Comments on: A Freelancer’s Quandary

By: Sue Barnhart

Sue Barnhart — Fri, 24 Jan 2020 22:08:52 +0000

I totally agree Medicare will help solve some issues. I appreciate this article so much and the discussion of the balance between workers being taken advantage of and war tax resisters having freedom

By: Susan Van Haitsma

Susan Van Haitsma — Thu, 23 Jan 2020 22:23:40 +0000

Thank you for this piece, Ruth. I have felt that quandary, too, in my work. What I am fervently hoping is that the US will, within several years, actually have some kind of Medicare for All plan so that at least health insurance isn’t tied to employment. That would resolve a big chunk of the quandary, I think.

By: Chrissy Kirchhoefer

Chrissy Kirchhoefer — Thu, 23 Jan 2020 21:41:42 +0000

Great article Ruth! I have been thinking a lot about the growing gig economy as it relates to war tax resisters. Thanks for the perspectives and links.

By: Ed Hedemann

Ed Hedemann — Thu, 23 Jan 2020 20:42:02 +0000

This legislation — forcing independent contractors to become waged employees — is something the IRS has been wanting for a long time. Seems like another step in the direction of reducing the ability of workers to choose how to pay — or not pay — their taxes, as is the case in many other countries.

Tax resisting independent contractors have been an anathema to the IRS because it is much harder to collect taxes from them. Waged employees facing an IRS levy are like sitting ducks as most employers, fearing the power of the IRS, readily comply and sometimes even go overboard to turn over an employee’s money in cases when they aren’t required to, as has happened to me a couple times.

However, because AB5 (and similar legislation) seems a bit fuzzy and open to interpretation, it’s unclear the full impact. Plus there are some freelance jobs that won’t be affected. We’ll see.