Article Highlights:Distinguishing Employee and Independent ContractorState LegislationFederal GuidelinesPartnersAdvantages of Independent Contractor StatusForm SS-8SE TaxForm 8919Penalties for Misclassifying WorkersIRS’ Voluntary Classification Settlement ProgramIt is not uncommon for employers to misclassify employees as independent contractors, either to intentionally avoid their withholding and tax responsibilities or because they are not aware of the laws regarding the issue. Misclassifying a worker can have significant ramifications for both the employer and the worker in terms of how much each pays in income, Social Security, and Medicare taxes, among others. Worker misclassification is a perennial issue for the Internal Revenue Service and state taxing authorities due to the perception that many employers are not properly classifying their workers. This article looks at several issues regarding this matter.The general distinction, of course, is that an employee is an individual who works under the direction and control of an employer, and an independent contractor is a business owner or contractor who provides services to others.Whether an individual is an employee or an independent contractor is governed by both federal law and state law. It has always been a complicated issue at both the federal and state levels, and the state and federal guidelines often differ. However, because of the significant payroll tax revenues involved, the states are generally more aggressive in classifying workers as employees.In recent years several states, including California, Massachusetts and New Jersey, have adopted the so-called ABC test, which is a broad means of determining a worker’s status as either an employee or a contractor by considering three factors. If a worker passes all three, then he or she is an independent contractor. The tests are: (A) That the worker is free from the hirer’s control and direction, in connection with the performance of the work, both under the contract for the performance of such work and in fact;(B) That the worker performs work outside the usual course of the hiring entity’s business; and(C) That the worker is customarily engaged in an independently established trade, occupation, or business of the same nature as the work performed for the hiring entity. To determine whether a worker is an independent contractor or an employee, the IRS examines the relationship between the worker and the business and considers all evidence regarding control and independence. This evidence falls into the following three categories: (1) Behavioral control covers whether the business has the right to direct or control how the work is done through instructions, training, or other means. Employees are generally given instructions on when and where to work, what tools to use, where to purchase supplies, what order to follow, and so on.(2) Financial control covers whether the business has the right to control the financial and business aspects of the worker’s job. This includes the extent to which the worker has unreimbursed business expenses; the extent of his or her investment in the facilities being used; the extent to which his or her services are made available to the relevant market; how he or she is paid; and the extent to which he or she can realize a profit or incur a loss.(3) Type of relationship includes any written contracts that describe the relationship the parties intended to create; the extent to which the worker is available to perform services for other, similar businesses; whether the business provides the worker with employee-type benefits, such as insurance, a retirement plan, vacation pay, or sick pay; the permanency of the relationship; and the extent to which the worker’s services are a key aspect of the company’s regular business. If the business has the right to not only control or direct what is to be done but also how it is to be done, then the workers are most likely employees. On the other hand, if the company can direct or control only the result of the work done, and not the means and methods of accomplishing the result, then the workers are probably independent contractors.One situation for which there is no uncertainty as to classification relates to a partner in a partnership. The IRS has long held that a bona fide member of a partnership is not an employee of the partnership, and a partner who devotes time and energy to conducting the partnership's trade or business, or who provides services to the partnership as an independent contractor, is considered self-employed and is not an employee.