By Michelle
Hoogerwerf, Staff Care Divisional Vice President, Advanced Care
One of the most common questions we hear from potential
locum tenens providers is, “What about taxes?”
Some of the most common tax questions we hear concern such
things as whether they’ll pay higher taxes than they would as an employee; if
they’ll still be able to prepare their own taxes or if they’ll need to hire
someone; if they need to be incorporated; and what expenses will be deductible.
With tax season now bearing down upon us, we thought this
would be a good time to address some of these questions. While we can’t provide specific advice for
your situation, we can give an overview of some of the most common concerns we
encounter.
What is my tax
status?
Locum tenens providers are independent contractors. Like any other contractor, you will be issued
a Form 1099 and will be expected to pay your own taxes. The IRSwebsite provides good information on tax regulations for independent
contractors. If you aren’t comfortable filing taxes as an independent
contractor, a skilled tax preparation professional can take a large portion of the
burden off your shoulders.
Are my travel
expenses deductible?
One benefit of locum tenens work is that many of your
work-related expenses are deductible. Transportation, lodging and meals may be
deducted from your tax return, subject to certain requirements such as travel
distance and length of assignment.
Your tax professional will be able to tell you more about
which expenses are allowable. Remember, to take advantage of these deductions,
you must be conscientious about tracking expenses and keeping receipts.
What about state
income tax?
If you’ve worked in a state that has a state income tax, you
may be responsible for paying those taxes. These are separate from and in
addition to any taxes you may be liable for in the state of your permanent
residence.
Can you help me with
my taxes?
As a locum tenens staffing firm, we do not provide any tax
or accounting advice. There are many skilled and knowledgeable tax preparation
professionals who can address your specific questions and issues.
Some things you may want to ask a potential tax preparer are:
- What tax deductions am I eligible for?
- Is the self-employment tax higher than if I were
an employee?
- Do I need to be incorporated? If so, how do I go
about it?
If you’re interested in working locum tenens, please contact
us at (800) 685-2272 to learn about our open positions nationwide.