Question: When Should I Give Out My Social Security Number?
Your employer and financial institution will likely need your Social Security number for wage and tax reporting purposes. Other businesses may ask you for your Social Security number to do a credit check, like when you apply for a car loan. Sometimes, however, they simply want your Social Security number for general record keeping.
Answer: If someone asks for your Social Security number, ask the following questions:
- Why do you need it?
- How will it be used?
- How do you protect it from being stolen?
- What will happen if I don't give it to you?
