Does a self-employed individual need to fill out an I-9 form on themselves?

A self-employed individual does not need to fill out an I-9 form for themselves because the I-9 form is specifically designed for employers to verify the identity and employment authorization of their employees. The form serves to confirm that the employee is legally allowed to work in the United States, which is not applicable to self-employed individuals. Since self-employed individuals are not employed by another entity or organization, they do not undergo the same verification processes that employees of businesses do.

This distinction is significant, as the I-9 process is mandated for employer-employee relationships, and a self-employed person operates their own business without that employer obligation. Therefore, the correct understanding is that self-employed individuals are exempt from completing this form for their personal work circumstances.