In this post, we provide a resource available through CRA to help determine whether your independent contractor is really an employee.
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If you are hiring contractors or consultants, it is important to decide whether they are considered employees or self-employed. Penalties are steep in the event of a CRA audit.
If employers are unsure, CRA will provide a written ruling to show whether a worker is an employee or self-employed, and whether that worker’s employment is pensionable or insurable (eligible for CPP and EI).
In general, CRA will look at four standard areas to determine the status of a worker as they relate to tools/equipment, control, integration and risk vs. reward.
To help understand how to decide a worker’s employment status, you can use this guide.