What is an "independent contractor"?

What is an "independent contractor"?

An independent contractor is someone who is working, but they're not being paid wages. An independent contractor would be working as a consultant, they're working independent of the company. A misnomer is that, as an independent contractor, you're getting a pay check. You're getting paid for work you're doing, but they're not taking taxes and everything out. You're not an employee of the company. You are independent. I, as a CPA, come in and do your tax return, send you a bill, you pay me. I'm an independent contractor. If I work for you as a book-keeper and I get a pay check every Friday, I'm an employee, I'm not an independent contractor.