Could Your Business Have A Form I-9 Problem?
Most small business owners don't know the answer until it's too late.
Form I-9 Readiness Check
Find out whether your current Form I-9 process may need a closer look.
Want to understand Form I-9 compliance in more detail?
A Form I-9 is a federal employment eligibility verification form issued by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Virtually every employer must complete one for every employee hired to work in the United States, regardless of the employer’s size or nationality and the employee’s nationality. Its purpose is to verify the employee’s identity and confirm that the employee is authorized to work in the United States.
Many employers don’t realize that employers have been required to complete Form I-9s since November 6, 1986 and that it applies to for-profit, not-for-profit, and government employers. If someone is an employee who is required to complete a Form W-4 when hired, the employer must also complete a Form I-9 for that employee. The two forms serve completely different purposes: the W-4 is for federal income-tax withholding; the Form I-9 is for identity and employment-authorization verification.
Click the form to view the current Form I-9
Need Help Fixing or Organizing Your Form I-9 Process?
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The ATLC Form I-9 Compliance Toolkit is designed for employers using paper Form I-9s who want practical guidance, government resources, checklists, change logs, blank forms, and an organized system for maintaining their Form I-9 records.
LEARN ABOUT THE TOOLKIT
About Carol R. Kaufman
Carol R. Kaufman is an Operational, HR and Form I-9 Compliance Consultant and Founder of Alternatives TLC, LLC. She has worked directly with small businesses to identify and correct Form I-9 errors, and brings her 20+ year real-world experience to her work.
Carol developed a series of Form I-9 educational materials to help small business owners better understand their responsibilities and avoid common mistakes. Most small business owners have never been formally educated on Form I-9 compliance, and the consequences of getting it wrong are real.
This site is for educational training purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Yes - the law applies to every employer regardless of size. Even having just one employee means you're required to complete and retain Form I-9 forms.
Yes, former employee Form I-9s need to be retained for either 3 years from the first date of employment OR 1 year from the last date of employment, whichever is greater farther out (later).
Absolutely. This video was designed specifically for small business owners without HR staff. No legal jargon — just clear, practical guidance.
That's exactly who this video is for. Most business owners who've been completing Form I-9s for years discover errors they didn't know they were making.
No. This is an educational video designed to help you uderstand Form I-9 requirements. For specific legal questions, consult an employment attorney.
Watch our free 75-minute Form I-9 educational video to learn more.
What You'll Learn:
- What a Form I-9 is
- What the current environment is regarding Form I-9 audits and ICE raids
- Who needs to fill out a Form I-9
- The rules for filling out a Form I-9, including which documents to use
- How to organize and store Form I-9s
- How long to keep IForm -9s
- How fines work
- How to train your staff regarding Form I-9 audits
Find out immediately if your business has a potential Form I-9 problem!
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NOTE: This video is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.
