{"id":11895,"date":"2025-07-30T22:48:00","date_gmt":"2025-07-31T03:48:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/us\/?post_type=resources&#038;p=11895"},"modified":"2026-10-12T05:03:17","modified_gmt":"2026-10-12T10:03:17","slug":"how-to-verify-social-security-numbers","status":"publish","type":"resources","link":"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/us\/resources\/hr-compliance\/payroll\/how-to-verify-social-security-numbers\/","title":{"rendered":"How to verify Social Security numbers"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull has-primary-white-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-f85887e8 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"border-radius:25px;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30)\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-929090b5 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:70%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-a4641b2f wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\" style=\"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">by <strong>Alice Gilman<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To avoid tax penalties for incorrectly reporting employees&#8217; Social Security Numbers (SSNs) on Forms W-2, Wage and Tax Statement, an employer should verify that each employee&#8217;s name and SSN matches by using the Social Security Administration&#8217;s (SSA&#8217;s) free, online matching service \u2014 the Social Security Number Verification Service (SSNVS). Prior to using SSNVS, an employer must register with the SSA&#8217;s Business Services Online (BSO) suite of services, obtain a user identification number and choose a password.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"h-sign-up-today-to-get\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Sign up today to get:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"\">Step 1: Provide identifying information to the SSA<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Step 2: Register to use SSNVS<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Step 3: Request access to SSNVS<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Step 4: Activate access and log on to SSNVS<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Step 5: Use SSNVS to verify SSNs<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"h-want-to-see-more\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Want to see more?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For full access to <strong>How to verify Social Security numbers<\/strong>, sign up for an HR and Compliance Center subscription today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"\/us\/quote\/?intcmp=hrcc-migrated-resource|quote|request-a-quote\" style=\"border-radius:25px\">Request a quote<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column lnrs-hide-block-on-mobile is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"border-left-color:var(--wp--preset--color--secondary-gray);border-left-width:2px;padding-left:10px;flex-basis:30%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-bleach-white-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-22a7c014 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"border-radius:14px;padding-top:10px;padding-right:15px;padding-bottom:15px;padding-left:15px\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Get ahead of HR compliance<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Navigating today\u2019s complex HR compliance landscape is challenging.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Get ahead with Brightmine. Access HR resources and automation tools managed by seasoned human HR experts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"font-size:14px\" class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"\/us\/products\/hr-compliance-center\/#lexisnexis\">Proudly partnered with LexisNexis<sup>\u00ae<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-6ee76cfc wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\" style=\"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignleft size-large is-resized\" style=\"margin-top:10px;margin-bottom:10px\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"166\" height=\"44\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.brightmine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/07\/16090337\/LexisNexis-logo.svg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-9646\" style=\"width:auto;height:35px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained wp-container-2 is-position-sticky\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group lnrs-hide-block-on-mobile has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-64c039dc wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;padding-top:0;padding-bottom:0\">\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-secondary-gray-color has-alpha-channel-opacity has-secondary-gray-background-color has-background\" style=\"margin-top:10px;margin-bottom:10px\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Read more articles:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-query is-layout-flow wp-block-query-is-layout-flow\"><ul class=\"wp-block-post-template is-layout-flow wp-container-core-post-template-is-layout-a7dce961 wp-block-post-template-is-layout-flow\"><li class=\"wp-block-post post-18254 resources type-resources status-publish has-post-thumbnail hentry category-c-and-i topic-ai-in-hr topic-discrimination topic-labor-relations\">\n<h2 style=\"font-size:clamp(14px, 0.875rem + ((1vw - 3.2px) * 0.192), 16px);line-height:1.3;text-decoration:underline;margin-top:10px;margin-bottom:10px;margin-left:0;margin-right:0\" class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/us\/resources\/hr-compliance\/discrimination\/thou-shalt-not-use-chatgpt-handling-religious-objections-to-ai-at-work\/\" target=\"_self\" >Thou shalt not use ChatGPT? 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href=\"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/us\/resources\/hr-compliance\/state-compliance\/internal-revenue-code-conformity-by-state\/\">Internal revenue code conformity by state<\/a><\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p style=\"color: #202526\">Understand how each state aligns with the Internal Revenue Code and what HR teams must know to reduce &#8230;<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"lnrs-resource-hub-widget__resource\" style=\"background-color: #f3f2f0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/us\/resources\/hr-compliance\/payroll\/employee-taxes\/taxation-of-employee-benefits-federal\/\"><div class=\"lnrs-resource-hub-widget__resource_image\" style=\"background-image: url(https:\/\/cdn.brightmine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/05\/06034741\/Junior-Managerial-promotion-1200x627-1.webp);\"><\/div><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"lnrs-resource-hub-widget__inner_content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div 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&#8230;<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull has-primary-white-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-84b47954 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"border-radius:25px;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30)\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-9f6a5453 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30)\">\n<h3 id=\"h-topics-on-this-page\" class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:500\">Topics on this page<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-7387b849 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n\n<div class=\"taxonomy-topic has-link-color wp-elements-5ec59eb01c09ec2f1d84a6b36973ff83 wp-block-post-terms\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/us\/resources\/hr-compliance\/payroll\/employee-taxes\/\" rel=\"tag\">Employee taxes<\/a><span class=\"wp-block-post-terms__separator\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/us\/resources\/hr-compliance\/payroll\/\" rel=\"tag\">Payroll<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-cararra-gray-color has-alpha-channel-opacity has-cararra-gray-background-color has-background is-style-wide\"\/>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"h-about-the-author\" class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:500\">About the author<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns has-primary-gray-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-f87ed53902139af3ca7c3b3f19030847 is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-7387b849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"padding-right:10px;padding-left:10px;flex-basis:100px\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized has-custom-border is-style-rounded\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.brightmine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/06\/29074308\/female-speaker-avatar.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-15354\" style=\"border-radius:25px;object-fit:cover;width:100px;height:100px\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"padding-right:10px;padding-left:10px\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Alice Gilman<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Alice Gilman, an employment tax compliance expert, has created two best-selling payroll compliance publications &#8211;&nbsp;<em>Payroll Legal Alert<\/em>, and&nbsp;<em>The Payroll Compliance Handbook<\/em>, currently published by Business Management Daily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She was a contributing editor to Alexander Hamilton Institute&#8217;s&nbsp;<em>Benefits Alert<\/em>,&nbsp;<em>Personnel Legal Alert<\/em>, and&nbsp;<em>Manager&#8217;s Legal Bulletin<\/em>&nbsp;newsletters; the&nbsp;<em>Complete Compliance Guide to Federal and State Employment Laws<\/em>; the&nbsp;<em>Complete COBRA Compliance Kit<\/em>; the&nbsp;<em>Complete FLSA Compliance Kit<\/em>; and the&nbsp;<em>Complete HIPAA Compliance Kit<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At Aspen Publishers, Ms. Gilman was a contributing editor to the&nbsp;<em>Payroll Manager&#8217;s Letter<\/em>, the&nbsp;<em>American Payroll Association&#8217;s Basic Guide to Payroll<\/em>,&nbsp;<em>How to Slash Payroll Costs<\/em>, and the&nbsp;<em>Fingertip Guide to Payroll Practice<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Alice is a graduate of the State University of New York at Albany and received her law degree from the University of Bridgeport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She is admitted to the New York State Bar and is a member of the American Payroll Association.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This guide explains how employers can use the Social Security Administration\u2019s Social Security Number Verification Service (SSNVS) to verify employees\u2019 Social Security numbers and avoid tax penalties for incorrect reporting.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":65,"featured_media":12326,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"wp-custom-template-new-resources","categories":[13],"tags":[],"topic":[76,92],"class_list":["post-11895","resources","type-resources","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-guides-how-to","topic-employee-taxes","topic-payroll"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v28.3 (Yoast SEO v28.4) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>How to verify Social Security numbers | Brightmine<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Guidance for employers on verifying employee Social Security numbers through the SSA\u2019s SSN Verification Service to help prevent W\u20112 reporting errors.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/us\/resources\/hr-compliance\/payroll\/how-to-verify-social-security-numbers\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How to verify Social Security numbers\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Guidance for employers on verifying employee Social Security numbers through the 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