I-9

Employment Eligibility Verification Form

US form every new hire completes to verify identity and authorization to work.

When you'd see it: Onboarding every new US hire. The I-9 is completed in the first days of employment.

Why it matters: The I-9 verifies a new hire's identity and legal authorization to work in the US. It is mandatory for every employee, and missing or sloppy I-9s are a frequent audit finding.

Common mistakes: Confusing the I-9 (work authorization) with the W-4 (tax withholding). Both are onboarding forms, but they serve completely different purposes.