Number A final note for this section is a scam warning. Many promoters suggest that you can get around the social security number issue by claiming they are not citizens of Washington, D.C. and are therefore aliens in the view of federal law. Without trying to explain their logic, they further assert that an alien individual should in fact obtain and use an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number instead of a social security number. Their assertion is simply wrong. The Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) is a tax processing number that became available July 1, 1996, for certain nonresident and resident aliens, their spouse and dependents. The Individual Taxpayer Identification Number is only available to individuals who cannot get a social security number. The Individual Taxpayer Identification Number is not applicable since any citizen of any State, living in the United States can apply for and receive a social security number.