NoSSN - NoSSN NewsLetter 6.14

NoSSN NewsLetter 6.14
The NoSSN Treatment Plan
September 21, 2006

In this Issue:

The NoSSN Treatment Plan

So you have made the decision. You have decided that you have no use for the SSN. The thought of numbering people like cattle is revolting. You don’t like socialist ideas of intergenerational wealth redistribution. Maybe you believe the SSN is the mark of the beast foretold in Revelation 13. Maybe one or more of these things apply to you. Regardless, you have made the decision that you no longer wish to participate.

We can tell you with great confidence that there is good news. There is no law requiring you (as an American or U.S. Citizen) to apply for or use a SSN. If you don’t have one, there is no need to apply for one. If one was issued to you, whether you applied for it yourself or someone else applied for it on your behalf, there is no law requiring you to use it. This bears repeating, there is no law requiring Americans to have, use or apply for a Social Security number.

This process can be time consuming. This can take a year or more, be prepared.

Now that you have made the decision, what now? Well, there are several things you need to do to rid yourself of that nasty number. First is making the decision never to use it again, then sticking to it. The rule of thumb here is that anyone with whom you do business needs to remove the number from their records. This comes with a little warning, you need to be sure that the number is removed. They could tell you it is removed and not be removed in actuality. I asked my dentist to remove the number and actually watched them do it. It’s gone and I know it’s gone.

Those that will not remove the number, you need to stop doing business with them and replace them with those who do not have the number. This includes but is not limited to:

Health insurance
Auto insurance
Bank
Telephone
Cell Phone
Gas Companies
Electric Company
Employer
Investments (401k, IRA, Mutual Funds etc.)

Some of these are easier to accomplish than others. Health insurance is usually not a problem. Utilities can be accomplished. Banks, Employers and investments will give you the most trouble.

One of the vehicles that can help you in your quest to be free from enumeration is to use some type of entity to “plug in” to the system. You can even have more than one to suit your purposes. These can range from a Corporation, an LLC, an LLP or an LP to the myriad of different trusts that can be formed. Just about all of these has the ability to apply for an EIN. The nice thing about these entities is that in the eyes of the law, these entities often fall into the definition of a “person.” When this “person” exists this “person” cannot apply for an SSN but can apply for a EIN. When an SSN is required, an entity can oftentimes use an EIN. When you have an entity you can get your phone and utilities under the entity and use the EIN if they require it.

You can use your entity to do such things as open a bank account and get a telephone. It’s possible that some of these organizations, banks and investments in particular may require an SSN of an officer or manager of the entity. When you form the entity you may want to get a friend or relative to be an officer for you, this actual, real life person should be willing to sign on the dotted line on occasion for you. This shouldn’t be too much trouble for this person. I don’t imagine it would be required more than once for each organization you need to do business with.

If you have any credit cards you might as well just pay them off and throw them away. They have your SSN and will not give it up for any reason. An entity may be able to get one but not without somebody signing with an SSN.

Your employer may be the most difficult to deal with. There are several options to choose from. You can try asking the employer to stop withholding. You can explain to them that you will take care of your own taxes. The only reason they need an SSN is for withholding purposes. This may not work out so well. You would have to give up your “employee” status.

You could also use your entity or create a new entity to lease you back to the company you work for. This is called employee leasing. The company you form will contract with your former employer to lease you to the former employer. The new company will invoice the employer for your time. The former employer then cuts a check and gets deposited into the company account. You can then spend that money as you fit, provided it in some way helps out the company. Since your survival and happiness is vital to the company, just about anything will qualify as helping out the company.

You can also switch jobs, become an entrepreneur, be a consultant or any of the other non-employee options available to you.

Be prepared for arguments. You don’t have to tell anyone any more than you simply no longer use the number. It is none of their business anyways.

I can relate some personal experiences. I have shared many on this list. I recall when I opened the bank account for an entity which I formed. It took me three banks before I finally had success. The account was almost opened when I was questioned about the SSN, I simply stated, I do not use an SSN for any reason. This was also before 9/11 and the Patriot Act. This may not happen again.

Personally, I have no checking account. Such things as rent and utilities are in the business name. The cable TV is in my wife’s name (it’s cheaper that way).

There is also no reason to worry about paying personal bills with a business check. I have asked about this before. I believe one health insurance company a few years back was not all that enthused about the idea. They indicated there may be problem when I asked. Not to worry, they never sent a check back to me.

Sometimes you need to be creative, some things go easily, you never can tell. You should know, you are not alone; there are people that will help you with ideas, recommendations, and options.

This is by no means an exhaustive list but it’s a start.

"The majority is always wrong." -- Donald MacIlvaney, publisher of the MacIlvaney Intelligence Adviser

DISCLAIMER: The data on this website is the collaborative experience, contributions, and research of various websites, legal books, tax documents, researchers, associates, attorneys, CPA's, etc. and does not constitute legal advice. The primary purpose of this site is education. We do not advocate any specific course of action. What you do with this information and any course of action you decide to take, if any, is entirely your responsibility.

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