Employment verification has a well-known problem: the dominant platforms — like The Work Number — are built on employer-contributed payroll data. If an employer hasn't enrolled, the record doesn't exist in the system. And employers who do participate often face a charge every time a verification is requested on their employee.
That's the gap we solve. We've added a search that goes straight to the source. Through the IRS Income Verification Express Service (IVES), we can retrieve W-2 and 1099 history directly from the applicant's IRS tax transcripts — up to 8 years, covering employers regardless of whether they've enrolled in any third-party system.
Why It's Different
- Data sourced directly from IRS tax records
- Covers W-2 and 1099 income regardless of employer enrollment
- No per-verification employer charge
- Applicant consent driven — FCRA compliant
- Up to 8 years of history
- Employer must have enrolled and contributed data
- Employers are charged per verification on their employees
- Gaps exist if employer is not in the system
- Controlled by a private third party
The search returns which years the applicant had W-2 or 1099 income — not job titles, not exact dates, not salary. It answers one question cleanly: did this person work, and in which years?
Who Benefits Most From IRS Verification
IRS employment verification is particularly useful in situations where traditional methods fall short:
- Self-employed and 1099 workers — Traditional employer verification doesn't apply to independent contractors. IRS records show 1099 income and confirm that self-employment history is real.
- Applicants from small businesses — Many small employers are not enrolled in The Work Number or similar services. IRS transcripts cover these employers regardless of enrollment status.
- Roles with financial responsibility — For positions in finance, accounting, or senior management, verified income history adds an extra layer of verification that actually matters.
- Unexplained gaps in employment history — If an applicant claims employment during a period where no W-2 or 1099 income appears, that's a red flag worth a follow-up conversation.
How the Consent Process Works
Because this verification accesses IRS tax records, the applicant must provide consent through ID.me — a federally recognized identity verification platform used by the IRS and other government agencies. The process is straightforward: the applicant receives a link, verifies their identity, and authorizes the release of their tax transcript information.
Consent is applicant-driven and FCRA-compliant. We do not receive salary figures or detailed financial data — only confirmation of which tax years show W-2 or 1099 income and from which employers it was reported.
Ready to Add IRS Verification?
Create an account or contact us to add IRS Employment Verification to your screening package.
