Are you self-employed?
You’re considered self-employed if you earn income from a service, trade, or business you operate, and are paid directly by customers or clients.
Examples of self-employed persons include, but are not limited to:
- freelancers, such as artists, writers, graphic designers, and musicians
- nurses and other workers paid by the day or by per diem
- by-the-job professionals, such as temporary agency workers
- consultants, doctors, lawyers, and accountants
- IT professionals and software developers
- real estate agents
- building trade contractors, such as painters, plumbers, and electricians
- ride-sharing workers, such as Uber and Lyft drivers
- babysitters
- other independent professional workers
Key aspects of being self-employed
You work solely for yourself and contract directly with your clients.
It provides great job flexibility but can also come with greater risks and fluctuating income.
Without a paycheck from an employer, you will not have taxes withheld, so you are responsible for making payments towards your income taxes.
You are responsible for keeping good books and records so you can determine the amount of income you expect to make payments on.
New York State residents who are self-employed, or sole proprietors, may also be required to file:
- federal self-employment taxes—taxes paid for Social Security and Medicare benefits
- federal Income tax—taxes paid to the IRS on income earned
- New York State income tax—taxes on income earned in and out of New York State
- New York City income tax—taxes on income earned in New York City by both full- and part-time residents
- Yonkers income tax—taxes on income earned in Yonkers by residents, part-year residents, and nonresidents
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