WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS AND W-2 EMPLOYEES?The Difference Between a Contractor and an EmployeeIt’s important for employers to know the difference between independent contractors and W-2 employees for legal reasons. Sometimes differentiating between the two is frustrating and confusing, especially for an employer, but it’s a necessary employment step. Independent contractors and employees can be paid for the same or similar work, but it’s vital to know the legal differences between them. You need to know this because if you are the independent contractor, you may be missing out on important benefits and legal protections because of your classification. If you are the employer, you could be at risk for a lawsuit or enforcement action by the Attorney General if you get the classification wrong. Below are some ways to determine if someone is an employee or an independent contractor. When is an Employee Not an Employee, or a Contractor Not a Contractor? The definition of an employee isn’t exactly straightforward, so it’s important for you to consult an employment lawyer if you have concerns or feel confused. Employees must receive Form W-2, which shows gross amounts paid and amounts withheld for taxes. When it comes to employees, your company should withhold the following from wages:
According to Massachusetts Independent Contractor Law, you must consider an individual performing any services to be an employee unless the employer can prove all three of the following:
It is not enough to meet one or two of these tests- all three things must be true for you to lawfully pay someone as an independent contractor. This means that if the service someone are providing is within the usual course of business of their employer (for example, you are providing painting services for a painting company, or writing ad copy for a marketing agency, or delivering food for a take out restaurant), that person should not be classified as an independent contractor even if they meet the other two prongs. Similarly, if the service they are providing is not something the employer usually does (for example, you are providing painting services for a law office, or web design services for a restaurant), if the work is subject to significant control or direction, or if the contractor is not free to offer those services to others at the same time they are performing them for the business in question, the law might consider them an employee rather than an independent contractor. What Does It Mean if You Are an Independent Contractor? An independent contractor is someone who provides services to a business but isn’t paid as an employee. At the beginning of each year, they’re given an IRS Form 1099 strictly showing amounts paid (This is why contractors are often called 1099 employees). Under Massachusetts employment law, the following applies to contractors:
Does It Even Matter? Aside from the obvious — it being the law — differentiating between W-2 and 1099 income is important. Even though logistics are complicated, they can often be beneficial because, for example, if you’re really an employee but are inaccurately filed as a contractor, you are missing out on some of the benefits of being an employee and may find yourself unable to collect unemployment benefits if you’re laid off or fired. If you are an employer and have independent contractors working for you who really should be W-2 employees, you are at risk for a lawsuit under the Massachusetts Wage Act, which can get very expensive for the employer. If someone is misclassified as an independent contractor and wins a lawsuit for damages, the employer will have to pay three times the damages proven (for example, unpaid overtime, missed unemployment benefits, amounts paid by the employee in self-employment tax), and will also be responsible for the employee's legal fees and expenses, on top of your own. Also, though most often complaints about independent contractor classification are made by a lawsuit filed by the worker, you should know that the Massachusetts Attorney General has enforcement authority under the Independent Contractor Law, and can investigate and impose penalties on the employer even if your contractors do not complain. If you’re struggling to determine whether you or the person you’ve hired is considered an independent contractor or W-2 employee, don’t worry! Contact us today and our team will help you figure it out, stress-free.
7 Comments
12/8/2021 07:24:49 pm
An independent contractor is different from an employee in that the independent contractor is a separate entity which runs its own business and conducts the work for other companies or individuals.
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1/12/2022 02:00:39 pm
It is not enough to meet one or two of these tests- all three things must be true for you to lawfully pay someone as an independent contractor. Thank you for the beautiful post!
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3/7/2023 07:03:42 pm
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Jim S.
5/22/2023 09:32:35 pm
This is a nicely laid out post. The best decision that I ever made was finding tax and accounting software that generates 1099s and W-2s for all of my employee types. The worst things that you can do is misclassify employees or mix-and-match their paperwork. Reliable software helps reduce those unnecessary headaches: https://1099-etc.com/.
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6/2/2023 02:23:05 pm
Distinguishing between employees and independent contractors is crucial for legal compliance. This article highlights the complexities and potential risks involved. Employers must consult employment lawyers to understand the nuanced definitions and avoid misclassification. For employees, taxes and withholdings, such as income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, are mandatory. On the other hand, independent contractors receive Form 1099, have different tax obligations, and often lack benefits and legal protections. Proper classification ensures adherence to employment laws and minimizes potential liabilities.
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