When employers ask “what does an I-9 audit cost,” the honest answer from most providers is “it depends” — because they bill by attorney or consultant hours. A full-file review of a few hundred forms can quietly run into the thousands before you see a single finding. FreshVerdict prices the work as software, not billable hours, so the number is fixed and public.
Why transparent pricing matters here: I-9 civil penalties in 2026 run $288–$2,861 per form for paperwork and substantive violations, up to roughly $28,619 per worker for a knowing-hire violation. An audit is cheap insurance against that exposure — but only if you can actually see what it costs before you commit. Hidden pricing is friction that keeps employers from fixing fixable problems.
FreshVerdict pricing, in full
- Free single-I-9 scan — one form, every error flagged, no card required. See the exact output before you pay. Audit one I-9 free.
- Full-File Audit — up to 25 employees: $299 one-time. Every uploaded form scanned field by field, with the USCIS-correct fix for each flag. Start my audit.
- Full-File Audit — up to 100 employees: $599 one-time — for larger files, where per-form penalties multiply fastest. Start my audit.
- Reverification monitoring — $29/mo, cancel anytime. Tracks upcoming Supplement B reverification dates so an expired work-authorization document never becomes a new violation. Start monitoring.
What's included in every paid audit
The price is the price — there is no per-finding surcharge and no upsell to see your own results. Each full-file audit includes:
- A field-by-field scan of every Form I-9 you upload, against the current 2026 USCIS rule set.
- Every error classified as substantive (fineable), timing, or technical (fixable).
- The USCIS-correct remediation method for each flag — who signs, what to line through, and what you may never do.
- An aggregate risk score and a 2026 penalty-exposure estimate for the file.
- In-memory document handling: files are processed and discarded, never stored.
See the exact price and the exact output — for free.
Start with a free single-form scan to see precisely what a FreshVerdict audit finds and how it reads. When you're ready, the full-file audit is a flat $299 for up to 25 employees — no quote, no sales call.
Start a full-file I-9 audit — $299 →I-9 audit cost FAQ
What does an I-9 audit cost in 2026?
It depends who you ask. Immigration law firms typically bill I-9 audits hourly or as a custom engagement, so a full-file review of a few hundred forms can run into the thousands before you see a single finding. FreshVerdict publishes flat, transparent pricing instead: $299 for a full-file audit of up to 25 employees, $599 for up to 100 employees, and $29/mo for ongoing reverification monitoring. There is also a free single-form scan so you can see the output before you pay.
Why do most I-9 audit providers hide their pricing?
Traditional providers quote per engagement because the work is billed by attorney or consultant hours, which vary case to case. That makes the cost unpredictable and usually pushes employers toward a sales call before they ever learn the price. FreshVerdict runs a deterministic 2026 rule set against each form, so the cost is fixed and published up front — no quote, no sales call to see a number.
What's included in the FreshVerdict audit price?
Each paid audit scans every Form I-9 you upload, flags each substantive (fineable), timing, and technical (fixable) error field by field, and returns a findings report with the USCIS-correct correction method for each flag. Documents are processed in memory and discarded — only the confirmed values and findings are kept. The price is one-time per audit; reverification monitoring is a separate optional subscription.
Is a flat-fee I-9 audit tool the same as hiring a lawyer?
No. FreshVerdict is a compliance software tool, not a law firm, and its report is not legal advice. It finds and explains the errors in your I-9 inventory and the standard USCIS-correct way to fix each one. For a formal legal opinion, potential knowing-hire exposure, or an active ICE inspection, you should consult a qualified immigration or employment attorney — the audit makes that conversation shorter and cheaper by pinpointing exactly what's wrong.
Related: I-9 penalty calculator (2026) (model your fine exposure) · I-9 self-audit checklist 2026 (how to fix each error type) · ICE Notice of Inspection checklist (what to do the moment ICE serves an NOI).
FreshVerdict is an I-9 compliance tool — not attorneys, and this is general information, not legal advice. Pricing reflects current FreshVerdict plans and penalty figures reflect the 2026 civil schedule. Actual assessments depend on ICE/DOJ discretion and per-case factors; for complex situations or potential knowing-hire exposure, consult an immigration attorney.