What Records Must You Keep?

Keep your copies of Schedule H or other employment tax forms you file and related Forms W-2, W-3, W-4, and W-5. You must also keep records to support the information you enter on the forms you file. If you must file Form W-2, you will need to keep a record of your employee's name, address, and social security number.

Wage and tax records. On each payday you should record the date and amounts of all the following items.

• Your employee's cash and noncash wages.
• Any employee social security tax you withhold or agree to pay for your employee.
• Any employee Medicare tax you withhold or agree to pay for your employee.
• Any federal income tax you withhold.
• Any advance EIC payments you make.
• Any state employment taxes you withhold.

Employee's social security number. You must keep a record of your employee's name and social security number exactly as they appear on his or her social security card if you pay the employee either of the following.

• Social security and Medicare wages of $1,300 or more.
• Wages from which you withhold federal income tax.

You must ask for your employee's social security number no later than the first day on which you pay the wages. You may wish to ask for it when you hire your employee.

An employee who does not have a social security number must apply for one on Form SS-5, Application for a Social Security Card. An employee who has lost his or her social security card or whose name is not correctly shown on the card should apply for a new card. Employees can get Form SS-5 from any Social Security Administration office or by calling 1-800-772-1213.

You can also download Form SS-5 from the Social Security Administration web site, www.ssa.gov.

How long to keep records. Keep your employment tax records for at least 4 years after the due date of the return on which you report the taxes or the date the taxes were paid, whichever is later.

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