Which information is not required when entering a new hire in the system?

When entering a new hire in a payroll system, certain information is essential for processing payroll accurately and ensuring compliance with legal requirements. The rate type, which typically defines how an employee is compensated (such as hourly or salaried), is generally not a mandatory piece of information at the initial hiring stage. It can often be designated later or may not be necessary until the employee's pay structure is finalized.

In contrast, other pieces of information like the employee ID, tax forms, and employment start date are crucial. The employee ID serves to uniquely identify the employee in the payroll system, tax forms are necessary for compliance with tax withholding requirements, and the employment start date is important for determining payroll periods and benefits eligibility. Therefore, while the rate type is important, it's flexible and not always required at the moment of entering a new hire.