Being an Independent Contractor comes with some legal considerations. Familiarize yourself with The Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA) and the Basic Guidelines for Independent Contractors described below.
The Immigtration Reform and Control Act of 1986 (IRCA) states that it is illegal to knowingly employ unauthorized workers in the United States.
IRCA requires employers to verify that everyone is legally authorized to work in the US using the I-9 System. An exception to this rule, however, is that an individual or entity is not required to obtain Form I-9 from independent contractors or sporadic domestic workers.
This is important because individuals who fail to comply with Form I-9, or who knowingly hire or contract undocumented individuals, may face civil fines, criminal penalties, or debarment from government contracts. The form provides a paper trail of sorts, and verifies that they knowingly are hiring an individual with work authorization.