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I dont bother being secretive about SSN, its security theatre. The person in earshot has a lower likelihood of bothering with it when every service provider tha

I dont bother being secretive about SSN, its security theatre. The person in earshot has a lower likelihood of bothering with it when every service provider that also has it will get mass hacked and are the primary targets. I use a separate TIN or EIN (Tax/Employer Identification Number) where I can. All my businesses have one, even a sole proprietorship that exists purely in your head can obtain one, and this can go on many forms.

mixmastamyk 6y ago
Interesting, if you get paid on another TIN does it effectively become your main SSN? What about at retirement time? Would like to hear more about this.
- vmception 6y ago
  “Effectively become your main SSN” no but loaded question. less places would have your ssn or tin. the only difference it really makes is peace of mind and relying on the current reality that hackers aren't targeting you or anyone specifically and you will have an additional way to verify yourself if someone did try to do identity theft or whatever you’re worried about. Online People databases will still be reporting pieces of your older SSN while you have been primarily giving services a different number. retirement time isnt a problem. if your business is getting paid and the person that pays needs your tin/ein then thats what they get instead of your ssn. You are still paying self employment taxes contributing to retirement.
- jccooper 6y ago
  EINs don't accumulate Social Security, but when you file taxes you'll pay "self-employment tax" on earnings from that "business" and those go to your personal SS account. When you use an EIN you're basically claiming to act as a business. For some cases, you can do that just fine. But a lot of SSN requests for identification or credit checks it won't work. And anyone who cares that it's a SSN vs a TIN can figure that out easily.

mixmastamyk 6y ago

Interesting, if you get paid on another TIN does it effectively become your main SSN? What about at retirement time? Would like to hear more about this.

vmception 6y ago
“Effectively become your main SSN” no but loaded question. less places would have your ssn or tin. the only difference it really makes is peace of mind and relying on the current reality that hackers aren't targeting you or anyone specifically and you will have an additional way to verify yourself if someone did try to do identity theft or whatever you’re worried about. Online People databases will still be reporting pieces of your older SSN while you have been primarily giving services a different number. retirement time isnt a problem. if your business is getting paid and the person that pays needs your tin/ein then thats what they get instead of your ssn. You are still paying self employment taxes contributing to retirement.
jccooper 6y ago
EINs don't accumulate Social Security, but when you file taxes you'll pay "self-employment tax" on earnings from that "business" and those go to your personal SS account. When you use an EIN you're basically claiming to act as a business. For some cases, you can do that just fine. But a lot of SSN requests for identification or credit checks it won't work. And anyone who cares that it's a SSN vs a TIN can figure that out easily.