[Code of Federal Regulations] [Title 31, Volume 2] [Revised as of July 1, 2002] From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access [CITE: 31CFR351.3] [Page 301] TITLE 31--MONEY AND FINANCE: TREASURY CHAPTER II--FISCAL SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY PART 351--OFFERING OF UNITED STATES SAVINGS BONDS, SERIES EE--Table of Contents Sec. 351.3 Registration and issue. (a) Registration. Bonds may be registered as set forth in subpart B of 31 CFR part 353, also published as Department of the Treasury Circular, Public Debt Series No. 3-80. (b) Validity of issue. A bond is validly issued when it (1) is registered as provided in Circular No. 3-80, and (2) bears an issue date, as well as the validation indicia of an authorized issuing agent. (c) Taxpayer identifying number. The inscription of a bond must include the taxpayer identifying number of the owner or first-named coowner. The taxpayer identifying number of the second-named coowner or beneficiary is not required but its inclusion is desirable. If the bond is being purchased as a gift or award and the owner's taxpayer identifying number is not known, the taxpayer identifying number of the purchaser must be included in the inscription on the bond. (d) Restrictions on chain letters. The issuance of bonds in the furtherance of a chain letter or pyramid scheme is considered to be against the public interest and is prohibited. An issuing agent is authorized to refuse to issue a bond if there is reason to believe that a purchase is in connection with a chain letter and the agent's decision is final. [55 FR 567, Jan. 5, 1990, as amended at 57 FR 14285, Apr. 17, 1992]