[usadave]

No criminal background check is required before applying for a TIN, which many banks now accept from illegal alien customers as a primary form of identification.

If banks are going to accept TIN's from illegal aliens as a primary form of identification, then I would think that banks would be required to accept TIN's from American citizens too, or risk being sued for discrimination.

[ShuShu]

TIN's are for people who do not qualify for a Social Security number so they can still pay thier taxes owed in the US. If a person does at some point meet the requirements for obtaining a Social Security number they must apply for one immediately.

I would tend to believe this would be mainly designed for a consultant, etc. from a foreign country who comes here to perform services on a contracted basis. They owe taxes here on the income so they need some type of number in order to settle up with the IRS before returning to their country.