What is an independent contractor?

An independent contractor is a person or business that provides services to a client and is not an employee of the client. In Florida, independent contractors are defined by statute as someone who is engaged in a certain type of occupation or business that is not subject to the supervision of the client, and whose terms of employment are not determined by the client. According to the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, an independent contractor must not be directly supervised by the client and must not be subject to the control and direction of the client in regards to hours worked, when work is performed, and how the work is conducted. In addition, independent contractors are generally responsible for their own taxes and benefits, such as health insurance and retirement plans. They also assume liability for their own negligence, and are not protected by the same labor laws and workplace protections as employees. It is important to note that businesses must be very careful when classifying workers, as misclassification of workers can lead to liability for back taxes and other penalties.

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What is an independent contractor?

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