How to Account for Independent Contractors in Your Taxes

accountant for independent contractor

In Vizcaino v. Microsoft Corporation, the court found that Microsoft had mischaracterized certain workers as independent contractors and freelancers. Although the workers had been hired for specific projects, some continued to work on successive projects for several years. They were fully integrated into Microsoft’s workforce, and worked onsite and on work teams along with Microsoft’s regular employees. They also shared the same supervisors, performed identical functions and worked the same core hours as regular employees. Microsoft provided them with admittance card keys, office equipment and supplies.

  • Not only did this help the company reverse a decline in gross profits and net income, but it also resulted in more reasonable staff hours and increased employee morale.
  • Let’s say during the year you earn $40,000 as an independent contractor from working with two companies.
  • Employees receive minimum wage, overtime, and other protections under the FLSA, while independent contractors aren’t covered by the law.
  • CICPAC members are dedicated to bringing the latest resources to our construction industry friends.
  • Above all else, the most significant benefit of utilizing accounting software is creating accuracy and order within your business.

She lives in Omaha, Nebraska, where she enjoys cooking, reading, and spending time outdoors with her husband, son, and their rescue dog, Dexter. We’ll continue with the same scenario to estimate your federal income taxes. And let’s assume you’re single, have no other income and claim the standard deduction. For simplicity, we will ignore certain tax credits and deductions, such as the Qualified Business Income deduction. As an independent contractor, be prepared for additional tax deadlines.

Advertisement

Block Jewel

Independent contractor tax deadlines

Paying taxes and having accurate snapshots of what you are estimated to pay in taxes helps a lot. Paying in your estimated taxes every month or quarter will help you avoid unexpected tax liability. Here’s how FreshBook’s four plans shake out in terms of cost and features. It’s important to note that we provided the regular monthly pricing, but each plan except for the Select plan are discounted by 50% for the first six months and includes a 30-day free trial.

An ST-124 accepted in good faith shields contractors from liability for sales tax if the Department of Taxation and Finance subsequently determines that the project did not constitute a capital improvement. A 2023 ruling from the NLRB changed the standard for determining whether someone qualifies as an independent contractor under the National Labor Relations Act. The NLRB rejected the previous ruling in SuperShuttle that entrepreneurial opportunity for gain or loss should be the animating principle of the independent contractor test. Instead, it said entrepreneurial opportunity should be taken into account alongside a list of traditional common-law factors. When you hire an employee for your business, you request that they fill out a Form W-4. DOL also provided a set of FAQs to better understand the changes to the independent contractor standard.

Current Legal Analysis

The three were challenged to express to each other in a positive way what each was looking for from the other. Your IT network is the backbone of your company, providing you with quick access to vital information about any given job—whether you’re in the office or on site. When bidding accountant for independent contractor and obtaining a bid bond for a proposal, time is of the essence. The last thing you need is a delay caused by a CPA unfamiliar with the importance of responding quickly to bid-related requests—or a communications gap between you, your CPA, your bonding agent and the surety.

An independent contractor is responsible for their own accounting and bookkeeping, as well as tax preparation and deadlines. Using an accounting app will save you time and money and help you keep track of how much money is coming in and how much is going out. The test for independent contractor status under workers’ compensation laws varies from state to state.

State tax deadline

Note that depending on the type of business you run, you might file an alternate form. Are you a qualified accountant considering whether to strike out on your own? As with any industry, there are pros and cons of working for yourself as well as working as an employee. If you do not file your profit and expenses, you are putting yourself at risk of being audited by the IRS.