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Sovereign citizens prefer an “Employer ID Number” (EIN) over a Social Security Number (SSN) for a few reasons tied to their ideology of rejecting government control and obligations. Here’s how they misunderstand the difference:
Sovereign citizen ideology: They believe the Social Security Administration (SSA) is a private corporation with no legitimate authority over them. They view the SSN as a control mechanism used to track and manipulate citizens.
- Refusal to participate: By refusing to use the term SSN and instead opting for EIN, they signal their rejection of the SSA and the entire social security system.
- Misunderstanding of Purpose: The government issues Social Security numbers to track earnings and benefits like Social Security retirement. EINs are for businesses to file taxes [1, 2]. Sovereign citizens often conflate the two.
- Fabricated Contract Theory: They believe getting an SSN somehow signifies a contract with the government, making them beholden to its rules. They see using an EIN as a way to avoid this imaginary contract [2, 3].
- Challenge to Government Authority: By refusing an SSN, they aim to challenge the government’s right to track them or collect taxes through Social Security. This has no legal basis [3].
- Why it’s wrong:
- SSN is mandatory for work: In the United States, you generally need a valid SSN to be legally employed. Employers use it to report your income and withhold payroll taxes.
- EIN are not for individuals: EINs are for businesses and not replacements for SSNs for individual workers.
- Doesn’t negate legal obligations: Sovereign citizens often believe using an EIN instead of an SSN somehow exempts them from paying taxes or following Social Security regulations. This is false.
Why This Makes No Difference Legally:
- Everyone who works and pays taxes is subject to the tax code, regardless of their SSN or use of an EIN (which is for businesses).
- Sovereign citizens cannot opt out of the tax system by refusing an SSN.
Important Points to Remember:
- SSNs and EINs serve different purposes, but both are relevant for government tracking in different ways.
- Refusing an SSN won’t absolve someone of their tax obligations.
- Sovereign citizens are still subject to tax laws, even if they don’t have an SSN.
Additional Notes:
- In reality, most people who need to earn a living will eventually need an SSN to report wages and pay taxes.
- Employers and the government are likely to reject sovereign citizens who attempt to use an EIN instead of an SSN.
Citations:
- [1] Social Security Administration: Understanding Your Social Security Number [Ordp, Oisp. “Understanding Supplemental Security Income (SSI)—Social Security Information.” SSA, www.ssa.gov/ssi/text-info-ussi.htm. ]
- [2] Anti-Defamation League: The Sovereign Citizen Movement [https://www.adl.org/resources/backgrounder/sovereign-citizen-movement-united-states ]
[3] Internal Revenue Service: Employer Identification Numbers (EINs) [i“Employer ID Numbers.” Internal Revenue Service, www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/employer-id-numbers. ]
