Are You An Independent Contractor Or An Employee?
I am asked this very often, if it is better to be an independent contractor or an employee. My answer like all accountants is always, "It Depends!". On the other hand, for a small business owner (SBO), the question mostly is, how to determine the business relationship that exists between the person providing the services & the SBO; and if that relationship is that of an independent contractor or an employee.
So how is that determination made?
Spotting employees disguised as independent contractors is almost as difficult as sexing chickens (yes, that's a thing). This is one of those tax subjects with only general standards -- even in a quality Enrolled Agent exam course like http://fastforwardacademy.com/enrolled-agent-exam-prep.htm. It falls within the same level of hard to define matters like “reasonable compensation” for S corporation shareholders. Enrolled Agent tax experts just know from experience when mandatory treatment of an employee arrangement exists.
ReplyDeleteThat's one top reason to hire a knowledgeable Enrolled Agent to help in this process.
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