Social Security to resume practice of sending ‘mismatch’ letters to employers

The U.S. Social Security Administration has said it will resume sending educational notifications, commonly called “mismatch” or “no-match” letters, to employers when employee name and social security information does not match federal records.

Employers who receive such letters are expected to take steps to resolve discrepancies. SSA provides sample notices and instructions on its website. The sample notice states that the employer “should not use this letter to take any adverse action against an employee,” and lists steps the employer should take.

The practice of sending mismatch letters had been placed on hold, but SSA said on its website that beginning in the spring it “will notify each employer with at least one W-2 form where the name and SSN do not match our records and that corrections are needed.”

BAL Analysis: The plans to resume sending mismatch letters are in line with the Trump administration’s efforts to combat illegal work in the U.S., and employers can face penalties if they do not take steps to address these issues once the government sends a notice. Employers who receive a mismatch letter are urged to contact BAL as soon as possible to determine the best course of action and make sure discrepancies are properly resolved.

This alert has been provided by the BAL U.S. Practice group. For additional information, please contact berryapplemanleiden@bal.com.

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