[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"doc-seo-303408-105":3,"detail-sidebar-cat-1-en-105":81,"doc-detail-303408-en":126},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":6},0,"ok",{"site_id":7,"language":8,"slug":9,"title":10,"keywords":11,"description":12,"schema_data":13,"social_meta":74,"head_meta":76,"extra_data":78,"updated_unix":80},105,"en","immigrants-rising-working-for-yourself-guide-independent-contracting-basics","Immigrants Rising - Working for Yourself Guide - Independent Contracting Basics","","Guide explains lawful ways for immigrants, including undocumented individuals, to earn money in the United States by working for yourself. It outlines what it means to be an independent contractor, including control of results versus methods, profit and liability, and required taxes. The guide details key legal considerations under IRCA, when Form I-9 is or is not required, and how W-9 and 1099 forms operate, with notes for DACA status and work authorization changes. It emphasizes consulting an experienced immigration lawyer.",{"@graph":14,"@context":73},[15,34,56],{"@type":16,"itemListElement":17},"BreadcrumbList",[18,23,27,31],{"item":19,"name":20,"@type":21,"position":22},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",1,{"item":24,"name":25,"@type":21,"position":26},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/","Template",2,{"item":28,"name":29,"@type":21,"position":30},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/letters/","Letters",3,{"item":32,"name":10,"@type":21,"position":33},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/immigrants-rising-working-for-yourself-guide-independent-contracting-basics/303408/",4,{"url":32,"name":10,"@type":35,"image":36,"author":41,"headline":10,"publisher":44,"fileFormat":47,"inLanguage":8,"description":12,"dateModified":48,"datePublished":49,"encodingFormat":47,"isAccessibleForFree":50,"interactionStatistic":51},"DigitalDocument",{"url":37,"@type":38,"width":39,"height":40},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/immigrants-rising-working-for-yourself-guide-independent-contracting-basics/303408.png","ImageObject",442,249,{"name":42,"@type":43},"Margaret","Person",{"url":19,"name":45,"@type":46},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-10-04","2026-09-19",true,{"@type":52,"interactionType":53,"userInteractionCount":55},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":54},"ViewAction",5,{"@type":57,"mainEntity":58},"FAQPage",[59,65,69],{"name":60,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":62},"What defines an independent contractor in this guide?","Question",{"text":63,"@type":64},"An independent contractor is self-employed and produces a specific type of work product within a determined amount of time. The payer controls only the result, not the way and methods used to complete the work.","Answer",{"name":66,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":67},"Are independent contractors required to complete Form I-9?",{"text":68,"@type":64},"No. Under IRCA, an independent contractor or sporadic domestic worker is not required to obtain Form I-9. Instead, guidance in the document directs use of a W-9 form.",{"name":70,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":71},"How do 1099 forms relate to independent contractors’ taxes?",{"text":72,"@type":64},"A client must file a 1099 for each independent contractor paid $600 or more. A copy is mailed at year-end, and the contractor then becomes responsible for paying taxes thereafter.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":32,"og:type":75,"og:title":10,"og:site_name":45,"og:description":12},"article",{"robots":77,"canonical":32},"index,follow",{"doc_id":79,"site_id":7},303408,1790463600,{"code":4,"msg":82,"data":83},"success",[84,89,94,99,104,109,114,118,122],{"id":85,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":86,"show_sort_weight":87,"slug":88},11,"Presentations",90,"presentations",{"id":90,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":91,"show_sort_weight":92,"slug":93},12,"Resumes",80,"resumes",{"id":95,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":96,"show_sort_weight":97,"slug":98},14,"Invoices",70,"invoices",{"id":100,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":101,"show_sort_weight":102,"slug":103},15,"Posters",60,"posters",{"id":105,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":106,"show_sort_weight":107,"slug":108},16,"Social Media",50,"social-media",{"id":110,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":111,"show_sort_weight":112,"slug":113},17,"Forms",40,"forms",{"id":115,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":29,"show_sort_weight":116,"slug":117},18,30,"letters",{"id":119,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":120,"show_sort_weight":55,"slug":121},21,"Paper Templates","papers-templates",{"id":123,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":124,"show_sort_weight":4,"slug":125},158,"General","general-158",{"code":4,"msg":82,"data":127},{"doc_id":79,"user_id":128,"nickname":42,"user_avatar":129,"doc_module":22,"category_id":115,"category_name":29,"doc_title":10,"doc_description":12,"doc_content":130,"file_id":131,"file_url":132,"file_type":133,"file_size":134,"view_count":55,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":22,"is_downloadable":22,"audit_status":22,"page_count":110,"language":135,"language_code":8,"site_id":7,"html_lang":8,"table_of_contents":136,"faqs":137,"seo_title":138,"seo_description":12,"update_tm":139,"read_time":140},137451207643,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/davatar_3d24733baf745e90a7e4bdd5f77d97b2","A GUIDE TO WORKING FOR YOURSELF  \n[immigrantsrising.org](immigrantsrising.org)  \nIntroduction  \nMost undocumented immigrants face significant barriers to pursuing employment in the United States. Employers are required to ask for proof of legal status, and it is illegal for any employer to hire a person knowing that the individual is not lawfully authorized to work. In this section, we have outlined some legal ways to earn money in the United States. It is your responsibility to determine whether you may legally pursue these options based on your immigration status. Be sure to consult with an experienced immigration lawyer first.  \nThere are multiple ways to work for yourself, including independent contracting (also called consulting or freelancing) and establishing a formal business. Many individuals, including professionals, do independent work outside of their regular employment as away to boost earnings or lay the foundation for a business. This section will discuss what it means to be an independent contractor, personal information needed to pursue this option, tax liability, and independent contractor guidelines.  \nBasic Facts  \n● An independent contractor is a self-employed person who produces a specific type of work product in a determined amount of time.  \n● The general rule for being an independent contractor is that the payer has the right to control only the result of the work and not what will be done and how it will be done.  \n● An independent contractor receives all profits and is held liable for all losses and debts.  \n● All immigrants regardless of legal status are able to earn a living as independent contractors, or start a business using an ITIN or SSN.  \n● An independent contractor must pay self-employment tax and income tax. An independent contractor may use an ITIN to file and pay taxes instead of a SSN.  \n● As mandated by IRCA, an individual or entity (client) is NOT required to obtain  \nForm I-9, or otherwise inquire about immigration status from independent contractors or sporadic domestic workers.  \n● Independent contractors should submit a W9 From instead of the I-9 Form to each entity (client) they provide independent contractor services to. The W-9 is filled out at the start of work by an independent contractor and kept on record by the payer (client) .  \n● A payer (client) must file a 1099 Form for each independent contractor paid $600 or more. A copy of the 1099 is mailed to the independent contractor at the end of the year and he or she becomes responsible for paying taxes thereafter.  \n●  Federal Statute 8 U. S. Code 1324a(a)(4) prohibits an individual or entity from knowingly engaging an unauthorized individual to provide services as a contractor.  \n● If a DACA beneficiary were to lose his or her work permit, the company that hired them would not be able to contract with him or her. In the case of DACA getting revoked, a DACA beneficiary could pursue independent contract work or start a business using his or her assigned SSN, as long as he or she contracts with anyother entity other than the one that is aware of the expired work authorization.  \n● If you obtained DACA and used it to get a SSN you should not continue to use or renew your ITIN. Regardless of the possible termination of DACA, the assigned SSN will remain yours even if the individual’s work authorization terminates. You  \nmay continue to use your SSN to work as an independent contractor or start a business; both options do not require work authorization.  \nLegal Considerations for Independent Contracting  \nIt is important to consider and be aware of the legal aspects of earning a living as an independent contractor without legal status. Under federal law, as mandated by the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 (IRCA) 1, it is illegal to knowingly employ unauthorized workers in the United States. This applies to all workers; however, an employer’s responsibility to verify work authorization is much higher for workers classifi","cbCaichFcc6RtJNl","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaichFcc6RtJNl","pdf",701605,"English","# Introduction\n## Basic Facts\n## Legal Considerations for Independent Contracting","[{\"question\":\"What defines an independent contractor in this guide?\",\"answer\":\"An independent contractor is self-employed and produces a specific type of work product within a determined amount of time. The payer controls only the result, not the way and methods used to complete the work.\"},{\"question\":\"Are independent contractors required to complete Form I-9?\",\"answer\":\"No. Under IRCA, an independent contractor or sporadic domestic worker is not required to obtain Form I-9. Instead, guidance in the document directs use of a W-9 form.\"},{\"question\":\"How do 1099 forms relate to independent contractors’ taxes?\",\"answer\":\"A client must file a 1099 for each independent contractor paid $600 or more. A copy is mailed at year-end, and the contractor then becomes responsible for paying taxes thereafter.\"}]","Immigrants Rising - Working for Yourself Guide - Independent Contracting Basics | PDF",1789803238,6]