Skip to main content
Level 2
February 28, 2024
Question

Contract vs. Employee

  • February 28, 2024
  • 1 reply
  • 7 views

Help! I'm a registered nurse and I work at the hospital PRN (which is 48 hours/month). I get a w-2 for my employment there. I took a second job at a small plastic surgeons office working a few hours a month, depending on how busy he is, but they put me down as a contract employee. I did not have taxes withdrawn, but set money aside and was prepared to pay. But after receiving my 1099-NEC form and doing some of my own research, I believe I should be receiving a w-2 for this employment instead. The reason I question this is because when doing my taxes I'm having to claim a buisness and pay a self-employee fee, which I am neither... any help is appreciated!

1 reply

smg101089Author
Level 2
February 28, 2024

Yes thank you, I have read that while doing research on my own. Another issue is the office manager is new and "wasn't sure" when I asked her. Based on the 3 criteria:

  1. Behavioral: Does the company control or have the right to control what the worker does and how the worker does his or her job?
    **Yes, the control how and what I do... they tell me what roles of my job to perform in the OR and I follow their standard of practice. 
  2. Financial: Are the business aspects of the worker’s job controlled by the payer? (these include things like how worker is paid, whether expenses are reimbursed, who provides tools/supplies, etc.)
    **I get paid regularly by the payer, they provide all the tools and supplies, and I don't need anything reimbursed bc that is not the aspect of the job working as a nurse.
  3. Type of relationship: Are there written contracts or employee type benefits (that is, pension plan, insurance, vacation pay, etc.)? Will the relationship continue and is the work performed a key aspect of the business?
    **They don't provide a pension plan, insurance, or vacation pay (but neither does my hospital job that I get a w-2 for). But they do provide perks such as free services and process

 

Therefore... I believe I should be receiving a W-2 instead of 1099-NEC, but just hoping for a professional opinion/response and not just based on my assumptions from the IRS webiste. 

Level 15
February 28, 2024

Are you aware of Form SS-8, Determination of Worker Status for Purposes of Federal Employment Taxes and Income Tax Withholding?  See the form and instructions here.

 

A worker may file Form SS-8 to request a determination of the status of a worker for purposes of federal employment taxes and income tax withholding.

 

Filing a Form SS-8 requesting a “worker status” determination means you or the firm is asking the Service to establish if the services you provide to the firm are those of an employee or an independent contractor.

 

I have helped individuals prepare form SS-8 and always caution that the process takes time and could generate a negative response from the employer.  

 

Best wishes.

 

@smg101089 

**Say "Thanks" by clicking the thumb icon in a post. **Mark the post that answers your question by clicking on "Mark as Best Answer"