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When you hire across countries and worker types, compliance requirements multiply. Different tax forms, identity documents, contracts, and legal obligations apply to each combination of worker type and location. Plane manages this complexity so you can see exactly what is complete, what is missing, and what is blocking progress—without becoming a compliance specialist.

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What Plane automates vs. what you manage

Plane handles the operational side of compliance: determining what is required for each worker based on their type and location, collecting the right forms and documents, routing them for review and signature, and surfacing what is still outstanding. You focus on the decisions that need a human: reviewing and approving documents, signing off on verification steps like I-9 Section 2, and following up with workers when something is missing. Here is how the responsibility breaks down:
  • Plane determines which forms, documents, and agreements are required for each worker
  • Plane collects tax forms, identity documents, and signatures during onboarding
  • Plane tracks completion status and surfaces what is missing or blocking payroll
  • You review submitted documents and verify they meet requirements
  • You approve and sign forms that require employer action (like I-9 Section 2)
  • You follow up when workers have outstanding items, with help from Plane’s notifications

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The compliance dashboard

The compliance dashboard gives you a single view of where every worker stands on their compliance requirements. It is organized by worker type—employees and contractors—so you can quickly focus on the group you need to review. For each worker, you see:
  • Required items—What Plane has determined is needed based on the worker’s type, country, and employment terms
  • Completed items—Forms submitted, documents uploaded, agreements signed
  • Outstanding items—What is still missing and who needs to act on it
  • Blocking issues—Items that are preventing payroll or other workflows from proceeding
The compliance dashboard updates in real time. When a worker submits a tax form or signs an agreement, their compliance status is updated immediately.

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How requirements vary

Not every worker needs the same compliance items. What is required depends on several factors:

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By worker type

  • US employees (W-2) need W-4 withholding forms, I-9 employment verification, state tax forms, and an employment agreement
  • US contractors (1099) need a W-9 (for US persons) or W-8BEN (for non-US persons), plus a contractor agreement
  • International contractors need a W-8BEN or other applicable W-8 form, tax residency documentation, and a contractor agreement
  • EOR employees have requirements managed by the employer of record partner, with Plane tracking progress

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By country

Each country has its own requirements for employment documentation, tax reporting, and worker classification. Plane applies the right rules based on where the worker is located:
  • United States—Federal and state tax forms, I-9 verification, state-specific withholding
  • Other countries—Local employment terms, statutory benefits, country-specific documentation

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During onboarding vs. ongoing

Most compliance items are collected during onboarding, but some are ongoing:
  • Onboarding—Tax forms, identity verification, employment agreements, and initial withholding setup
  • Annual—Updated tax forms for year-end reporting (like 1099-NEC for contractors)
  • As needed—Updated W-4 when a worker’s withholding changes, replacement documents, re-verification

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Tracking compliance across your team

The compliance dashboard supports several workflows for keeping your team’s compliance current: Onboarding monitoring—When a new worker starts onboarding, their compliance requirements appear automatically. You can track their progress through each step and see if anything is stalling. Bulk review—The dashboard groups workers by type and shows aggregate completion status, so you can quickly identify who needs attention without clicking into every profile. Payroll readiness—Compliance items that block payroll are flagged clearly. Before running payroll, you can check the dashboard to make sure every worker’s requirements are met. Follow-up notifications—When a worker has outstanding compliance items, Plane can notify them. For items that need employer action (like I-9 Section 2), tasks are created for the appropriate team member. Compliance in Plane is supported by several specific features. Each has its own detailed guide:

Tax Forms

W-4, W-9, W-8BEN, I-9, state forms, and how they integrate with payroll.

Documents

Upload, organize, and manage documents for workers and your workspace.

Agreements

Create, send, and track agreements with a full signing workflow.

Holidays

Holiday calendars by country and how they affect compliance timelines.
Plane flags compliance items that block payroll. If critical items are missing—like a worker’s tax form or signed agreement—you will see a clear warning before payroll processes. Some items may prevent payroll from running for that worker until they are resolved.
Yes. Workers see their outstanding compliance items when they log in, along with clear instructions for what they need to complete. Forms like W-9, W-8BEN, and I-9 Section 1 are completed directly in Plane.
Plane applies the correct requirements based on the worker’s country and type. If you are expanding to a new country and want to understand the requirements ahead of time, contact support@plane.com for guidance.
Yes. You can request updated tax forms or documents from workers at any time. For example, if a worker needs to update their W-4 withholding or provide a new W-9, you can initiate a compliance request from their profile.