On Sat, 31 Jan 2004 00:16:07 GMT, Santa Cruz Mike wrote:
On Fri, 30 Jan 2004 14:38:36 -0600, Tom Stovall
wrote:

An illegal alien can't get a bank account because he has no social
security card; so if he's paid by check,

You don't need a SS number to open a bank account.

True. But the federal banking laws now require a taxpayer
ID number on *every* bank account. In nearly all cases, for
individuals, that's a SS number.

You *can* get the IRS to issue you a taxpayer ID number
different from your Social Security number, but you have
to prove who you are to *them* to get it. One of the forms
of identification they want is your SS number.

Gary