Publication 15-A
taxmap/pubs/p15a-001.htm#en_us_publink1000169489An employer must generally withhold federal income taxes, withhold and pay over social security and Medicare taxes and pay unemployment tax on wages paid to an employee. An employer does not generally have to withhold or pay over any federal taxes on payments to independent
contractors.
taxmap/pubs/p15a-001.htm#en_us_publink1000169490To determine whether an individual is an employee or an independent contractor under the common law, the relationship of the worker and the business must be examined. In any employee-independent contractor determination, all information that provides evidence of the degree of control and the degree of independence must be
considered.
Facts that provide evidence of the degree of control and independence fall into three categories: behavioral control, financial control, and the type of relationship of the parties. These facts are discussed
next.
taxmap/pubs/p15a-001.htm#en_us_publink1000169491Facts that show whether the business has a right to direct and control how the worker does the task for which the worker is hired include the type and degree
of:
taxmap/pubs/p15a-001.htm#en_us_publink1000169492An employee is generally subject to the business' instructions about when, where, and how to work. All of the following are examples of types of instructions about how to do
work.
- When and where to do the work.
- What tools or equipment to use.
- What workers to hire or to assist with the work.
- Where to purchase supplies and services.
- What work must be performed by a specified
individual. - What order or sequence to follow.
The amount of instruction needed varies among different jobs. Even if no instructions are given, sufficient behavioral control may exist if the employer has the right to control how the work results are achieved. A business may lack the knowledge to instruct some highly specialized professionals; in other cases, the task may require little or no instruction. The key consideration is whether the business has retained the right to control the details of a worker's performance or instead has given up that
right.
taxmap/pubs/p15a-001.htm#en_us_publink1000169493An employee may be trained to perform services in a particular manner. Independent contractors ordinarily use their own
methods.
taxmap/pubs/p15a-001.htm#en_us_publink1000169494Facts that show whether the business has a right to control the business aspects of the worker's job
include:
taxmap/pubs/p15a-001.htm#en_us_publink1000169495Independent contractors are more likely to have unreimbursed expenses than are employees. Fixed ongoing costs that are incurred regardless of whether work is currently being performed are especially important. However, employees may also incur unreimbursed expenses in connection with the services that they perform for their
employer.
taxmap/pubs/p15a-001.htm#en_us_publink1000169496An independent contractor often has a significant investment in the facilities or tools he or she uses in performing services for someone else. However, a significant investment is not necessary for independent contractor
status.
taxmap/pubs/p15a-001.htm#en_us_publink1000169497An independent contractor is generally free to seek out business opportunities. Independent contractors often advertise, maintain a visible business location, and are available to work in the relevant
market.
taxmap/pubs/p15a-001.htm#en_us_publink1000169498An employee is generally guaranteed a regular wage amount for an hourly, weekly, or other period of time. This usually indicates that a worker is an employee, even when the wage or salary is supplemented by a commission. An independent contractor is often paid a flat fee or on a time and materials basis for the job. However, it is common in some professions, such as law, to pay independent contractors
hourly.
taxmap/pubs/p15a-001.htm#en_us_publink1000169499An independent contractor can make a profit or loss.
taxmap/pubs/p15a-001.htm#en_us_publink1000169500Facts that show the parties' type of relationship include:
-
Written contracts describing the relationship the parties intended to
create.
-
Whether or not the business provides the worker with employee-type benefits, such as insurance, a pension plan, vacation pay, or sick
pay.
-
The permanency of the relationship.If you engage a worker with the expectation that the relationship will continue indefinitely, rather than for a specific project or period, this is generally considered evidence that your intent was to create an employer-employee
relationship.
-
The extent to which services performed by the worker are a key aspect of the regular business of the
company.If a worker provides services that are a key aspect of your regular business activity, it is more likely that you will have the right to direct and control his or her activities. For example, if a law firm hires an attorney, it is likely that it will present the attorney's work as its own and would have the right to control or direct that work. This would indicate an employer-employee
relationship.
taxmap/pubs/p15a-001.htm#en_us_publink1000169501If you want the IRS to determine whether or not a worker is an employee, file Form SS-8, Determination of Worker Status for Purposes of Federal Employment Taxes and Income Tax Withholding, with the IRS.
taxmap/pubs/p15a-001.htm#en_us_publink1000169502The following examples may help you properly classify your workers.
taxmap/pubs/p15a-001.htm#en_us_publink1000169503taxmap/pubs/p15a-001.htm#en_us_publink1000169504Example 1.(p8)
Jerry Jones has an agreement with Wilma White to supervise the remodeling of her house. She did not advance funds to help him carry on the work. She makes direct payments to the suppliers for all necessary materials. She carries liability and workers' compensation insurance covering Jerry and others that he engaged to assist him. She pays them an hourly rate and exercises almost constant supervision over the work. Jerry is not free to transfer his assistants to other jobs. He may not work on other jobs while working for Wilma. He assumes no responsibility to complete the work and will incur no contractual liability if he fails to do so. He and his assistants perform personal services for hourly wages. Jerry Jones and his assistants are employees of Wilma
White.
taxmap/pubs/p15a-001.htm#en_us_publink1000169505Example 2.(p8)
Milton Manning, an experienced tile setter, orally agreed with a corporation to perform full-time services at construction sites. He uses his own tools and performs services in the order designated by the corporation and according to its specifications. The corporation supplies all materials, makes frequent inspections of his work, pays him on a piecework basis, and carries workers' compensation insurance on him. He does not have a place of business or hold himself out to perform similar services for others. Either party can end the services at any time. Milton Manning is an employee of the
corporation.
taxmap/pubs/p15a-001.htm#en_us_publink1000169506Example 3.(p8)
Wallace Black agreed with the Sawdust Co. to supply the construction labor for a group of houses. The company agreed to pay all construction costs. However, he supplies all the tools and equipment. He performs personal services as a carpenter and mechanic for an hourly wage. He also acts as superintendent and foreman and engages other individuals to assist him. The company has the right to select, approve, or discharge any helper. A company representative makes frequent inspections of the construction site. When a house is finished, Wallace is paid a certain percentage of its costs. He is not responsible for faults, defects of construction, or wasteful operation. At the end of each week, he presents the company with a statement of the amount that he has spent, including the payroll. The company gives him a check for that amount from which he pays the assistants, although he is not personally liable for their wages. Wallace Black and his assistants are employees of the Sawdust
Co.
taxmap/pubs/p15a-001.htm#en_us_publink1000169507Example 4.(p8)
Bill Plum contracted with Elm Corporation to complete the roofing on a housing complex. A signed contract established a flat amount for the services rendered by Bill Plum. Bill is a licensed roofer and carries workers' compensation and liability insurance under the business name, Plum Roofing. He hires his own roofers who are treated as employees for federal employment tax purposes. If there is a problem with the roofing work, Plum Roofing is responsible for paying for any repairs. Bill Plum, doing business as Plum Roofing, is an independent
contractor.
taxmap/pubs/p15a-001.htm#en_us_publink1000169508Example 5.(p8)
Vera Elm, an electrician, submitted a job estimate to a housing complex for electrical work at $16 per hour for 400 hours. She is to receive $1,280 every 2 weeks for the next 10 weeks. This is not considered payment by the hour. Even if she works more or less than 400 hours to complete the work, Vera Elm will receive $6,400. She also performs additional electrical installations under contracts with other companies, that she obtained through advertisements. Vera is an independent
contractor.
taxmap/pubs/p15a-001.htm#en_us_publink1000169509taxmap/pubs/p15a-001.htm#en_us_publink1000169510
Rose Trucking contracts to deliver material for Forest, Inc., at $140 per ton.
Rose Trucking is not paid for any articles that are not delivered. At times, Jan
Rose, who operates as Rose Trucking, may also lease another truck and engage a
driver to complete the contract. All operating expenses, including insurance
coverage, are paid by Jan Rose. All equipment is owned or rented by Jan and she
is responsible for all maintenance. None of the drivers are provided by Forest,
Inc. Jan Rose, operating as Rose Trucking, is an independent contractor.
taxmap/pubs/p15a-001.htm#en_us_publink1000169511taxmap/pubs/p15a-001.htm#en_us_publink1000169512Steve Smith, a computer programmer, is laid off when Megabyte, Inc., downsizes. Megabyte agrees to pay Steve a flat amount to complete a one-time project to create a certain product. It is not clear how long that it will take to complete the project, and Steve is not guaranteed any minimum payment for the hours spent on the program. Megabyte provides Steve with no instructions beyond the specifications for the product itself. Steve and Megabyte have a written contract, which provides that Steve is considered to be an independent contractor, is required to pay federal and state taxes, and receives no benefits from Megabyte. Megabyte will file Form 1099-MISC, Miscellaneous Income, to report the amount paid to Steve. Steve works at home and is not expected or allowed to attend meetings of the software development group. Steve is an independent
contractor.
taxmap/pubs/p15a-001.htm#en_us_publink1000169513taxmap/pubs/p15a-001.htm#en_us_publink1000169514Example 1.(p9)
Donna Lee is a salesperson employed on a full-time basis by Bob Blue, an auto dealer. She works six days a week and is on duty in Bob's showroom on certain assigned days and times. She appraises trade-ins, but her appraisals are subject to the sales manager's approval. Lists of prospective customers belong to the dealer. She is required to develop leads and report results to the sales manager. Because of her experience, she requires only minimal assistance in closing and financing sales and in other phases of her work. She is paid a commission and is eligible for prizes and bonuses offered by Bob. Bob also pays the cost of health insurance and group-term life insurance for Donna. Donna is an employee of Bob
Blue.
taxmap/pubs/p15a-001.htm#en_us_publink1000169515Example 2.(p9)
Sam Sparks performs auto repair services in the repair department of an auto sales company. He works regular hours and is paid on a percentage basis. He has no investment in the repair department. The sales company supplies all facilities, repair parts, and supplies; issues instructions on the amounts to be charged, parts to be used, and the time for completion of each job; and checks all estimates and repair orders. Sam is an employee of the sales
company.
taxmap/pubs/p15a-001.htm#en_us_publink1000169516Example 3.(p9)
An auto sales agency furnishes space for Helen Bach to perform auto repair services. She provides her own tools, equipment, and supplies. She seeks out business from insurance adjusters and other individuals and does all of the body and paint work that comes to the agency. She hires and discharges her own helpers, determines her own and her helpers' working hours, quotes prices for repair work, makes all necessary adjustments, assumes all losses from uncollectible accounts, and receives, as compensation for her services, a large percentage of the gross collections from the auto repair shop. Helen is an independent contractor and the helpers are her
employees.
taxmap/pubs/p15a-001.htm#en_us_publink1000169517taxmap/pubs/p15a-001.htm#en_us_publink1000169518Donna Yuma is a sole practitioner who rents office space and pays for the following items: telephone, computer, on-line legal research linkup, fax machine, and photocopier. Donna buys office supplies and pays bar dues and membership dues for three other professional organizations. Donna has a part-time receptionist who also does the bookkeeping. She pays the receptionist, withholds and pays federal and state employment taxes, and files a Form W-2 each year. For the past 2 years, Donna has had only three clients, corporations with which there have been long-standing relationships. Donna charges the corporations an hourly rate for her services, sending monthly bills detailing the work performed for the prior month. The bills include charges for long distance calls, on-line research time, fax charges, photocopies, postage, and travel, costs for which the corporations have agreed to reimburse her. Donna is an independent
contractor.
taxmap/pubs/p15a-001.htm#en_us_publink1000169519taxmap/pubs/p15a-001.htm#en_us_publink1000169520Tom Spruce rents a cab from Taft Cab Co. for $150 per day. He pays the costs of maintaining and operating the cab. Tom Spruce keeps all fares that he receives from customers. Although he receives the benefit of Taft's two-way radio communication equipment, dispatcher, and advertising, these items benefit both Taft and Tom Spruce. Tom Spruce is an independent
contractor.
taxmap/pubs/p15a-001.htm#en_us_publink1000169521To determine whether salespersons are employees under the usual
common-law
rules, you must evaluate each individual case. If a salesperson who works for
you does not meet the tests for a common-law employee, discussed earlier in this
section, you do not have to withhold federal income tax from his or her pay (see
Statutory Employees
in section 1). However, even if a salesperson is not an employee under the usual
common-law rules, his or her pay may still be subject to social security,
Medicare, and FUTA taxes.
To determine whether a salesperson is an employee for social security, Medicare, and FUTA tax purposes, the salesperson must meet
all eight
elements of the statutory employee test. A salesperson is a statutory employee
for social security, Medicare, and FUTA tax purposes if he or she:
- Works full time for one person or company except, possibly, for sideline sales activities on behalf of some other
person,
- Sells on behalf of, and turns his or her orders over to, the person or company for which he or she
works,
- Sells to wholesalers, retailers, contractors, or operators of hotels, restaurants, or similar
establishments,
- Sells merchandise for resale, or supplies for use in the customer's
business,
- Agrees to do substantially all of this work personally,
- Has no substantial investment in the facilities used to do the work, other than in facilities for
transportation,
- Maintains a continuing relationship with the person or company for which he or she works,
and
- Is
not an employee under common-law rules.