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1099 contractor vs W-2 employee

Varies

Can You Write Off 1099 Contractor vs W-2 Employee?

Short answer: Workers you control in how and when they work are usually employees; the IRS looks at behavioral control, financial control, and the relationship.

Pay contractors on a 1099-NEC once you pay them $2,000 or more in 2026; misclassifying employees as contractors triggers back payroll taxes and penalties.

Records to keep: Keep the receipt, proof of payment, and a note or log showing business use; for mixed-use items, track the business percentage.