Independent Contractor or Misclassified Employee? [1]
There is a list of criteria called the IRS 20 Questions [10] used to determine whether someone is an independent contractor or an employee. This is the Ohio State University interpretation of the list [11] with a couple of comments from us to clarify them. The answer of yes to any one of the questions (except #16) may mean the worker is an employee.
- Is the worker required to comply with instructions about when, where and how the work is done?
- Is the worker provided training that would enable him/her to perform a job in a particular method or manner?
- Are the services provided by the worker an integral part of the business' operations?
- Must the services be rendered personally (without using a subcontractor)?
- Does the business hire, supervise, or pay assistants to help the worker on the job?
- Is there a continuing relationship between the worker and the person for whom the services are performed?
- Does the recipient of the services set the work schedule?
- Is the worker required to devote his/her full time to the person he/she performs services for?
- Is the work performed at the place of business of the company or at specific places set by the company?
- Does the recipient of the services direct the sequence in which the work must be done?
- Are regular oral or written reports required to be submitted by the worker?
- Is the method of payment hourly, weekly, monthly (as opposed to commission or by the job)?
- Are business and/or traveling expenses reimbursed by the company?
- Does the company furnish tools and materials used by the worker?
- Has the worker failed to invest in equipment or facilities used to provide the services?
- Does the arrangement put the person in a position or realizing either a profit or loss on the work?
- Does the worker perform services exclusively for the company rather than working for a number of companies at the same time?
- Does the worker in fact make his/her services regularly available to the general public?
- Is the worker subject to dismissal for reasons other than non-performance of the contract specifications?
- Can the worker terminate his/her relationship without incurring a liability for failure to complete the job?