It is easy to get confused about the main difference between an employee and an independent contractor. Workers must understand that each type of work has its merits and demerits. On the same note, your personality can get better-suited to only one style of working over the other.
When you are earning a living as an independent contractor, it offers you more flexibility and control over your job.
No Withholding
When you are an independent contractor, there are a lot of tax benefits that will help you. When you receive payments from each of your clients, note that it is not subjected to state and federal tax withholding as employee paychecks. Even if you must pay taxes, you will only do it by making up to four estimated tax payments over a given year. In doing this, it offers you more control and also allows you to avoid overpaying your taxes since you will have to calculate each of your payment on your cumulative contractor earnings.
Contractor Deductions
Most of the taxpayers who are employees are eligible to deduct their work-related expenses. However, the IRS places various limitations on the amount that they deduct. Therefore, if you are working as an independent contractor, you have an opportunity to deduct all of your business expenses directly from your earnings. Note that your deductions will include different fees, including your car and the cost of supplies.
Accrual Method Accounting
When you are managing a business that is offering services as an independent contractor, you will have an opportunity to use accrual methods of accounting for your contractor’s expenses and earnings. The main tax benefit of this method is that you will claim your deductions during the period when you become liable for their payments.
Self-Employment Tax Implications
As an independent contractor, you have an opportunity or obligation to pay for your self-employment taxes apart from your income tax. It is essential to understand that these taxes cover the same medical and social security taxes that your employers withhold from the paychecks. The benefit of making your self-employment tax by yourself will enable you to claim deductions as a form of adjustment to your income for half of your payments.
This can be defined as a short-term loan that is free to allow you to access your tax refund sooner. Ideally, the amount of money you get is based on the expected tax refund. You need to file your taxes by the same tax-prep company ahead of the refund deadline. Usually, you may get the money the same day or wait for 24 hours. However, some tax returns take quite long to review, and the money is sent within three weeks.
Most tax preparation companies will provide you with a tax loan without fees or interest. However, they are likely to charge the preparation feels to process the loan or file your taxes. Thus, such costs will reduce your expected tax refunds. There is free tax software that can help you file taxes online. Moreover, your tax refund loan is likely to be issued on a debit card. Thus, the card may have its associated fees. Sometimes you may get a higher loan than the tax refund because of a miscalculation by the tax preparation company.