Hiring independent contractors instead of employees can save businesses a bundle. But it can also be risky -- especially if you run afoul of the IRS and other government agencies, which can impose severe penalties if you misclassify an employee as an independent contractor.

How to Safely and Legally Hire Independent Contractors includes all the forms and instructions you need to hire independent contractors with confidence. It includes an independent contractor agreement, with step-by-step instructions, that you can modify and use for virtually any type of freelancer, consultant or contractor.

This eFormKit also covers the legal differences between employees and independent contractors and contains guidelines to help you distinguish between the two. It includes a documentation checklist and independent-contractor questionnaire, both of which are designed to help you document the reasons why a worker qualifies as an independent contractor.

The result: Information that will come in handy if you're ever audited by the IRS or other government agency.

• Independent Contractor Agreement
• Contract Amendment Form
• Independent Contractor Questionnaire
• Documentation Checklist

• Part I: Benefits and Drawbacks of Using Independent Contractors
• Part II: Procedures for Hiring Independent Contractors
• Part III: Written Independent Contractor Agreements
• Part IV: Using the Independent Contractor Agreement in This Kit
• Appendix: Independent Contractor Forms

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