Foreign Trade Regulations (FTR): Eliminate the Social Security Number (SSN) as an Identification Number in the Automated Export System (AES)

The U.S. Census Bureau (Census Bureau) is amending the Foreign Trade Regulations (FTR) to eliminate the requirement to report a Social Security Number (SSN) as an identification number when registering to file and filing electronic export information in the Automated Export System (AES) or AESDirect. Under the current regulations, the U.S. Principal Party in Interest (USPPI) or U.S. authorized agent residing or having an office located in the United States is required to enter an Employer Identification Number (EIN), SSN, or Dun and Bradstreet Number (DUNS) when reporting export transactions in the AES or AESDirect. An SSN is used as an identification number principally by filers who are individuals. DUNS are available only to business entities, and EINs are available to both businesses and individuals. Upon implementation of this Interim Final Rule, if the USPPI or the U.S. authorized agent who resides or has an office located in the United States does not have an EIN, the USPPI, or U.S. authorized agent must obtain an EIN through the Internal Revenue Service's Web site. Former SSN filers who want to use a DUNS rather than an EIN for identification purposes, must first obtain an EIN from the IRS and apply to Dun & Bradstreet for a DUNS. This rule is being implemented to ensure that a USPPI's or U.S. authorized agent's SSN is protected in accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974, Title 5, United States Code, Section 552a.