I have been freelancing as TV producer for one company for over 6 months now working on various projects. The boss thinks he needs me to stand down for a few weeks to keep my independent contractor status. All of the IRS info I have found is vague on the point of continuous employment. How long will I have to stand down (aka take the vacation I want to take) before I can return to this company? And legally how long is too long to be a contactor for one company (when does the IRS question contractor vs. employee)?
posted on Mar 13, 2007 - 12 answers

I'm trying to recover a debt owed to me (currently $1300+) by a client for whom I worked as an independent tech contractor in 2002-03. He's very slowly paid off a lot of the original debt ($5000), but he stopped making the payments almost two months ago with no explanation, and has been completely non-responsive to all my contact attempts ever since. It's a matter of very high personal importance that I recover the full debt in this case (because this is a very slimy guy, and because his company could not have started up or earned money without my work). I also need the money, so this is not something I can walk away from in that sense either. [more inside]
posted on Jul 5, 2006 - 16 answers

I've been a freelance web designer operating as a sole trader for six months. Now I've gotten a contract that can only hire people as limited companies. I've been told to use an umbrella company, but after reading up on them online, I'm just at a loss. I can understand what they do, but why don't companies want sole traders? And does anyone have any recommendations on umbrellas to use? (Save, of course, the Umbrella Corporation)
posted on Oct 20, 2004 - 4 answers