Right of Control: Who Has It and How Does EDD Determine 1099 Status?
When determining whether your workers should be classified as employees or independent contractors, it’s critical to ensure that you are closely following the Employment Development Department’s (EDD) strict guidelines.
On the simplest level, proper classification is determined by whether or not the principal, or employer, holds the “right of control.”
What is “Right of Control?”
Right of control is determined by who holds the “right to control the manner and means” by which work is performed.
A corporate administrative assistant, for example, reports directly to an executive who manages their work. Likely they work a classic Monday through Friday, 9 to 5 schedule. When they want to go on vacation, they have to request time off or let their manager know in advance.
Now consider an app-based rideshare driver. When they’re available to work, they log into the app and begin work. Perhaps after a couple of hours, they decide they need a break, they disable the app and log off for a break. While they are required to abide by the rules and regulations set in place by the company that they work for, their hours and responsibilities are not deliberately determined by the company overall.
How does EDD determine 1099 status?
EDD utilizes the right of control as an initial way to classify workers. They take things one step further by providing a worksheet that employers can utilize to help clarify discrepancies.
Since January 2020 the new ABCs of worker classification has been implemented to try to simplify the process of determining worker classification. Under the ABC test, a worker is considered an employee and not an independent contractor, unless the hiring entity satisfies all three of the following conditions:
- The worker is free from the control and direction of the hiring entity in connection with the performance of the work, both under the contract for the performance of the work and in fact;
- The worker performs work that is outside the usual course of the hiring entity’s business; and
- The worker is customarily engaged in an independently established trade, occupation, or business of the same nature as that involved in the work performed.
Since the passing of the AB_5 gig worker bill, there have been multiple rounds of exceptions, exclusions, and widespread confusion about how the rules affect real-life business scenarios. In cases of confusion, the original 13 point Borello test is still the fallback.
The questions posed in the EDD Borello criteria include the following 13 elements to provide additional support in determining workers’ proper classification. They include the following:
- Do you instruct or supervise the person while he or she is working?
- Can the worker quit or be discharged (fired) at any time?
- Is the work being performed part of your regular business?
- Does the worker have a separately established business?
- Is the worker free to make business decisions that affect his or her ability to profit from the work?
- Does the individual have a substantial investment in their job which would subject him or her to the financial risk of loss?
- Do you have employees who do the same type of work?
- Do you furnish the tools, equipment, or supplies used to perform the work?
- Is the work considered unskilled or semi-skilled labor?
- Do you provide training for the worker?
- Is the worker paid a fixed salary, an hourly wage, or based on a piece-rate basis?
- Did the worker previously perform the same or similar services for you as an employee?
- Does the worker believe that he or she is an employee?
Answering “yes” to questions 1-3 would provide a strong indication that the worker is an employee. Answering “no” to questions 4-6 would indicate that a worker is not in business for themselves and would likely classify as an employee. Questions 7-13 may indicate important factors to be considered. While answering “yes” to any one of them may indicate that a worker should be classified as an employee, no single factor is enough to determine so independently.
The full worksheet provided by EDD provides further clarification on certain factors and circumstances. If completing the provided worksheet does not provide sufficient clarification for employers, EDD offers the ability to request a written ruling by completing a Determination of Employment Work Status.
In cases where EDD initiates a worker classification audit, employers can be required to retroactively prove that their workers were correctly classified at 1099 contractors vs W-2 employees. At Milikowsky Tax Law we are experts in EDD audit defense. Our team works with you to ensure that your audit does not spread to other areas, that EDD understands the scope and function of your unique business and that you are only liable for back fines and fees on those workers who are indisputably misclassified.
We have represented hundreds of businesses and individuals audited by EDD, CSLB, CFTB, and IRS. Our team is dedicated to ensuring you get the best result and that your audit does not permanently negatively impact your business or your life. Reach out to our team for more information.
