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How to Verify Social Security Numbers

Author: Alice Gilman

To avoid tax penalties for incorrectly reporting employees' Social Security Numbers (SSNs) on Forms W-2, Wage and Tax Statement, an employer should verify that each employee's name and SSN matches by using the Social Security Administration's (SSA's) free, online matching service - the Social Security Number Verification Service (SSNVS). Prior to using SSNVS, an employer must register with the SSA's Business Services Online (BSO) suite of services, obtain a user identification number and choose a password.