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Policy · 1h ago

Misclassifying Remote Devs as Contractors Risks Back Taxes

By Meridian48 News Desk · Summarised from DEV Community ·

Misclassifying remote developers as independent contractors when they function like employees exposes companies to back taxes, penalties, and wage claims. Three different legal tests—IRS, state ABC, and DOL economic-reality—can disagree on the same facts. Audit triggers include fixed hours, exclusive availability, and company-issued tools, regardless of signed contracts.

Meridian48 take
The article rightly warns that a signed contract doesn't shield startups from misclassification risk, but the legal landscape is fragmented and enforcement varies by jurisdiction.
Read the full reporting
A Remote Developer You Treat Like Staff Is Legally an Employee, Not a Contractor →
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