An independent contractor is really no different from any business owner. An independent contractor may take the form of a sole trader, partnership, company or trust and may well have employees or subcontractors of its own.

What makes a company an independent contractor?

The general rule is that an individual is an independent contractor if the payer has the right to control or direct only the result of the work and not what will be done and how it will be done. The earnings of a person who is working as an independent contractor are subject to Self-Employment Tax.

Who is an independent contractor of a company?

Independent Contractor . This Agreement shall not render the Contractor an employee, partner, agent of, or joint venture with the Company for any purpose. The Contractor is and will remain an independent contractor in [his/her] relationship to the Company.

Who is an independent contractor in the gig economy?

Independent contractors have become increasingly prevalent in the rise of what has been dubbed “the gig economy.” An independent contractor, or freelancer, is a person or entity contracted to perform work for—or provide services to—another entity as a nonemployee.

What’s the difference between freelancer and independent contractor?

The “independent” in independent contractor simply refers to the fact that the contractor is a non-employee, and is independent of the company they’re doing the contracted work for. Most people who call themselves “freelancers” are considered to be independent contractors by the IRS—the two terms are basically interchangeable.

What does it mean to be a self employed contractor?

Jean Murray, MBA, Ph.D., is an experienced business writer and teacher. She has written for The Balance on U.S. business law and taxes since 2008. If you are working for yourself, and if you aren’t an owner or employee of a corporation, you are an independent contractor. In other words, you are considered self-employed.