conversation: User (Foolprof): "I received an offer letter for a summer internship that was really an independent contractor agreement. I was a bit confused but thought that working as an IC would give me more freedom on how and where I could do work at the expense of paying Self-Employment Tax and not receiving any employee benefits.\n\nI wrote to the HR (CEO) to confirm that this classification was correct, but was only told that I would be required to work full time at normal hours in the office.\n\nI want and need this job, but I don't want to screw myself over. How do you recommend approaching this? The employer probably wants to disguise my internship employment as IC for tax reasons I'm assuming (I don't know why else). Should I sign the offer and play along?\n\n(For your benefit, suppose the internship pays USD 4,000 per month, no withholdings. As a Washington State resident coming to work in CA, would I have to file taxes in CA, too?)"
  Self: "I would start here: https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/independent-contractor-self-employed-or-employee\n\nIts fairly common to hire independent contractors who work alongside regular employees.  The difference is the company would generally give you tasks to accomplish and if you decided you could easily accomplish those tasks at home then they couldn't make you come into work.  That said, if one the tasks is to, say, attend meetings, you'd have to be there anyway.\n\nAnd, honestly, most internships are grunt work which constitutes hanging around until somebody tells you to go do XYZ.....that definitely falls into more of an employee category than otherwise.  \n\nAlso, if you are an independent contractor and not actually working for the company its not as helpful on your resume because the company will not be able to verify that you actually worked there.  You'd be no different than the lawn guy or cleaning service.....you are a bill to be paid but not an employee."
  VicePrincipalNero (VicePrincipalNero): "I don't thing the part about it not being helpful for your resume is true at all.  List it as an internship on your resume and put down what you did/learned.  The future employer isn't going to care if you were a contractor or not.  Some internships come with a "stipend" of X number of dollars for a summer and some internships are unpaid.  They are still useful as a learning experience."
  Self: "Yeah, the experience is always useful.  \n\nBut future employers will not be able to verify past employment.  And that can be a big deal for most entry level positions and negotiating pay.  So, I would not agree that future employers "don't care" if you were a contractor or not.  If they can't verify employment they would care (and in my experience, have)."
  bl1nds1ght (bl1nds1ght): "Come on, mate, you're misleading people with your bullshit."
  Self: "Well it is bull, but still true. I work for the feds and self-employment does not count as experience for entry-level technical positions. But I admit the feds are known for bull."
  