
W-2 Or 1099? That’s the number one question Jack receives here at RCReports.
Answer: W-2
We hear your argument: Paying wages via 1099-MISC instead of W-2 has no tax effect!
Here’s Jack’s reply: It’s the law.
FS-2008-25 states: Corporate officers are specifically included within the definition of employee for FICA (Federal Insurance Contributions Act), FUTA (Federal Unemployment Tax Act) and federal income tax withholding under the Internal Revenue Code.
Generally, an officer of a corporation is an employee of the corporation. The fact that an officer is also a shareholder does not change the requirement that payments to the corporate officer be treated as wages.
Just to be certain we looked up the IRS definition of Employee and Independent Contractor, just to make sure there wasn’t some loophole or wiggle room to argue for independent contractor status.
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