What is the primary purpose of the I-9 form?

The I-9 form's primary purpose is to verify employee eligibility to work in the United States. Employers are required to have new hires complete this form to confirm that they are legally authorized to work in the country. This involves employees providing documentation that proves their identity and work authorization, which helps prevent unauthorized employment and ensures compliance with immigration laws.

While gathering personal information for payroll, tracking employee performance, and registering employees for benefits are important tasks in human resources, they are not the fundamental goal of the I-9 form. The significant focus of the I-9 form is centered on the legal requirements related to employment eligibility, as mandated by the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986.