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North Dakota New Hire Reporting Requirements (2026)

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

North Dakota employers must report every new or rehired employee to the North Dakota HHS — Child Support (State Directory of New Hires) within 20 days of the employee's first day of work. That matches the federal 20-day limit. Independent contractors are not reported. Besides the 7 federal data elements, North Dakota requires 1 more item.

Deadline
20 days
same as federal
Report contractors?
No
Rehire rule
60+ days gone
federal rule
Extra required data
1 item
beyond the federal 7

North Dakota new hire reporting rules

North Dakota new hire reporting

North Dakota HHS — Child Support (State Directory of New Hires)

20
days

Deadline: Within 20 days of the employee's first day of work.

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.

Electronic filing rule: Employers with more than 24 employees must report electronically; a waiver is available for good cause (N.D.C.C. § 34-15-04(3)).

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 North Dakota requires:

  • Whether health insurance is offered to the employee

How to file

Open ND reporting site ↗

Methods: Online · Web file transfer · Payroll service · Fax or mail (with waiver)

Phone
701-328-6524
Fax
701-328-5497
Email
csemployer@nd.gov
Mail
Child Support, PO Box 7190, Bismarck, ND 58507-7190

State form: SFN 1018, New Hire Reporting form

Official ND requirements page

Independent contractors

Contractors not reported

Not required.

Rehires & recalls

Report employees previously employed by you who were separated at least 60 days in a row.

Penalty

$20 per failure to report after a written warning; $250 per failure if employer and employee agreed not to report, or per false or incomplete report (N.D.C.C. § 34-15-05)

When is my North Dakota 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 North Dakota report worksheet and download it as a PDF. Everything runs in your browser; employee details are never saved.

What goes on a North Dakota 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 North Dakota

  • Whether health insurance is offered to the employee

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 North Dakota fields are added. Use the same FEIN you put on your quarterly wage reports.

How North Dakota compares

  • Deadline: North Dakota uses the federal 20-day limit, like 41 other states and DC. 9 states are stricter, with 7, 10, 14 and 15-day deadlines.
  • 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); North Dakota does not.
  • 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 North Dakota employers: North Dakota payroll taxes & SUTA rate · North Dakota payday & final paycheck rules · North Dakota minimum wage · payroll setup checklist

North Dakota new hire reporting FAQ

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

Within 20 days of the employee's first day of work. That matches 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 North Dakota?

Not required.

Do I need to report rehired employees in North Dakota?

Report employees previously employed by you who were separated at least 60 days in a row.

What information goes on a North Dakota 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. North Dakota also requires: Whether health insurance is offered to the employee.

How do I report a new hire in North Dakota?

Accepted methods: Online; Web file transfer; Payroll service; Fax or mail (with waiver). The state form is SFN 1018, New Hire Reporting form. Employers with more than 24 employees must report electronically; a waiver is available for good cause (N.D.C.C. § 34-15-04(3)). Reports go to the North Dakota HHS — Child Support (State Directory of New Hires).

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

$20 per failure to report after a written warning; $250 per failure if employer and employee agreed not to report, or per false or incomplete report (N.D.C.C. § 34-15-05). 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 North Dakota 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 North Dakota follow North Dakota's rules for everyone.

Official Sources

Figures checked against these sources on 2026-10-12

Related Resources on This Site

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General information, not legal advice. Confirm current requirements with the North Dakota HHS — Child Support (State Directory of New Hires) before relying on them.