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If you are a business owner who occasionally hires self-employed contractors, you need to know a number of forms to the IRS for reporting purposes. In this article, we examine various tax forms for contractors and describe major differences between independent contractors and regular employees.
Who is an Independent Contractor?
An independent contractor is a person or a company that provides services to another individual or organization and receives compensation for their work. They aren’t permanent employees but only provide their services for a specified time. Businesses get certain advantages when they collaborate with such workers since it can help them to avoid the extra expenditures of hiring a regular employee.
From the perspective of the IRS, independent contractors are considered self-employed workers. This means that they have to use tax forms as independent contractors and pay their taxes on time.
Here are several examples of independent contractors that frequently work for organizations:
- freelancers such as web designers, graphic designers, copywriters, virtual assistants, and many other self-employed professionals;
- real estate agents, carpenters, plumbers, house cleaners, and other tradesmen.
Independent contractors usually work under a contract and may permit any kind of job required by a company. Since they are not employed by the firm to which they provide their services, they have the freedom to organize their working time, pick the tasks they want to accomplish, and set their own prices for the job.
What Tax Forms Do Independent Contractors Use?
Independent contractors and self-employed workers must file their tax returns using corresponding tax forms for an independent contractor. Thus you have to know the requirements for an independent contractor and which tax forms you need to submit to complete the documents correctly and avoid penalties.
Form W-9
A self-employed contractor needs to fill out an IRS Form W-9 when they start working for a new company. This document provides an organization that pays them for services with their taxpayer identification number (TIN), Social Security Number (SSN), and contact data, including name and address. The company requires TIN to report any payments it made in the contractor’s account on Form 1099-NEC. The worker has to complete the template before any transactions are made and send it to the IRS.
Form 1099-NEC
This IRS document reports non-employee compensation made to independent contractors. Companies use it to report payments of $600 or more to hired self-employed individuals during a tax year.
A contractor doesn’t have to fill out this form: This is a firm’s obligation. Organizations need to file Form 1099-NEC with the IRS by January 31 and send a copy to the independent contractor by the same date.
Form 1096
This form for contractors is used to provide the IRS with data regarding the payments made to independent contractors. It includes the total amount of compensation and is generally filled out by the client. Companies have to submit Form 1096 to the IRS by the last day of February.
Work Agreement or Contract
This document defines the terms of the agreement between the contractor and the client. It includes information about the scope of work, payment terms, and any other applicable data. The agreement also specifies which taxes the contractor has to pay.
A work agreement is an important document for both the contractor and the company as it covers their rights and ensures that both parties understand their obligations. It also ascertains that the contractor is aware of the taxes they must pay, and the customer agrees to hold the correct amount of taxes.
Tax Forms for Contractors: Seamless Tax Reporting
Independent contractor tax forms can vary depending on the category of agreement and regulations, so a professional approach to filing taxes will help you meet all IRS requirements. Companies that hire independent contractors have to be entirely aware of the corresponding forms to ensure that all applicable taxes are paid correctly and on time. We hope that our guide has shed some light on which IRS tax form for contractors you as a business owner have to file when you hire a self-employed person.
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