Employers - What you need to know about Social Insurance Numbers

Your key responsibilities

Request each new employee's SIN within three days after the day on which their employment begins, and maintain a record of the SIN of the employee

• Ensure employees are correctly identified by requesting other pieces of identification before finalizing their employment documents.
• Every person working in Canada must have a SIN. This number is used to administer government benefits under the Income Tax Act, the Canada Pension Plan Act, and the Employment Insurance Act.
• If a new employee does not have a SIN and is eligible to work in Canada, instruct the individual to apply for a SIN. Tell them it's fast, simple and secure if the employee's application and identity document(s) are in order.
• If you would like to confirm the SIN of a current or former employee, please contact Service Canada's Social Insurance Registration office at 1-800-206-7218 and select Option '3'. If calling from outside Canada dial 506-548-7961 (long distance charges apply). You will need to provide your business number (issued by Canada Revenue Agency), along with appropriate information to verify the identity of your company as well as the employee.

Ensure that any employees that have a SIN beginning with a "9" are authorized to work in Canada and that their immigration document has not expired.

• SINs beginning with a "9" are issued to temporary workers who are neither Canadian citizens nor permanent residents. These SINs are valid only until the expiry date indicated on the Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) document authorizing the person to work in Canada.
• Employers must continue to see the employee's existing immigration document authorizing them to work in Canada (e.g. work permit, study permit) and verify that the immigration document is not expired.

Protect your employees' personal information, including their SIN, from theft and inappropriate use or disclosure.

• Store all sensitive personal information in a secure area or on an encrypted computer system. Only allow access to it on a need-to-know basis.
• If you become aware that an employee's SIN has been stolen or is being inappropriately used or disclosed, take the following steps to minimize the negative impact that could result:
  1. assess the damage
  2. inform the employee(s) concerned
  3. if any criminal activity occurred, contact the police
  4. contact Service Canada and the Office of the Privacy Commissioner, and
  5. contact anyone else affected.

Inform Service Canada if you suspect that a Social Insurance Number is being used fraudulently.

• You play a leading role in detecting and preventing SIN fraud. Two main examples of this type of fraud are illegal employment and income tax evasion.
• If you have any reason to suspect that a SIN is being used fraudulently, report the situation immediately to Service Canada.

For more information on how to protect the SIN, please see our publication, Your Social Insurance Number: A Shared Responsibility!

How to reach us

• Click servicecanada.gc.ca
  
  For more information on how to contact the Government of Canada and access the full range of Government of Canada programs and services.
• Call 1-800-206-7218. Select Option "3".
  
  Agents are available Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (your local time), except statutory holidays.
  
  If you are calling from outside Canada, the number is (506) 548-7961 (long distance charges apply).
• Visit the nearest Service Canada Centre
  
  on our website, or call 1 800 O-Canada (1-800-622-6232) TTY 1-800-926-9105.

You can also write to us at:

Service Canada

Social Insurance Registration Office

PO Box 7000

Bathurst NB E2A 4T1

Canada

The Social Insurance Number (SIN) Program is delivered by Service Canada - the Government of Canada's service delivery network that brings a range of federal services and benefits together to meet your needs. Service Canada offers easy-to-access, one-stop, personalized services - on the Internet, by telephone, in-person or by mail.