a unique nine-digit number assigned to Canadian citizens and residents by the federal government for identification purposes.
A number given to each contributor to the Canada Pension Plan, Quebec Pension Plan, and Employment Insurance Plan. It helps record the contributions and premiums paid into and the benefits paid out of the plans. Since these social insurance programs are connected to the tax system, the SIN is also used as an identifier for federal income tax purposes. Everyone who files an income tax and benefit return must provide a SIN.
The Government of Canada assigns Social Insurance Numbers to all individuals with an income or those who pay taxes. Individuals must apply for this number. By law, you are required to provide this number to financial institutions with which you have an interest-bearing deposit account.
Every person who has an income or pays taxes must apply for this number, which is assigned by the Government of Canada. You must, by law, provide this number to financial institutions with which you have an interest-bearing deposit account.
A Social Insurance Number (SIN) is a number issued in Canada to administer various government programs. The SIN was created in 1964 to serve as a client account number in the administration of the Canada Pension Plan and Canada's varied employment insurance programs. In 1967, Revenue Canada (now the Canada Revenue Agency) started using the SIN for tax reporting purposes.