Rehired employees
Report employees who return to work after 60 days of layoff, furlough or separation. Source: ncnewhires.ncdhhs.gov↗ (opens in a new tab)
Multistate employers
Registered multistate employers may report all new hires to one state; otherwise report each employee to the state where they work. Source: ncnewhires.ncdhhs.gov↗ (opens in a new tab)
Penalties
Civil penalty of up to $25 per failure to report, or up to $500 if the employer and employee conspire not to report. Source: ncleg.gov↗ (opens in a new tab)
The law and where to check
The law: N.C. Gen. Stat. § 110-129.2 (opens in a new tab)
The agency: NC Department of Health and Human Services, NC New Hires (opens in a new tab)
What federal law says
Federal law requires every employer to report each new hire to the state's new hire directory within 20 days, or sooner if the state sets a shorter deadline. States use the reports for child support. Source: Social Security Act § 453A↗ (opens in a new tab)
New hire reporting checklist for North Carolina employers
A simple order of work, based on the rules above. It is not a legal checklist.
- Collect the employee's Form W-4 details on day one.
- Report to the state shown above before the deadline.
- Include every required data field, including any state extras.
- Report rehires and, where required, independent contractors.
- Multistate employers: pick one state and register with HHS, or report to each state.
- Keep a copy or confirmation of each report.
More North Carolina employment law guides
- All North Carolina employment laws
- North Carolina final paycheck law
- North Carolina paid sick leave law
- North Carolina meal and rest break laws
- North Carolina overtime law
- North Carolina pay frequency law
- North Carolina vacation and PTO payout law
- North Carolina at-will exceptions
New hire reporting laws in other states
See every state on one page, or pick a state:
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Sources
All official government sources, last checked October 19, 2026.
Disclaimer: This guide provides general information based on publicly available official sources and is for information only. It is not legal, tax, payroll or employment-law advice and does not guarantee compliance with federal, state or local requirements. Rules can depend on your location, industry, contracts and other circumstances, and laws change. Always check the official source, the relevant government agency or a qualified professional before making a decision. MadyHR.ai accepts no responsibility for any action taken based on this page.
Last checked: . Every rule and source link on this page was checked against the official government source on this date. Laws change, so always open the source link before you act.