Working With Independent Contractors

by Stephen Fishman

Overview

Hire independent contractors without running into trouble



Independent contractors (ICs) do every conceivable type of work—from accounting to web development, and “gig economy” websites make it easy to find and hire qualified ICs. Working with independent contractors saves your business money and gives you flexibility in hiring. But there are risks in trying to establish IC relationships. Simply calling a worker an independent contractor doesn’t make them so. This book shows you how to avoid mistakes that can lead to lawsuits or costly fines from the IRS
and state agencies.



Learn how to:

• determine (and document) who qualifies as an IC
• assess the risks of hiring freelancers and gig workers
• safeguard your company’s intellectual property
• protect yourself if there’s a legal dispute, and
• handle—and settle—an IRS audit.
  
  

The 9th edition—completely revised to reflect the latest changes in the law—includes detailed examples of how a business should hire independent contractors.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781413315837
Publisher:	NOLO
Publication date:	07/29/2008
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	288
File size:	4 MB

About the Author

Stephen Fishman has dedicated his career as an attorney and author to writing useful, authoritative, and recognized guides on business, taxation, and intellectual property matters for small businesses, entrepreneurs, independent contractors, and freelancers. He is the author of 20 books and hundreds of articles, and has been quoted in The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Chicago Tribune, and many other publications. Among his books are Every Landlord s Tax Deduction Guide, Deduct It! Lower Your Small Business Taxes, and Working for Yourself: Law and Taxes for Independent Contractors, Freelancers & Consultants, published by Nolo. You can visit Stephen s website at www.fishmanlawandtaxfiles.com.

Table of Contents

1. Benefits and Risks of Working With Independent Contractors

2. The Common Law Test

3. How the IRS Classifies Workers

4. IRS Audits

5. State Payroll Taxes

6. Workers? Compensation

7. Hiring Household Workers and Family Members

8. Labor and Antidiscrimination Laws

9. Intellectual Property Ownership

10. Strategies for Avoiding Trouble

11. Procedures for Working With Independent Contractors

12. Independent Contractor Agreements

13. Help Beyond This Book

Appendix A and B

Index

Editorial Reviews

"Explains the proper relationship between a company and a contractor." San Francisco Chronicle



"Comprehensive, current and savvy, this is highly recommended..." Library Journal



"A guide to the mistakes and benefits and, most importantly, tax implications of hiring people on a contractual basis." Orange County Register



"​Fishman, an attorney and author of books on taxes and business law for small businesses, entrepreneurs, independent contractors, and the self-employed,offers a guide to working with independent contractors. He covers the benefits and risks; the common law test to determine worker status; how the IRS classifies workers and how to determine whether a worker is an independent contractor; reducing the chances of an IRS audit; state payroll taxes; exclusions and classifications for workers’ compensation; health, safety, labor, and antidiscrimination laws; intellectual property ownership; hiring; procedures for working with independent contractors; and independent contractor agreements. This edition has been revised to reflect changes to the law and includes examples of hiring independent contractors.." Eithne O'Leyne, Editor Ringgold, Inc. ProtoView

From the Publisher

Explains the proper relationship between a company and a contractor.

San Francisco Examiner & Chronicle

A gold mine of federal and state requirements for employers who use contract labor...

BookPage