New Employment Verification Requirements for Florida Employers

August 18, 2023

As of July 1, 2023, private employers in Florida with 25 or more employees will be required to use the E-Verify system to verify the employment eligibility of new hires. E-Verify is a free government program that compares information from an employee's Form I-9 to data from U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Employers who are required to use E-Verify must enroll in the program and create an account. Once an account is created, employers can begin verifying the employment eligibility of new hires. Your payroll agent does not have the authority to use the E-Verify system on your behalf. Luckily, the verification process is simple and takes just a few minutes. 

There are a few exceptions to the E-Verify requirement. For example, employers are not required to use E-Verify if they hire a relative or if they hire a worker who is exempt from the Form I-9 requirement.

Employers who fail to use E-Verify or who knowingly hire undocumented workers could face civil and criminal penalties. The penalties could include fines, imprisonment, and debarment from state contracts.

If you are a Florida employer with 25 or more employees, you need to be aware of the new E-Verify requirement. You can learn more about the program and how to enroll at the E-Verify website.

In addition to using E-Verify, each private employer required to use the system must certify on its first reemployment tax return filed each calendar year that it used the E-Verify system to confirm employment eligibility of each new employee.

For more information about these new requirements or to create your account visit e-verify.gov/employers