San Francisco Bay Area Attorney for Worker Classification Matters

Employees vs. Independent Contractors in California

If you own a business or are considering starting one, you may have a number of tax questions including: "Why should I not only use independent contractors?" or "Why should I ever have employees?" You need an experienced tax law attorney on your side for a wide variety of reasons to answer your questions and help guide your business.

At the John D. Teter Law Offices in San Jose, we have more than 30 years of experience helping business owners comply with the law. We also help business owners avoid unnecessary tax burdens, appeal tax positions, and understand applicable tax law. Many of our clients are San Jose business owners who have been informed by the IRS, the California Employment Development Department (EDD), or other tax authority that they may have misclassified workers. If you are in such a position and need advice regarding tax issues, call us for candid and experience-based guidance at 408-866-1810.

Employee or Independent Contractor?

If you call tax attorney John D. Teter before you form your business or you contact him early in the process, he may be able to help you avoid many common problems that arise for small business owners. The tax issues regarding the classification of employees versus contractors can arise in a wide variety of business environments. No matter what industry you are in, we have answers to your questions and can help you resolve your issues regarding classification:

• How can I determine if a worker is an employee or a contractor?
• What are typical penalties for incorrect worker classification?
• What is the IRS Voluntary Classification Settlement Program (VCSP)?
• If I work in my own business, am I considered an employee?
• Do LLCs, partnerships, and sole proprietorships have differing tax liabilities regarding employees?
• What are the ramifications of the Affordable Care Act for worker classification and benefits?
• How can I classify my workers as independent contractors and what are the advantages?

The above represent only a very short list of the many questions you may have for a San Jose tax lawyer. Each question seems to lead to a further question. There is no substitute for discussing your concerns with an experienced tax law attorney. This is especially true if you are being audited or have been given an unexpected tax bill based upon misclassification of employees or independent contractors.

Contact Our San Jose Tax and Employment Lawyer

The sooner you contact us, the sooner we will be able to analyze your situation and provide practical advice and skilled representation. Call 408-866-1810 for assistance in San Jose, San Francisco, Fremont, and throughout the Bay Area.