New classification guidelines between W-2 employees and 1099 independent contractors place stricter rules for businesses looking to hire. Common misconceptions about independent contractors can lead to businesses misclassifying workers and paying high penalties and fines. Avoid these consequences by understanding the regulations your business must follow when hiring independent contractors. Let’s… [Read more]
Workers’ Compensation Audits
We partnered with benchmark commercial insurance to discuss how audits relate to workers’ compensation. Benchmark offers a boutique approach to serving their clients through providing and maintaining commercial and personal insurance policies. Their goal is to establish comprehensive risk management and accident-avoidance programs to help prevent claims from arising. Get… [Read more]
California CPA’s: Questions to ask your Clients to Reduce EDD Audit Risk
Certified Public Accountants (CPAs) have the most insight into their business owner clients’ daily transactional history. You may find that your clients who have 1099 contractors are now in the grey area of worker classification since it was redefined by AB-5 in January 2020. Under the new bill, all workers… [Read more]
How Dynamex Ruined it for Everybody
Who is Dynamex and what did they do? Watch our video below: Dynamex was a nationwide same-day delivery and courier service. They employed their California drivers as W-2 employees who received the benefits, payroll taxes, and perks of being a W-2 employee. However, in 2004, the company reclassified all… [Read more]
What Should You Pay for a Tax Attorney?
How much should you pay for a tax attorney? It depends on the issue you’re facing. If you’re a business owner, you can expect to pay a little bit more because these cases tend to have more complicated issues. Sometimes, cases can cost $2,000 to $3,000, but it depends… [Read more]
What Every Business Owner Needs to Know
Starting a business rarely begins with a strategic checklist of all of the resources necessary to run and scale successfully. Rather, many, if not most businesses start because the founder has a passion or skill that is exceptional and in-demand and they grow from there. Because of this, many business… [Read more]
Vince B. EDD Audit Case Study
We are grateful to our client, Vince B., for sharing his story of how we were able to help him weather an EDD audit. This audit could have closed his business and had far-reaching repercussions for his personal finances as well as business finances. In 2020, Vince was hit with… [Read more]
The Difference Between EDD and CSLB Audits
Employment Development Department (EDD) and California Contractors State License Board (CSLB) audits both expose your business to fines and penalties if the agency finds you noncompliant with the strict regulations and policies they have in place for classifying 1099 independent contractors. Both CSLB and EDD perform site sweeps that can… [Read more]
Recent Construction Site Sweeps Explained
General contractors who hire unlicensed workers and unlicensed subcontractors put themselves at risk for potential criminal action by the local District Attorney (DA) and they risk receiving a stop work order from California Contractor State Licensing Board (CSLB) if and when that agency performs a site sweep. A site… [Read more]
6 Mistakes Businesses Can Make When Hiring and Working With Independent Contractors
Business owners hire independent contractors to help with specialized or contracted work. But, as a business owner, if you find yourself engaging in what may be considered an ‘employer-employee relationship’ with your independent contractor hires, you may be contacted by the Employment Development Department (EDD) and/or the Internal Revenue Service… [Read more]