What document verifies an employee's identity and eligibility to work in the United States?

The document that verifies an employee's identity and eligibility to work in the United States is Form I-9. This form is required by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and must be completed by all employees at the time of hire.

Form I-9 serves a critical function by ensuring that only individuals who are authorized to work in the U.S. can be employed. It requires employees to provide specific documentation that proves both their identity and their legal authorization to work. Acceptable documents can include a U.S. passport, a driver's license combined with a Social Security card, or various other options, which the employer must verify and document.

Other forms listed serve different purposes. For instance, Form W-2 is issued by employers to report wages paid to employees and the taxes withheld, while Form W-4 is completed by employees to indicate their tax withholding preferences. Form 1040 is an individual income tax return form used for reporting personal income to the IRS. Therefore, they do not fulfill the requirement of verifying work eligibility and identity in the same manner as Form I-9.