E-Verify Overview for Tennessee Cities and Towns

E-Verify Overview for Tennessee Cities and Towns

Tennessee cities should begin preparing now to use the federal E-Verify system for all new hires. Beginning July 1, 2026, Tennessee law requires local governments to use E-Verify, and cities using a third-party I-9 vendor must transition to direct E-Verify use by January 1, 2027.

What is E-Verify?

E-Verify is a free federal web-based system operated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in partnership with the Social Security Administration to confirm whether a newly hired employee is authorized to work in the United States. It does not replace Form I-9; instead, the city completes the I-9 first and then creates an E-Verify case using that information.

What Do Tennessee Cities Need to Do?

Cities must use E-Verify for new hires on and after July 1, 2026. Employers must create the E-Verify case no later than the third business day after the employee starts work for pay. Tennessee guidance also indicates employers must retain documentation of the E-Verify inquiry result as required by law and policy.

How Do You Get Started?
  1. Review the federal E-Verify enrollment materials and checklist:
    1. E-Verify Enrollment Overview and
    2. E-Verify Home.
  2. Decide who will serve as the city’s program administrator and backup administrator, and whether E-Verify will be centralized through HR.
  3. Gather enrollment information, including the city’s legal name, FEIN, address, hiring-site details, and contact information.
  4. Enroll online through the federal E-Verify site and complete the electronic Memorandum of Understanding.
  5. Train any staff responsible for Form I-9 and E-Verify case creation before go-live.
  6. Update procedures, onboarding checklists, and records retention practices to reflect the new requirement.
Helpful Links
Common Implementation Points

Cities should not use E-Verify to pre-screen applicants or to selectively verify only some new hires. The system should be used consistently after hire and after the Form I-9 is completed. For cities using outside onboarding or I-9 vendors, this is a good time to confirm whether the current process will support direct compliance by January 1, 2027.

Questions?

Contact your MTAS Human Resources Consultant for more information.