Contractors or Employees? An Employee Classification Test

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From Zenefits, Sarah Siwak shares the differences between employees and independent contractors. Sarah writes:

To determine employment status, the IRS generally looks at how much control an employer has over how the contractor does her work. To know whether your worker is actually an employee and not a contractor, take a look at whether she falls under any of the contractor categories.

Independent Contractors vs. Employees

ContractorsEmployees
Paid by the job or projectPaid by salary, or by the hour
Can control how work is done, even if employers control the end resultReceive training from an employer and can be required to do work how employers prefer
Work for more than one company at a timeOften work for one company
Provide own benefitsReceive employee benefits
Invest in own equipment and facilities rather than using the employer’sReceive equipment and tools to do work, at a set site or office
Perform project-based workPerform work that’s critical to the company’s day-to-day operations
Can work own set hoursCan be required to work employer-set hours
Cannot be required to wear uniformsCan be required to wear uniforms

Source: IRS.gov

Why does employee classification matter?

Employees are subject to specific compliance requirements. Whether you classify a worker as an employee or independent contractor will impact:

  • Document filing/collection requirements (e.g. 1099 v. W-2)
  • Federal tax withholding requirements
  • Benefits, wage and time requirements

Improperly classifying workers as independent contractors when they’re really employees can open businesses small and large up to significant and sometimes company-bankrupting legal fines and penalties.

Read the full story Contractors or Employees? An Employee Classification Test

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