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Do You Really Need to See the Card?

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Often employers ask to see an employee’s Social Security card. But, do you really need to see the card? Since 1936, Social Security has issued over 30 different versions of the Social Security number (SSN) card which makes it difficult to recognize a valid card. Sometimes when you ask an employee to show you their card they can’t find it. In either case, you don’t have to send them to a local Social Security office.

Consider using the free Social Security Number Verification Service (SSNVS) which allows registered employers to quickly verify whether a person’s name and SSN match Social Security’s records. It saves you and the employee time.

For more information about SSNVS visit Employer W-2 Filing Instructions & Information. Learn more about the New Security Features of the Social Security Card.

Changes to the TY 2008 Paper W-2

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Last reviewed or modified Tuesday Apr 07, 2009
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