The term “I-9 audit” strikes dread in the heart of many employers, but it doesn’t need to be that way.

The federal government requires that all U.S. employers complete a Form I-9—aka the Employment Eligibility Verification form—for every worker they hire. The I-9 verifies that the employee—whether citizen or noncitizen—is authorized to work here. An I-9 audit is a thorough review of an employer’s I-9 forms.

Here’s the twist: There are two types of I-9 audits:

• Those conducted by the government
• Those conducted by the employers themselves.

Do one right, and it will hold you in good stead should you be subject to the other!

Glossary

Both types of I-9 audits ensure that:

• There’s a Form I-9 on file for all active (and some former) employees
• Each I-9 form is complete and accurate
• The forms are based on authentic documentation

Beyond that common objective, I-9 audits differ in how they’re conducted—and what happens next. 

Anatomy of a Federal I-9 Audit

Form I-9 falls under the province of the U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services (USCIS). Most I-9 audits are conducted by U.S. Immigration and Custom Enforcement (ICE). Sometimes, I-9 audits are because of random sampling; others are triggered by employee tip-offs.

How likely is it that a federal I-9 audit will turn up some problems? Very! About 76% of paper I-9s have at least one error or omission, according to the USCIS Outreach Branch.

When minor errors (e.g., missing dates or signatures) are found, employers have 10 days under the good-faith provision to correct them. When more substantive violations are identified—say, ICE determines that an employees’ documents are invalid—things can escalate quickly.

The Cost of an I-9 Audit

The current I-9 paperwork penalty ranges from $234 to $2,322 depending on employer size, total violations and other factors. Given how common these errors are, things can get pricey in a hurry.

The penalties for knowingly hiring unauthorized workers are much stiffer, ranging from $590 to $4,722 for a first offense to as much as $23,607 for a third offense.

ICE conducted more than 6,450 I-9 audits in 2019, resulting in 2,675 arrests and more than $14 million in fines. While the pandemic limited subsequent audits, they are expected to ramp up in the coming months.   

Conducting an I-9 Audit

The best way to skate through an I-9 audit unscathed is simple: Be rigorous about Form 1-9 completion and documentation and conduct regular internal I-9 audits.

Many employers use third-party HR specialists to ensure an objective internal I-9 audit. However, if you do use in-house staff, make sure they follow a formal, meticulous process—and that those performing your audit are not those who completed the forms originally.   

The term “federal I-9 audit” isn’t one that most employers want to hear, but if you practice your due diligence, there’s really nothing to fear.