Global employment guides

The Complete Guide: False Self-Employment and Its Consequences

Published on:
December 20, 2022
Written by:
Lucas Botzen

It is common for companies to hire self-employed people, mainly employees from countries other than where the company is based, as this is an easier way to sign a work agreement (read more about this here).

Table of contents

It is common for companies to hire self-employed people, mainly employees from countries other than where the company is based, as this is an easier way to sign a work agreement (read more about this here). However, as a self-employed person and as a company, you risk that this working relationship is very similar to an employment contract. In this case, this is called false self-employment.

Criteria for the tax authorities whether someone is false self-employed:

  • Is there a relationship of authority? Is the client in charge? Does he/she determine how the assignment should be carried out?
  • Are you obliged to carry out the assignment yourself? Can you not just send someone else?
  • Do you receive a fixed allowance/wage (for example, per month)?
  • Are you stepping out as a self-employed person or as part of the organization?

If you do not meet the criteria of self-employment, you run the following risks as a self-employed person:

  • Additional assessments or correction obligations;
  • Losing the tax benefits such as self-employed persons' allowance, SME profit exemption, and, if applicable, starter's allowance.

Losing the tax benefits such as self-employed persons' allowance, SME profit exemption, and, if applicable, starter's allowance.

As a company/client, you also run a risk:

  • Fine and additional assessment;
  • The extra work of hiring an "employee."

The topic of false self-employment is increasingly in the picture. It will come back a lot more in the future, with stricter regulations and more checks. As a company, ensure that you stay out of the picture and certainly put remote employees on the payroll via a payroll service or GEO service.

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