1099 vs. W-2: The Difference for Employers | QuickBooks (2024)

You are required to withhold Social Security and Medicare taxes and file payroll taxes for W-2 employees. Additionally, it’s up to you to provide your employees with the tools and supplies they need to get their jobs done. W-2 employee is the default classification for any worker you can’t classify as a 1099 contractor.

Benefits of having W-2 workers include:

You have more control over their work:

Employers have control over employee schedules, business processes, and company policies. Employees must deliver work that meets company standards. If you need help in a certain way at a certain time, hiring an employee makes sense.

Your company benefits from employee longevity

While contractors tend to jump from gig to gig, employees stay with the company. The longer they stay, the better they understand your business objectives and brand. And they can provide more value over time. Employees can easily shift focus on short notice or wear multiple hats.

Employees are more committed to your company

Employees can develop a sense of loyalty to your business. This loyalty can translate to a better work ethic, higher morale, and a thriving company culture.

Disadvantages to hiring W-2 employees:

Employees require more time and effort

When you take on W-2 employees, you need to train and manage them. These tasks take an incredible amount of time and energy.

You supply the resources for employees

You’ll need to give your employees everything to do their jobs successfully. These resources include everything from additional training to tools and materials. And you’ll need to reimburse any business expenses.

The true cost of an employee is higher than you might expect

Employees cost more than just their salaries or hourly wages. You’re responsible for paying your share of Social Security and Medicare taxes. And you may provide employee benefits like health insurance and paid leave. These costs add up.

Lastly, hiring W-2 employees works best for businesses that need to hire help for ongoing projects and other needs.

1099 vs. W-2: The Difference for Employers | QuickBooks (2024)

FAQs

1099 vs. W-2: The Difference for Employers | QuickBooks? ›

Additionally, 1099 contractors pay their own taxes and supply their own benefits, so they may need to charge more per hour to cover those costs. On the other hand, businesses will usually hire W-2

W-2
A W-2 tax form shows important information about the income you've earned from your employer, amount of taxes withheld from your paycheck, benefits provided and other information for the year. You use this form to file your federal and state taxes.
https://turbotax.intuit.com › irs-tax-forms › what-is-a-w-2-form
employees full-time or part-time with a monthly salary.

Is 1099 better than W-2 for employers? ›

Reduced business costs are one of the main reasons many employers are switching to 1099 contractors. Employers don't typically provide health insurance or benefits for independent contractors, which creates significant savings.

Why did my employer gave me a 1099 instead of a W-2? ›

At tax time, employees should receive Form W-2 from their employer. If you've received a 1099 Form instead of an employee W-2, your company is treating you as a self-employed worker. This is also known as an independent contractor.

Can you be a W-2 employee and a 1099 for the same company? ›

In many ways, the answer to 'can an employee receive a w2 and a 1099' is a simple one. The safest and most common situation in which an employee receive a W2 and a 1099 is when that employee already has an independent business that actively serves other clients on the side.

Do 1099 employees pay more taxes? ›

In most cases, self-employed contractors will pay a slightly higher tax rate than employees on paper – but overall they typically pay a lower amount of taxes due to business tax breaks and expense deductions.

What are the disadvantages of being a 1099 employee? ›

  • No employee benefits (no insurance, vacation, sick time, holiday pay, retirement contributions, education benefits, etc)
  • YOU pay your own taxes. ...
  • You are a BUSINESS, the term 1099 employee is incorrect. ...
  • You are totally at will, meaning you have NONE of the protections an employee has.

What are the benefits of being a 1099 employee? ›

Benefits of being an independent contractor
  • Independent contractors get to be their own boss. ...
  • Independent contractors have flexibility over their working hours. ...
  • Independent contractors earn more (before tax) ...
  • Independent contractors can claim deductions. ...
  • Independent contractors can experiment with business ideas.
Jan 2, 2024

Is it better to be an employee or an independent contractor for tax purposes? ›

Tax benefits from expense deductions.

Independent contractors also may deduct more business expenses than employees typically can claim. Unlike employees, independent contractors are required to withhold their own federal, state, and local taxes.

What is the penalty for an employer not sending W-2? ›

Yes, employers are fined for not providing W2s by the deadline. Fines can range from $60 to $310 per W-2, depending on how late the forms are issued. If the forms are not sent within 30 days of the due date, penalties increase and can be substantial if the failure to file is intentional.

What do I do if my employer doesn't give me a 1099? ›

If you have not received an expected 1099 by a few days after that, contact the payer. If you still do not get the form by February 15, call the IRS for help at 1-800- 829-1040. In some cases, you may obtain the information that would be on the 1099 from other sources.

Can my employer switch me from W-2 to 1099? ›

Employers may switch their W2 employees to 1099 contractors for two main reasons: The employer needs to downsize. The role of the work has changed.

Do 1099 employees pay double taxes? ›

Do you pay more in taxes as an independent contractor? Independent contractors generally pay both the employer and employee portion of Medicare and Social Security taxes. This is known as self-employment tax. In some cases, they may be able to deduct the employer-equivalent portion of the tax on their annual return.

Is it illegal to file W-2 and 1099 separately? ›

Ultimately, no. These forms should be filed together and can actually necessitate using Form 1040, not to be confused with Form 1040A or 1040EZ. Income and withholding determine refunds. As a result, the IRS needs the combined information from the W-2 and 1099.

Is it better to work on 1099 or W-2? ›

As a 1099 contractor, you receive more tax deductions like business mileage, meal deductions, home office expenses, and work phone and internet costs, as well as other business expenses that can lower your taxable income. Therefore, contractors might end up paying fewer taxes than a traditional employee would.

How to avoid taxes on 1099 income? ›

Six Tips to Avoid Paying Taxes on your 1099
  1. Set Up an Automatic Savings Plan for Taxes.
  2. Use a 1099 Tax Calculator to Estimate Taxes.
  3. Make Your Money Work for You with Micro-Investing.
  4. Create an Emergency Fund.
  5. Itemize Your Deductions.
  6. Employ a Tax Professional.

Do 1099 employees get tax refunds? ›

First of all, you don't receive regular paychecks and you also don't receive a W2 at the end of the year. Instead, you should receive 1099-NEC forms from each client that has paid you over $600. So, you might be wondering “Can I get a tax refund with a 1099?”. The short answer is–typically no.

Is it better to work as a W4 or 1099? ›

Employees under W4 contracts usually have long-term stability in their roles, providing a sense of security. On the other hand, 1099 contractors may face uncertainties regarding future projects and income streams. The lack of a guaranteed salary can lead to financial instability for independent contractors.

Who should get a 1099? ›

The 1099 form is used to report non-employment income to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Businesses are typically required to issue a 1099 form to a taxpayer (other than a corporation) who has received at least $600 or more in non-employment income during the tax year.

Should my employer have my W-2? ›

In the U.S., employers are only legally required to provide a copy of a W2 from previous years if you were not ever given one in that tax year. And they are not required to keep those records for more than four years. What should I do about not yet receiving my W2 from a former employer?

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