How long are employers required to retain the I-9?

Hey Compliance Warriors!

Employers must have a completed Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, on file for each person on their payroll (or otherwise receiving remuneration) who is required to complete the form. Employers must also keep completed Forms I-9 for a certain amount of time after their employees stop working for them. Never mail Forms I-9 to USCIS or U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Once an employee no longer works for the employer, the employer must determine how much longer to keep the employee’s Form I-9.

To calculate how long to keep an employee’s Form I-9, enter the following:

1. Date the employee began work for pay	1. ________________________
A. Add 3 years to the date on line 1.	A. ______________________
2. The date employment was terminated	2. _______________________
B. Add 1 year to the date on line 2.	B. _____________________
3. Which date is later; A or B?	3. _______________________
C. Enter the later date.	C. _____________________

The employer must retain Form I-9 until the date on Line C.

The employer is required to retain the page of the form on which the employer and the employee entered data. If copies of documents presented by your employees were made, they should be kept with the corresponding Form I-9.

You may also retain the instructions and Lists of Acceptable Documents pages. Forms I-9 may be stored on paper, microfilm, microfiche or electronically.

Be Audit-Secure™!

Lisa Smith, SPHR, SCP

Become a HelpDeskforHR.com Member and get a $170 Discount!

Pay Just $729 annually (reg. $899 annually)

Sign-up HERE and Save $170!

USE COUPON CODE: HD4HR729

Here is what all you will get:

Boss Calls™ – Access to EVERY Boss Call™ – Past & Future.
HelpDesk for HR VAULT – Access to all 8 of our proprietary tools and applications to make your workday simple.
Forms, Docs, Policies and Procedures Library – 700+ samples you can download and edit to fit your needs.
U.S. ePoster Club – Download state, city, and local posters. Both required & recommended, for all 50 states & D.C.
Same-day email support – Write to our team of SPHR and SCP professionals with all your HR questions.

How long are employers required to retain the I-9?

Sign-up HERE and Save $170!

Lisa Smith, SPHR, SHRM – SCP

Certified EEO Investigator (EEOC)

Lead Support and Content Chief – HelpDeskforHR.com

“You cannot be audit-proof, but you can Be Audit-Secure.”