New Hire Paperwork: What’s Required and What’s Recommended?

Employers must comply with numerous requirements, including paperwork and notices, when hiring new employees. In addition to required new hire paperwork, documentation is recommended to help administer payroll, benefits, and other HR responsibilities. Here are some key forms to keep in mind:

Required New Hire Paperwork:

• Form I-9. An I-9 Form must be completed for each new hire to verify the individual’s identity and that they are authorized to work in the United States. To complete Section 2 of the I-9, employees must present documents for this verification. The I-9 Form includes a List of Acceptable Documents (List A, List B, and List C). An employee must present one document from List A or one document from List B and one document from List C.
  • List A documents: establish both identity and employment authorization
  • List B documents: establish identity only
  • List C documents: establish employment authorization only

  Employers must generally inspect Section 2 documents in the employee's physical presence. However, due to the pandemic, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has offered employers some flexibility. Specifically, from April 1, 2021 through December 31, 2021, the requirement that employers inspect the I-9 documentation in-person applies only to those employees who physically report to work at a company location on any regular, consistent, or predictable basis, according to the DHS. If employees hired on or after April 1, 2021 work exclusively in a remote setting due to COVID-19-related precautions, they are temporarily exempt from the physical inspection requirements until they go back into the workplace on a regular, consistent, or predictable basis, or the DHS terminates the flexible option, whichever is earlier.

  Note: Since this Tip of the Week was published, the DHS extended this temporary exemption to July 31, 2023.

  • Form W-4. All new hires must complete a W-4 to determine the amount of federal income tax to withhold from their wages. Several states also require a tax withholding form. Employers should ensure that they are using the latest version of the form, which may change each year. If the employee has questions or asks for advice on how to complete a W-4, instruct them to speak with a tax advisor.
  • Notice of Coverage Options. Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), employers must provide a Notice of Coverage Options to all new hires within 14 days of their start date. This requirement applies even if the employer doesn't offer health insurance and/or the employee is not eligible for health insurance.
  • Wage and hour. Under federal law, employers that use the tip credit must first notify tipped employees of:
    
    • The minimum cash wage that will be paid;
    • The tip credit amount, which cannot exceed the value of the tips actually received by the employee;
    • That all tips received by the tipped employee must be retained by the employee except for a valid tip pooling arrangement limited to employees who customarily and regularly receive tips.

    Recommended new hire paperwork:

    • Handbook acknowledgment. After new hires are provided with a copy of your employee handbook, they should sign a form acknowledging that they have received and are responsible for complying with all company policies. Make sure you give employees enough time to read and ask questions about the handbook before they are required to sign the acknowledgment form. Make sure you provide new hires with your policies related to preventing the spread of COVID-19, such as any mask and vaccination requirements.
    • Payroll authorizations. If you offer direct deposit, provide new hires with a direct deposit authorization if they would like their pay deposited directly into their bank account each pay period. A payroll deduction authorization should also be provided for voluntary deductions, such as health insurance premiums and retirement savings plans.
    • Benefits information. All new hires should receive information about the benefit programs you offer as well as any forms required to enroll.

    Conclusion:

    The forms listed above can be found in the New Hire Paperwork section of HR411 ® . Consider using a checklist to ensure that you complete and provide all required documents to each new hire.