Editing National identification number (section)

{{Short description|Number to represent one's identity as a numerical code}}
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A '''national identification number''' or '''national identity number''' is used by the governments of many countries as a means of uniquely identifying their [[citizen]]s or [[Domicile (law)|residents]] for the purposes of work, taxation, government [[Employee benefits|benefits]], health care, banking and other governmentally-related functions. They allow authorities to use a [[unique identifier]] which can be linked to a database, reducing the risk of misidentification of a person. They are often stated on [[Identity document|national identity documents]] of citizens.

The ways in which such a system is implemented vary among countries, but in most cases citizens are issued an [[identifier|identification number]] upon reaching legal age, or when they are born. Non-citizens may be issued such numbers when they enter the country, or when granted a temporary or permanent residence permit. Such numbers may also locally referred to as a '''national insurance number''', '''social security number''', '''tax identification number''', '''JMBG/EMBG''' or by their local name.

Some countries issued such numbers for a separate original purpose, but over time become a ''de facto'' national identification number. For example, the [[United States]] developed its [[Social Security number]] (SSN) system as a means of organizing disbursing of welfare benefits. The [[United Kingdom]] issues [[National Insurance number|National Insurance Numbers]] for a similar purpose. In these countries, due to lack of an official national identification number, these substitute numbers have become used for other purposes to the point where it is almost essential to have one to, among other things, pay tax, open a bank account, obtain a credit card, or drive a car.<ref>[https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/iw8ben.pdf Archived copy] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170727045242/https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/iw8ben.pdf |date=2017-07-27 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.irs.gov/Individuals/International-Taxpayers/U.S.-Taxpayer-Identification-Number-Requirement |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130106024912/http://www.irs.gov/Individuals/International-Taxpayers/U.S.-Taxpayer-Identification-Number-Requirement |archive-date=2013-01-06 |title=U.S. Taxpayer Identification Number Requirement}}</ref> 

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