Working With Independent Contractors (Working with Independent Contractors: The Employer's Legal Guide) [Paperback]

Stephen Fishman J.D. (Editor)

Book Description

Series: Working with Independent Contractors: The Employer's Legal Guide | Publication Date: August 29, 2008

If your business hires independent contractors, freelancers or consultants, this book is for you -- and essential.

Working with independent contractors can save you a bundle -- but the rules regarding who qualifies are complicated, and misclassifying a worker can result in serious financial penalties from your state or IRS.

If you hire programmers, writers, designers, marketing consultants, nurses, janitors, telemarketers, drivers -- in a word, anyone -- on a contractual basis, you need Working With Independent Contractors. This book shows you how to:

create a valid contract
assess who qualifies as an independent contractor
hire ICs without risking an audit
retain ownership of intellectual property when using ICs
handle an IRS audit
take advantage of the IRS's "Safe Harbor" law

The 6th edition -- completely revised to reflect the latest laws and court rulings -- includes detailed examples of how a business should hire freelancers. The book comes with all the contracts you'll need, as tear-outs and on CD-ROM. (20090101)

Editorial Reviews

Review

This is the most comprehensive and up-to-date information on the subject anywhere. (Barnard Kamoroff, CPA 20090101)

A gold mine of federal and state requirements for employers who use contract labor... (BookPage 20090101)

Comprehensive, current and savvy, this is highly recommended... (Library Journal 20090101)

Here, in the plain language Nolo is renowned for, is a guide to the mistakes and benefits, and most importantly, tax implications of hiring people on a contractual basis. (Orange County Register )

Explains the proper relationship between a company and a contractor. (San Francisco Examiner & Chronicle )

From the Publisher

Avoid the common pitfalls of hiring independent contractors

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: NOLO; 6th edition (August 29, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1413306578
• ISBN-13: 978-1413306576
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 7 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #763,932 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Stephen Fishman is the author of many Nolo books, including Tax Deductions for Professionals. Other titles include Deduct It! Lower Your Small Business Taxes, Every Landlord's Tax Deduction Guide and Home Business Tax Deductions: Keep What You Earn--plus many other legal and business books. He received his law degree from the University of Southern California in 1979. After time in government and private practice, he became a full-time legal writer in 1983.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars WOW - Detailed info presented in an understandable organized way - PERFECT, May 16, 2006

By 

petsits.com "petsits.com" (WI USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Working With Independent Contractors (Paperback)

I'm only about 1/3rd of the way through this book, and I'm SO impressed I have to give it 5 stars already. It has already answered all my questions, and taught me SO much. I have found it easy to read - especially the first chapters. I'm not sure anyone could have possibly made the more confusing topics any easier to understand.

For the classify workers portion, it's well organized so you can see exactly which organizations you need to be concerned with satisfying - and it's many more than just the IRS (in fact the one most likely to audit you isn't even the IRS!). It even tells you which are more likely to audit you. It lists what can trigger audits. It even lists the tests that each state uses in detail!!! This is perfect! I love the examples, and the tips for avoiding problems.

If you want to get ICs, if you want to be an IC, or if you were treated as an IC possibly improperly in your last job and are disgruntled - you need this book! It even comes with forms and contracts on a cd and tear-out! Plus detailed suggestions on language for creating your own custom agreements.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great resource, December 11, 2008

By 

Scott T. Strachan "scott" (South Florida) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Working With Independent Contractors (Working with Independent Contractors: The Employer's Legal Guide) (Paperback)

I have a business that observes an Independent Contractor Model. We have paid quite a bit of money for confrences and seminars that cover only a portion of what is included in this book. I would highly reccomend it to anyone that is curious about the legal and appropriate functioning of an Independent Contractor.

A word of caution. We ordered the companion book with Independent Contractor forms with this. The forms book is basically a restatement of the info in this book with a few more examples of specalized contracts. It wasn't useful for us. But, thats only because this book was so thorough.