The IRS's 20 Factor Test for Determining Independent Contractor Status
1. Worker's availability to the general public - an independent contractor
makes services available to the public on a regular and consistent basis. They can
demonstrate they are actively seeking and soliciting this type of work from the
general public. For example, they list their expertise in directories, seek referrals,
and or market their practice.
2. Risk of profit or loss ó the IRS generally regards a worker to
be an independent contractor if the worker can realize a profit or suffer a loss
from performing services, while a worker who cannot realize a profit or loss is
generally regarded as an employee. The IRS says, for example, that if a worker is
subject to a real risk of economic loss due to significant investments or a bona
fide liability for expenses, such as salary payments to unrelated employees, this
indicates that the worker is an independent contractor, but the mere risk that a
worker will not receive payment for services, which is common to both independent
contractors andemployees, is not a sufficient economic risk to support treatment
as an independent contractor.
***If worker cannot be justified as an independent contractor under criteria 1 and
2, no further review is needed; the worker must be paid as an employee.***
3. Personal service required an independent contractor is paid in a lump
sum fee basis when the job is done. An invoice must be generated to substantiate
the payment.
4. Payment by the hour, week or month anan independent contractor is paid
in a lump sum fee basis when the job is done. An invoice must be generated to substantiate
the payment.
5. Employer's discharge rightsan independent contractor cannot be terminated
as long as they are fulfilling the contract.
6. Worker's termination rightsan independent contractor could be held financially
responsible for any loss the employer suffered because they did not fulfill their
contract.
7. Continuing relationship Continuing relationship - the relationship between
an independent contractor and an employer ends when the job is done.
8. Compliance with instructions - independent contractors cannot be told
when, where or how to do the job.
9. Set hours of work the independent contractor establishes his/her own hours
of work.
10. Training - independent contractors do not go through any type of instructional
training period with a more experienced employee to learn how to do the job. Independent
contractors specialize in the field in which you have employed them and do not need
to be trained.
11. Working on the employer's premises - an independent contractor, unless
the nature of the service requires, works off-premises.
12. Required work order or sequence - an independent contractor does not
need to be told in what order to do the job. They have been contracted with as one
that is an expert in this field and do not need to be told how to do the job.
13. Integration into business - Integration into business - the success or
continuation of the business is not dependent on the independent contractor's performance
of the service.
14. Control over hiring, supervising, and paying of assistants - an independent
contractor maintains control of their assistants. The employer contacts the independent
contractor if there is a problem, and the employer pays the independent contractor
for the work done and then the independent contractor pays the assistants directly.
15. A full-time work requirement - an independent contractor has the availability
to work for more than one client.
16. Working for more than one firm - an independent contractor has an established
business in which they work for more than one firm.
17. Payment of business or travel expense - an independent contractor is
responsible for his/her own business or travel expense. If paid by an employer,
the employer must include in the independent contractor's 1099, unless you can verify
an accountable plan.
18. Investment in facilities - if the independent contractor maintains an
office on the employer's premises, he/she pays a rent or lease payment for the office
space as well as overhead.
19. Furnishing of tools and materials - an independent contractor has the
necessary tools and materials to do the job.
20. Required reports - an independent contractor is not required to submit
oral or written reports.