true, you cant legally work without an ss but I don't see that as control, more as an id thing. the irs does need to know what person is to be taxed. a levy would need the same. kinda hard if I have money and have paid and they don't know whom I am and what I made. people wouldn't lie on that stuff, we just love them taxes.
my property has a tax id number. I can look up my home and go back a long time on the property lot number. to the original owner and deed. I have done that. it goes back to the 80's