Showing your SSN card to Office of Registrar

[virtua]

Hi, guys,

I`m on assistantship and I`ve recently obtained my SSN, but didn`t enter it into my university account. I got an email from university accountant saying that I have to bring it to office of registrar so they can fill the form and mail it to IRS or something like this (I don`t remember exactly), so I have brought my SSN card to the office of registrar and they took a copy of it and asked my student ID number. Although it is late to ask, but still I would like to know: is it okay? I mean can I get in trouble because they have a copy of my SSN card? Can they somehow use it in bad way? Please, guys help me, I`m a bit stressed.

[TakeruK]

This is okay. The school needs to know your SSN because they are paying you and need to report your income to the IRS. 

You do have to be careful with your SSN. You should only provide it to services you trust and only when it's actually necessary (sometimes places will ask for it even though it's not necessary). Your school is an example of a place you can trust and must provide SSN information.

It's not a problem that they have a photocopy of the card. In fact, the card itself is not very important. I keep my SSN with me on a slip of paper in my wallet, and never actually take the card anywhere. When I need to provide my SSN (e.g. at the DMV), I just read off or copy from my slip of paper. 

If your school uses your SSN in a bad way, then they will get into a lot of trouble. Also, according to FERPA regulations, the school must take a lot of measures to keep your SSN safe. It's in your student record, but they are not able to tell anyone the number unless it's a school office/official that needs to know (e.g. perhaps the Payroll department to fill out your tax forms).

[virtua]

3 hours ago, TakeruK said:

This is okay. The school needs to know your SSN because they are paying you and need to report your income to the IRS. 

You do have to be careful with your SSN. You should only provide it to services you trust and only when it's actually necessary (sometimes places will ask for it even though it's not necessary). Your school is an example of a place you can trust and must provide SSN information.

It's not a problem that they have a photocopy of the card. In fact, the card itself is not very important. I keep my SSN with me on a slip of paper in my wallet, and never actually take the card anywhere. When I need to provide my SSN (e.g. at the DMV), I just read off or copy from my slip of paper. 

If your school uses your SSN in a bad way, then they will get into a lot of trouble. Also, according to FERPA regulations, the school must take a lot of measures to keep your SSN safe. It's in your student record, but they are not able to tell anyone the number unless it's a school office/official that needs to know (e.g. perhaps the Payroll department to fill out your tax forms).

Thank you!