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The Daily Insight

What are the requirements to form an independent contractor relationship?

Author

Andrew Ramirez

Published Apr 02, 2026

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.

What are some of the factors that can determine whether an individual is considered an employee or an independent contractor?

To determine whether a person is an employee or an independent contractor, the company weighs factors to identify the degree of control it has in the relationship with the person. Does the company control or have the right to control what the worker does and how the worker does the job?

What is a dependent contractor?

At common law, dependent contractors are like employees in that they are entitled to reasonable notice of the termination of the working relationship, in recognition of their economic dependence on a single employer.

What is the principle characteristic of a dependent contractor?

The main characteristic of a dependent contractor is exclusivity. In fact, exclusivity is one of the factors that a court will look at to determine whether a worker is an employee or an independent contractor. However, it is only one of a number of factors used in that analysis.

What is difference between an employee and an independent contractor?

What’s the Difference Between an Independent Contractor and an Employee? For the employee, the company withholds income tax, Social Security, and Medicare from wages paid. For the independent contractor, the company does not withhold taxes. Employment and labor laws also do not apply to independent contractors.

Can a person be classified as an independent contractor?

As long as you’re not classified as an employee, you can be considered an independent contractor. Take note: If you hire people to work for you in your business, you’ll have to decide whether to classify those people as independent contractors or employees.

What’s the difference between an employee and a dependent contractor?

Employers are generally familiar with the distinction between an employee and an independent contractor. A third category of worker, known as the “dependent contractor”, is beginning to be more widely recognized by Canadian courts. A dependent contractor falls between an employee and an independent contractor.

Do you get W-2’s as an independent contractor?

Employees get W-2 tax forms each year that specify their yearly earnings and taxes withheld from their paychecks. Because independent contractors are not employees, they do not receive W-2 forms, but 1099-MISC forms instead.

Who is a dependent contractor in Canadian law?

A third category of worker, known as the “dependent contractor”, is beginning to be more widely recognized by Canadian courts. A dependent contractor falls between an employee and an independent contractor. A dependent contractor is typically found to be a contractor that is economically dependent on its principal.