--- title: "Tennessee E-Verify Requirements for Employers | MCC" description: "Tennessee E-Verify rules: 35 or more employees, penalties, quoted from official pages." url: "https://mcc-solutionsnj.com/bookkeeping/e-verify-tennessee" --- E-Verify · Tennessee # Tennessee E-Verify requirements Who must use E-Verify here, and what the official pages say about 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 private employers with 35 or more employees. A penalty is stated. ## At a glance Private employers Private employers with 35 or more full-time equivalent employees under the same FEIN must use E-Verify for new hires. Smaller private employers may choose E-Verify or the other method the law allows. In effect since January 1, 2023 for private employers with 35 or more full-time equivalent employees. Penalty $500 for failing to enroll in E-Verify. For knowing violations, $500 for a first offense, rising to as much as $2,500 for repeat offenders. Who enforces or publishes it Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development (Tennessee Lawful Employment Act) ## In the official wording **Private employers** Hiring in another state? [Employer registration in Tennessee, done for you](/bookkeeping/out-of-state-employer-registration), or [a free bookkeeping health check](/bookkeeping/health-check). "private employers with 35 or more full-time equivalent employees under the same FEIN are required to use" **Effective date** "Effective January 1, 2023, private employers with 35 or more" **Penalty** "There is also a $500 penalty for failing to enroll in E-Verify" ## Three example businesses - **8 employees, private, no state contract:** Not required by the headcount rule. [See why](/bookkeeping/does-my-business-need-e-verify?state=tn&employees=8&public=no&contract=no) - **40 employees, private, no state contract:** Required. [See why](/bookkeeping/does-my-business-need-e-verify?state=tn&employees=40&public=no&contract=no) - **40 employees, private, with a state contract:** Required. [See why](/bookkeeping/does-my-business-need-e-verify?state=tn&employees=40&public=no&contract=yes) Your own numbers: [open the checker for Tennessee](/bookkeeping/does-my-business-need-e-verify?state=tn). ## Worth knowing The headcount is full-time equivalents under one FEIN, not a simple head count. **Not stated on the pages we opened:** a rule for public employers, a rule for state contractors and 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 - [Employment Verification, Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development](https://www.tn.gov/content/tn/workforce/employers/staffing-redirect/hiring-regulations/employment-verification.html) 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 Tennessee have to use E-Verify?** Private employers with 35 or more employees. Private employers with 35 or more full-time equivalent employees under the same FEIN must use E-Verify for new hires. Smaller private employers may choose E-Verify or the other method the law allows. The official wording: "private employers with 35 or more full-time equivalent employees under the same FEIN are required to use." **When did the Tennessee rule take effect?** January 1, 2023 for private employers with 35 or more full-time equivalent employees. **What penalty does Tennessee law set?** $500 for failing to enroll in E-Verify. For knowing violations, $500 for a first offense, rising to as much as $2,500 for repeat offenders. **Is a Form I-9 still needed in Tennessee?** 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) · [South Carolina](/bookkeeping/e-verify-south-carolina) · [Texas](/bookkeeping/e-verify-texas) 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)