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Mississippi New Hire Reporting Requirements (2026)

Last updated: 2026-10-12 · Mississippi's rules were checked against the state's own site and the federal OCSE reference guide on 2026-10-12

Mississippi employers must report every new or rehired employee to the Mississippi State Directory of New Hires within 15 days of the worker's first day on the job or rehire (Miss. Code §§ 43-19-46, 93-11-101). That is shorter than the federal 20-day limit — Mississippi is one of 9 states with a shorter deadline. Reporting independent contractors is optional. Besides the 7 federal data elements, Mississippi requires 6 more items.

Deadline
15 days
shorter than federal 20
Report contractors?
Optional
Rehire rule
60+ days gone
federal rule
Extra required data
6 items
beyond the federal 7

Mississippi new hire reporting rules

Mississippi new hire reporting

Mississippi State Directory of New Hires

15
days

Deadline: Within 15 days of the worker's first day on the job or rehire (Miss. Code §§ 43-19-46, 93-11-101). Shorter than the federal 20 days.

Electronic filers may instead send twice-monthly transmissions 12–16 days apart. The source doesn't say business or calendar days — count calendar days to be safe.

What to report

7 federal data elements (every state)
  • Employee name
  • Employee address
  • Employee Social Security number
  • Date of hire (first day the employee performed services for pay)
  • Employer name
  • Employer address
  • Employer FEIN (same FEIN used for quarterly wage reports)

Plus Mississippi requires:

  • Employee date of birth
  • Employee gender
  • Salary / wage rate
  • Pay frequency
  • Medical insurance eligibility
  • State employer ID number

Optional (requested, not required):

  • Employee middle name or initial
  • Employer contact name and phone number

How to file

Open MS reporting site ↗

Methods: Online · File upload / FTP · Fax · Mail · Payroll service

Phone
800-241-1330
Fax
800-937-8668
Mail
Mississippi State Directory of New Hires, P.O. Box 437, Norwell, MA 02061

Official MS requirements page

Independent contractors

Contractor reports optional / encouraged

Not required; the directory welcomes contractor reports.

Rehires & recalls

Report rehires separated for at least 60 consecutive days. The statute (Miss. Code § 43-19-46) itself covers any rehire or return to work with no minimum gap, so reporting every return is the cautious choice.

Penalty

Up to $25 per failure to report; up to $500 for an employer–employee conspiracy (Miss. Code § 43-19-46(5))

  • • One page on Mississippi's site says "15 business days"; the law page and IRG say 15 days. Count calendar days to be safe.

When is my Mississippi report due?

Enter the first day of paid work to get the due date (with a calendar reminder), check whether a returning worker counts as a rehire, or fill in a Mississippi report worksheet and download it as a PDF. Everything runs in your browser; employee details are never saved.

What goes on a Mississippi new hire report

Federal data elements (every state)

  • Employee name
  • Employee address
  • Employee Social Security number
  • Date of hire (first day the employee performed services for pay)
  • Employer name
  • Employer address
  • Employer FEIN (same FEIN used for quarterly wage reports)

Added by Mississippi

  • Employee date of birth
  • Employee gender
  • Salary / wage rate
  • Pay frequency
  • Medical insurance eligibility
  • State employer ID number

Requested but optional: Employee middle name or initial; Employer contact name and phone number.

Most states accept a copy of the employee's Form W-4 with the employer name, address and FEIN filled in, as long as any extra Mississippi fields are added. Use the same FEIN you put on your quarterly wage reports.

How Mississippi compares

  • Deadline: Mississippi's 15-day deadline is one of 9 shorter than the federal 20 days (Alabama 7, Georgia 10, Iowa 15, Maine 7, Massachusetts 14, Mississippi 15, Rhode Island 14, Vermont 10 and West Virginia 14). Same deadline as Iowa.
  • Contractors: 17 states require contractor reports (California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia); Mississippi makes it optional.
  • Rehires: Uses the federal rule: report a returning worker who was gone at least 60 consecutive days.
  • Multistate employers can instead report every new hire electronically to a single state where they have employees after registering with HHS (Multistate Employer Registry).

Related for Mississippi employers: Mississippi payroll taxes & SUTA rate · Mississippi payday & final paycheck rules · Mississippi minimum wage · payroll setup checklist

Mississippi new hire reporting FAQ

How long do I have to report a new hire in Mississippi?

Within 15 days of the worker's first day on the job or rehire (Miss. Code §§ 43-19-46, 93-11-101). That is shorter than the federal 20-day limit. Employers that report electronically may instead send twice-monthly transmissions 12 to 16 days apart. The date of hire is the first day the employee performs services for pay. The state's source doesn't say business or calendar days, so count calendar days to be safe.

Do I have to report independent contractors in Mississippi?

Not required; the directory welcomes contractor reports.

Do I need to report rehired employees in Mississippi?

Report rehires separated for at least 60 consecutive days. The statute (Miss. Code § 43-19-46) itself covers any rehire or return to work with no minimum gap, so reporting every return is the cautious choice.

What information goes on a Mississippi new hire report?

Every report needs the seven federal data elements: the employee's name, address, Social Security number and date of hire, and the employer's name, address and FEIN. Mississippi also requires: Employee date of birth; Employee gender; Salary / wage rate; Pay frequency; Medical insurance eligibility; State employer ID number.

How do I report a new hire in Mississippi?

Accepted methods: Online; File upload / FTP; Fax; Mail; Payroll service. Reports go to the Mississippi State Directory of New Hires.

What is the penalty for not reporting a new hire in Mississippi?

Up to $25 per failure to report; up to $500 for an employer–employee conspiracy (Miss. Code § 43-19-46(5)). Federal law caps state penalties at $25 per unreported employee, or $500 when the employer and employee conspire not to report or to file a false report. A late report is still required.

I have employees in Mississippi and other states. Where do I report?

Report each employee to the state where they work, following that state's rules, or register with HHS as a multistate employer and send all new hire reports electronically to one state where you have employees. Multistate employers that pick Mississippi follow Mississippi's rules for everyone.

Official Sources

Figures checked against these sources on 2026-10-12

Related Resources on This Site

New hire reporting in other states

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General information, not legal advice. Confirm current requirements with the Mississippi State Directory of New Hires before relying on them.