What Records Must You Keep?(p9)

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 state employment taxes you withhold.

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 $1,700 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. You should ask your employee to show you his or her social security card. The employee may show the card if it is available. You may, but are not required to, photocopy the card if the employee provides it.

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 may apply for a replacement card.

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.