If we think a totalization agreement may apply, do we need the certificate before the first paycheck?
One adviser says yes because payroll should be built around real documentation, while another says we can just assume the agreement applies and fix the file later if anyone asks. Those are very different operating philosophies, and I do not want to let convenience make the decision for us.
What I want to know is how disciplined employers usually handle this. If the certificate should be treated as a core payroll-control document rather than optional backup, I would rather wait and set the file up correctly than start with a guess.
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