A taxpayer’s Social Security number is classified as what type of information under GLBA?

A taxpayer's Social Security number is classified as nonpublic personal information (NPI) under the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA). This classification is significant because NPI encompasses any information that can identify an individual and is not generally available to the public. The act aims to protect consumers' personal financial information from unauthorized disclosure, and a Social Security number is a critical piece of sensitive information that can link to other personal data, potentially leading to identity theft.

Understanding the classification as nonpublic personal information means that financial institutions must implement appropriate safeguards to protect such data. NPI includes not just Social Security numbers but also other types of personally identifiable information that are directly related to an individual's financial activities. In comparison, public information is accessible to any member of the public, while commercial information typically refers to information regarding businesses rather than individuals. Open record information refers to government-held data that is legally available for public access, which does not include private taxpayer details.