Taxes Information
tax pic
tax pic
taxes pic
taxes pic

Paying Workers - What Can You Write-Off?

1040 pic
income tax pic
tax return pic

As your business grows, you are going to need help. This help comes in the form of employees and independent contractors. What you can write-off is dependent upon how your helper is classified - as an employee or independent contractor.

Independent Contractor

Whenever possible, you want to use independent contractors to assist you. Payments to independent contractors are completely deductible. You simply claim the deduction on your return. If you pay them more than $600 during the tax year, you also must issue a 1099-MISC in January of the following year. Importantly, you do not have to pay employment taxes or make withholding on the compensation.

Unfortunately, the IRS doesn't allow you to randomly classify a worker as an independent contractor. The key to the determination is whether you "control" the actions of the worker. Generally, you must be able to show the IRS that the worker is an independent contractor because they have the ability to control the details and means by which the work is accomplished. To this end, it is helpful to show the worker sets their own ours, has a work place and risks not getting paid if the work is below standard.

Employee

If your worker is classified as an employee, the tax burden increases. Under federal law, you are responsible for paying employment taxes related to the worker, even if there is only one.

Initially, you must withhold FICA, Social Security and income taxes from employee paychecks. As an employer, you must also contribute FUTA payments on your own, to wit, they are not deducted from the employees pay.

FICA stands for the Federal Insurance Contribution Act. This Act created a system to collect and provide benefits for workers who retire, are injured or become disabled. FICA is better known as Medicare.

FUTA stands for the Federal Unemployment Tax Act. This Act created a system to provide unemployed workers with temporary benefits until they obtain a new job. The system works in tandem with state unemployment acts. Most consider it a disaster, but you still have to pay.

In Closing

As you can see, it is cheaper to use independent contractors versus employees. The tax burden is significantly less, but make sure the IRS doesn't reclassify them as employees.

Richard Chapo is with http://www.businesstaxrecovery.com - recovering overpaid taxes for small businesses. Visit our article page - http://www.businesstaxrecovery.com/articles - to read more tax articles.

income tax pic
tax return pic


MORE RESOURCES:
Those who oppose higher taxes and are fed up with record levels of U.S. debt may pine for Ronald Reagan, the patron saint of lower taxes and smaller government.

WASHINGTON — Raising taxes on the wealthiest Americans, as President Barack Obama proposes to do, probably wouldn't wreck the moribund U.S. economy, but extending the tax cuts they've enjoyed since 2001 could spur some economic benefit.

Burnsville council approves 5.6 percent maximum hike after austerity measures in 2010 by John Gessner Thisweek Newspapers In stark contrast with this year’s austerity measures, Burnsville will raise 2011 city taxes by up to 5.6 percent and avoid deep budget cuts next year. The City Council voted 3-2 on Sept. 7 to certify a maximum levy increase of 5.6 [...] Taxes headed back up in 2011 is a post ...

Jupiter holds taxes steady, eliminates 8 jobs from budget

Property taxes will stay the same for Abilene residents.

Two primary contests for Johnston council and three for School Committee are at stake

Capitol Hill employees owed $9.3 million in overdue taxes at the end of last year, a sliver of the $1 billion owed by federal workers nationwide but one with potential political ramifications for members of Congress. United States - Washington DC - Back taxes - Capitol Hill - Neighborhoods

Taxes go downSeveral letters have complained about property tax increases. However, we are having the opposite experience: Our home's assessed value decreased by about 30 percent, and our taxes will come down almost 20 percent if no budget change is adopted, and 30 percent if the proposed change is adopted.

Democrats in Congress are distancing themselves from President Barack Obama's push to let taxes rise for the wealthiest Americans, fearing it will further harm them in November's mid-term elections.

Many UBC students who plan to drive to school are getting a shock this week when they open their wallets to pay for a parking pass.


home | site map
© 2006