The FTC Mailed $2.7 Million to 62,893 Handy Gig Workers: How to Track Your Real Take-Home Pay
FTC refund checks prove gig pay gaps are real — reconcile gross-to-net payouts, log miles at the IRS 72.5-cent rate, report all income on Schedule C.
#independent-contractor
Independent Contractor
Contractor payments, 1099 tracking, and compliance
Walmart's $100 Million Spark Driver Settlement: How Any Business Using Gig Delivery Should Document Driver Pay
Walmart's $100M Spark settlement locks pay at acceptance — snapshot every offer, pass tips through in full, and reconcile payouts to IRS 1099-NEC totals.
Promissory Estoppel, Explained: When a Promise Without a Contract Still Binds — Reasonable Reliance, Detriment, and Why Freelancers Should Still Get It in Writing
A promise without a contract binds when you reasonably relied on it to your detriment — but recovery covers reliance costs only, so confirm deals in writing.
Deel vs. Remote vs. Oyster: Which Employer of Record Fits Your First International Hire?
Deel charges $599 per employee per month, Remote and Oyster $699 — but deposits, FX markups, and entity models decide the real cost.
1099 Filing Software Compared: Track1099 (Avalara) vs. Tax1099 vs. the Free IRS IRIS Portal
Tax1099 and Avalara start near $3 per form with volume tiers, while IRS IRIS e-files 1099s free — compare price, state filing, and W-9 tools.
The MSA and the SOW, Explained for Freelancers and Agencies: What Goes in the Master Agreement vs. the Statement of Work
An MSA holds the relationship terms — payment, IP, liability — while each SOW defines one project's scope, milestones, and fees.
Bobtail vs. Non-Trucking Liability: Which Coverage Gap Each Fills for Leased Owner-Operators
Bobtail covers tractor-only driving even under dispatch; non-trucking liability covers personal use off dispatch — leased owner-operators often need both.
The Consulting Agreement Checklist for Freelancers and Agencies: Scope, Ownership, Payment Terms, and Liability Caps
Cap liability at fees paid, assign IP only on full payment, and require a 30-50% deposit — the consulting-agreement clauses that protect freelancers.
Real Estate Team Commission Splits, Explained: Who Gets What After the Brokerage Takes Its Cut
Real estate teams typically split post-brokerage commissions 50/50 — but referral fees, brokerage cuts, and overhead decide what the leader keeps.
Who Decides Employee vs. Contractor? How Form SS-8 Determinations Work and Why Workers File Form 8919
Form SS-8 lets either side ask the IRS to rule whether a worker is an employee; misclassified workers then pay only their 7.65% share via Form 8919.
Form 945 Explained: How Small Businesses Report Backup Withholding and Nonpayroll Withholding Once a Year
Form 945 reports all backup withholding and nonpayroll withholding once a year — due January 31, with EFT deposits once the year's tax reaches $2,500.
You Filed the Wrong 1099 — Now What? How to Fix a 1099-NEC or 1099-MISC Before Penalties Stack Up
Fix a wrong 1099-NEC or 1099-MISC with one form for amount errors, two for name or TIN errors — and beat the 30-day window to hold the IRS penalty to $60.