Q: I was wondering if I need to take an old employer to court if I had applied to work for them and during tax season
they did not provide me a w2 and instead sent me a 1099 NEC, which I researched and that form is an independent contractor or self-employed but I never verbally agree or have it in written contract paper that I was a self-employed or independent contractor and they never provided me a w9 form. So I'm at the point where I was going to contact IRS to explain my situation because I do not want to submit this year taxes with a 1099 nec form.
A:
If you believe that you were misclassified as an independent contractor and should have been classified as an employee, you should try to resolve the issue with your employer first. You can request a W-2 from your employer or provide them with your Social Security number to ensure that they report your income accurately.
If you are unable to resolve the issue with your employer, you can contact the IRS to report the misclassification. The IRS has a form called Form SS-8, which you can fill out to request a determination of your worker status. The IRS will review your situation and determine whether you should have been classified as an employee or an independent contractor.
If the IRS determines that you were misclassified, your employer may be required to pay back taxes, penalties, and interest. However, you may also need to take legal action to recover any lost wages or benefits that you would have received if you were classified as an employee. It may be helpful to consult with an employment law attorney to determine your options.
Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.
The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.
Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.