Employee vs. independent contractor

 

Employee:

(1)    federal income tax withholding: 

                10% to 35% from paycheck; employer remits to U.S. Treasury

                IRS Form W-2

(2)    state income taxes (2009 rates):

                Delaware:         2.2% > $2,000 to 6.95% > $60,0000 of Delaware wages

                Pennsylvania:  3.07% flat rate on wages

                New York:        4.0% > $0 to 6.85% > $20,000 to 8.97% > $500,000

                New Jersey:     1.4% > $0 to 6.37% > $75,000 to 10.75% > $1,000,000

(3)    City wage taxes (2008 rates):

                Wilmington:     1.25%

                Philadelphia:   3.93% flat rate on wages (residents)

                New York:        2.9% to 3.6%

(4)    Employment taxes:

                Social Security:    6.20% employee; 6.20% employer = 12.4% total

                                              up to "annual wage base" = $110,100 in 2012  (for $6,826 maximum)

                                              (2011 and 2012:  reduction of employee portion to 4.20%) 

                Medicare:              1.45% employee; 1.45% employer =  2.9% total

                                              no limit on annual wages

                workers compensation insurance:  6.2% of employee's FUTA wages (reduced by credit)

(5)    Benefits:    not required, but no discrimination (based on income)

(6)    Federal Employment Law:

                           no discrimination based on sex, race, ethnic origin, age (over 40 years)

                           minimum wage:  $7.25 per hour in 2010  (state minimum wage may be higher)

                           Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993:   12 weeks unpaid FMLA leave

                           Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938:  requires overtime for hourly employees

(7)    Work-Product:    work produced within "scope of employment" belongs to employer

  

Independent Contractor:

(1)    federal income tax:

                 quarterly estimated taxes on IRS Form 1040-ES

                 principal files IRS Form 1099-MISC

                 independent contractor taxed on profit (loss) from business based on type of entity

Individual Independent Contractor reports net profits on IRS Schedule C

(2)    state income taxes:

                independent contractor taxed on profit (loss) from business based on type of entity

(3)    city net profits taxes:

                independent contractor taxed on profit (loss) from business based on type of entity

(4)    Employment taxes:

                depends on type of entity

(5)    Benefits:    none;  must buy own  (deductible by business)

(6)    Work-Product:    work product "w/i scope" belongs to principal