--- title: "South Carolina E-Verify Requirements for Employers | MCC" description: "South Carolina E-Verify rules: every employer, public employers, state contractors, penalties, quoted from official pages." url: "https://mcc-solutionsnj.com/bookkeeping/e-verify-south-carolina" --- E-Verify · South Carolina # South Carolina E-Verify requirements Who must use E-Verify here, and what the official pages say about public employers, state contractors, when the rule began and the penalty, in their own words. [![Intuit ProAdvisor Gold tier badge](/img/credentials/intuit-proadvisor-gold.png)](https://proadvisor.intuit.com/app/accountant/search?searchId=matthew-coleman77)Gold tier in Intuit's ProAdvisor program. [See my Intuit listing](https://proadvisor.intuit.com/app/accountant/search?searchId=matthew-coleman77) Keeping your own books? Tallyfinch does invoices, bank import and reports on your computer. [See Tallyfinch](/bookkeeping/mcc-books-downloadable-bookkeeping-software) **Short answer.** Yes for every employer, for new hires. Separate rules cover public employers and state contractors. A penalty is stated. ## At a glance Private employers Every employer must verify each new employee through E-Verify within three business days after hiring. Public employers Every public employer must register with and use E-Verify to verify the employment authorization of all new employees (section 8-14-20(A)). State contractors A public employer may not sign a contract for the physical performance of services unless the contractor agrees to register with and use E-Verify for all new employees, and requires the same of its subcontractors and their sub-subcontractors (section 8-14-20(B)). In effect since January 1, 2012. Penalty For a first violation after July 1, 2012, one year's probation; a repeat within three years brings a license suspension of 10 to 30 days. For knowingly employing an unauthorized worker, the penalties escalate, and a private employer's licenses are revoked after a third occurrence. Who enforces or publishes it South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation, Office of Immigration Compliance ## In the official wording **Private employers** Hiring in another state? [Employer registration in South Carolina, done for you](/bookkeeping/out-of-state-employer-registration), or [a free bookkeeping health check](/bookkeeping/health-check). "all South Carolina employers must within three business days after employing a new employee" **Public employers** "Every public employer shall register and participate in the federal work authorization program" **State contractors** "A public employer may not enter into a services contract with a contractor for the physical performance of services" **Effective date** "You Must Verify All New Hires through E-Verify Effective January 1, 2012" **Penalty** "must place the employer on probation for a period of one year" ## Three example businesses - **8 employees, private, no state contract:** Required. [See why](/bookkeeping/does-my-business-need-e-verify?state=sc&employees=8&public=no&contract=no) - **40 employees, private, no state contract:** Required. [See why](/bookkeeping/does-my-business-need-e-verify?state=sc&employees=40&public=no&contract=no) - **40 employees, private, with a state contract:** Required. [See why](/bookkeeping/does-my-business-need-e-verify?state=sc&employees=40&public=no&contract=yes) Your own numbers: [open the checker for South Carolina](/bookkeeping/does-my-business-need-e-verify?state=sc). ## Worth knowing The public employer and public contract rules are in section 8-14-20 of the Code of Laws (2008 Act No. 280, effective June 4, 2008; amended by 2011 Act No. 69, effective January 1, 2012). **Not stated on the pages we opened:** limits on how E-Verify is used. **Hiring someone remote in New Jersey?** MCC Solutions acts as an [I-9 authorized representative](/notary/i9-verification): we meet the new hire, examine the original documents and complete Section 2 for you, from $65 per employee. E-Verify cases are created by the employer, in its own E-Verify account; we don't create them. ## Official sources - [Office of Immigration Compliance: You Must Verify All New Hires through E-Verify, SC LLR](https://llr.sc.gov/Immigration/verification.aspx) - [Title 8, Chapter 14, Unauthorized Aliens and Public Employment, South Carolina Code of Laws (South Carolina Legislature)](https://www.scstatehouse.gov/code/t08c014.php) General information, not legal advice. Checked November 2026. Federal rules on Form I-9 and E-Verify timing are on the [all-states table](/bookkeeping/e-verify-requirements-by-state). ## Common questions **Do private employers in South Carolina have to use E-Verify?** Yes, every employer. Every employer must verify each new employee through E-Verify within three business days after hiring. The official wording: "all South Carolina employers must within three business days after employing a new employee." **Does South Carolina require E-Verify for public employers?** Every public employer must register with and use E-Verify to verify the employment authorization of all new employees (section 8-14-20(A)). **Do contractors with the state of South Carolina need E-Verify?** A public employer may not sign a contract for the physical performance of services unless the contractor agrees to register with and use E-Verify for all new employees, and requires the same of its subcontractors and their sub-subcontractors (section 8-14-20(B)). **When did the South Carolina rule take effect?** January 1, 2012. **What penalty does South Carolina law set?** For a first violation after July 1, 2012, one year's probation; a repeat within three years brings a license suspension of 10 to 30 days. For knowingly employing an unauthorized worker, the penalties escalate, and a private employer's licenses are revoked after a third occurrence. **Is a Form I-9 still needed in South Carolina?** Yes. Every employer completes Form I-9 for each hire under federal law, and an E-Verify case is created from the finished form, so the state rule adds to the I-9 rather than replacing it. All states: [E-Verify requirements by state](/bookkeeping/e-verify-requirements-by-state) · [Ohio](/bookkeeping/e-verify-ohio) · [Tennessee](/bookkeeping/e-verify-tennessee) Tallyfinch ### Books you keep on your own computer Tallyfinch does invoices, bills, bank import, reconciliation and the main reports, in a file you own. $99 once, then $5 a month for updates; the app keeps working if you stop the plan. It does not do payroll or sales tax filing. The free download records up to 60 entries. [See Tallyfinch](/bookkeeping/mcc-books-downloadable-bookkeeping-software) [Download it free](/tools/pro/trial/mccBooks) [Compare the three apps](/software) ## Want hiring and payroll records kept for you? [See bookkeeping services](/bookkeeping/)[Call (908) 444-6373](tel:+19084446373)