You’re Hired!

Now What?

The I9 form is used to verify your identity and that you are eligible to work in the United States. You will have to provide specific documents.

If you were born in the United States or are a naturalized citizen, you are eligible to work; you just have to provide the necessary documents. If you are not a citizen of the United States, you can find out more about what the requirements to work on the U.S. Citizen & Immigration Services website.

1. Download a copy of the I9 form

2. You will need to complete SECTION 1 of the form. You can practice filling it out now (optional). Since this is a practice form, don’t include your social security number. This will help protect you from identity theft.

3. Review the “Lists of Acceptable Documents” on page 3. These are the documents you can use to meet the I-9 requirements. You will need one (1) document from list A -OR- one (1) document from both lists B & C.

*All documents must be current.

Q1 – Do you have the required documents?

Q2 – Are they valid?

Q3 – If not, what documents do you need to obtain?

The W-4 form is used to determine how much money the employer must withhold from each of your paychecks for taxes. The employer will not tell you how many deductions to claim. This is something you need to talk to your tax preparer about. If you don’t have a professional to consult with, you can use the worksheet on page 3 of the form.

It is important that you fill in the correct amount to be withheld. Entering the wrong information could result in:

1. More being withheld from your check than is required. This means you have less money to live on throughout the month.

2. Not enough is withheld from your check. This means you will owe the government taxes at the end of the year.

Download the W-4 form.

This form is definitely more challenging than the I9 form. Practice filling out the form. Go step-by-step and use the instructions provided on page 2 of the form. Since this is a practice form, don’t include your social security number. This will help protect you from identity theft.

Use the worksheet on page 3 to help you figure out how much you need to fill in on line 4(b).

*If you are unsure what you should enter in one of the lines, consult with a professional or talk to another trusted adult who is experienced with filling the W-4 form out.

If you are under the age of 18 there are restrictions on the jobs you can get and the hours you can work. Many states also require minors to get a work permit or a proof of age document and have a minimum GPA.

Visit Youth Rules! for more information on the federal labor rules for people under 18.

The state labor office provides information about the work requirements in your state.

California requires minors to obtain a permit before starting work. The State of California Department of Industrial Relations website provides details.