The Trak Blog
Plain-English guides to I-9 compliance, E-Verify and workforce tax credits.
Can You Complete Form I-9 Before an Employee’s Start Date?
Yes—employers can complete Form I-9 before an employee starts work, but only after the individual accepts a job offer. Here’s how to handle early completion, deadlines, and changing start dates.
Read article →Form I-9 for Temporary Employees: Who Is Responsible?
Temporary employees generally need Form I-9, but responsibility depends on who employs them. Learn how to handle staffing placements, short assignments, and temp-to-hire conversions.
E-Verify Enrollment: A Checklist for Multi-Site Employers
E-Verify enrollment requires more than creating an account. Multi-site employers need a clear plan for participating locations, account access, user responsibilities, and consistent case handling.
Form I-9 Name Changes: What Employers Should Update
An employee’s legal name change does not automatically require a new Form I-9 or reverification. Learn how to document the change and coordinate updates across HR, payroll, and E-Verify.
FICA Tip Credit for Restaurants: How Form 8846 Works
Restaurant employers may qualify for an income tax credit based on employer Social Security and Medicare taxes paid on certain employee tips. Learn how the calculation works, which payments qualify, and what payroll records your tax preparer needs.
Do Employers Have to Keep Copies of I-9 Documents?
Copying I-9 documents is generally optional, but E-Verify photo matching and DHS’s remote inspection procedure create important exceptions. Here’s how to build a consistent document-copying policy.
Form I-9 for Minors: Hiring Employees Under 18
Employees under 18 must complete Form I-9, but special identity-document rules can apply. Learn how to handle student records, parent or guardian assistance, and E-Verify requirements.
Form I-9 for Rehires: When Can You Reuse an Existing Form?
A returning employee does not always need a new Form I-9. Learn how the three-year rule, Supplement B, and prior E-Verify results affect your rehire workflow.
WOTC Form 8850: The 28-Day Deadline and Filing Process
Form 8850 has two critical timing requirements: prescreening by the job-offer date and submitting the certification request within 28 days after work begins. Here’s how employers can build a reliable filing process for eligible hires.
Can Employers Use E-Verify for Existing Employees?
Employers generally cannot use E-Verify to check their existing workforce. Learn the federal contractor exception, how to handle rehires, and what to review before creating a case.
Form I-9 Without a Social Security Number: Employer Guide
A pending Social Security number does not automatically prevent a new hire from starting work. Here’s how employers should separate Form I-9 requirements, E-Verify case creation, and payroll setup.
E-Verify Case Deadline: The Three-Business-Day Rule
Employers generally must create an E-Verify case within three business days after an employee starts work for pay. Learn how to track the deadline, handle delayed Social Security numbers, and respond to late cases.
E-Verify Photo Matching: Documents, Steps, and Common Errors
E-Verify photo matching compares the photo on an employee’s document with a government-record photo—not with the employee’s face. Learn which documents trigger this step, what copies to retain, and how to handle a mismatch.
I-9 Compliance in Mergers and Acquisitions: An HR Guide
Buying a business does not automatically mean every employee needs a new Form I-9. Learn the two main approaches, the risks of inherited records, and the practical steps HR should take before closing.
Do Independent Contractors Need to Complete Form I-9?
Genuine independent contractors generally do not complete Form I-9 for the businesses hiring them. Learn how to distinguish contractor engagements from employee onboarding and handle staffing arrangements without creating compliance gaps.
Can Employers Require Specific I-9 Documents?
Employees generally choose which acceptable documents to present for Form I-9. Learn how to request documentation, handle common onboarding situations, and avoid document practices that create compliance risk.
Who Can Be an I-9 Authorized Representative?
Employers can delegate Form I-9 document review, but they cannot delegate away their compliance responsibility. Learn how to choose, instruct, and oversee an authorized representative.
Electronic I-9 Requirements: A Guide for Employers
Electronic I-9 compliance takes more than saving a signed form as a PDF. Learn what employers should evaluate in digital signatures, storage, audit trails, and inspection readiness.
Form I-9 Receipt Rule: A Guide to Replacement Documents
A receipt for a lost, stolen, or damaged document can sometimes satisfy Form I-9 requirements temporarily. Learn which receipts qualify, how the 90-day window works, and how to manage follow-up.
I-9 Notice of Inspection: How Employers Should Respond
An I-9 Notice of Inspection gives employers a short window to organize records and respond. Follow this practical workflow to preserve documents, coordinate review, and prepare a controlled production.
How to Correct Form I-9 Errors Without Backdating
Found a missing signature, incorrect date, or incomplete section on Form I-9? Learn who should make each correction, how to document it, and when a new form may be needed.
How Long Should Employers Keep I-9 Forms After Termination?
Form I-9 retention does not end when an employee leaves. Learn how to calculate the correct retention deadline and build a secure, repeatable process for storing and disposing of records.
E-Verify Tentative Nonconfirmation: Employer Response Guide
An E-Verify tentative nonconfirmation is not proof that an employee lacks work authorization. Learn how to handle the notice, referral, deadlines, and follow-up without taking premature action.
Remote I-9 Inspection: Rules for the DHS Alternative Procedure
Some employers can inspect Form I-9 documents remotely, but a video call alone is not enough. Learn who qualifies, what the DHS alternative procedure requires, and how to build a consistent remote-hiring workflow.
I-9 Reverification: When It’s Required and What to Do
An expiring document does not always mean an employee needs I-9 reverification. Learn which situations require action, how to complete Supplement B, and how to avoid unnecessary document requests.
E-Verify vs. Form I-9: What Employers Need to Know
Form I-9 is mandatory for every employer. E-Verify is not — for most. Here is how the two fit together and when E-Verify is required.
What Is WOTC Screening? How It Works for Employers and Applicants
Applicants often see a "WOTC questionnaire" during onboarding. Here is what WOTC screening is, why employers use it, and what happens to the answers.
Form I-9 Compliance: A Practical Checklist for Employers
Every U.S. employer must complete Form I-9 for every new hire. Use this checklist to hit the deadlines, avoid common errors and stay audit-ready.
What Is the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC)? An Employer's Guide
WOTC rewards employers for hiring from targeted groups. Here is who qualifies, how much it is worth, and the deadline most companies miss.