As your business grows, you are going to need help. This help comes in the form of employees and independent contractors. What you can write-off is dependent upon how your helper is classified as an employee or independent contractor.
Independent Contractor
Whenever possible, you want to use independent contractors to assist you. Payments to independent contractors are completely deductible. You simply claim the deduction on your return. If you pay them more than $600 during the tax year, you also must issue a 1099-MISC in January of the following year. Importantly, you do not have to pay employment taxes or make withholding on the compensation.
Unfortunately, the IRS doesnt allow you to randomly classify a worker as an independent contractor. The key to the determination is whether you control the actions of the worker. Generally, you must be able to show the IRS that the worker is an independent contractor because they have the ability to control the details and means by which the work is accomplished. To this end, it is helpful to show the worker sets their own ours, has a work place and risks not getting paid if the work is below...