Quote Originally Posted by Brian View Post
Another nexus of the presumption is when you fill out the W-4 and paste your SSN# on it and turn it into your employer.

The real destroyer is the W-2 filled to the IRS which starts as a W-3 sent to the SSA by your employer.

All of these presume you are being paid in privileged legal tender in order to be valid.
Most people get paid with a check, which is a negotiable instrument. It is apparently presumed that you will bond that check into the private credit system. The tax return of course provides the opportunity to inform IRS that you demanded redemption in lawful money when depositing your negotiable instruments.