Taxation: Employee/independent contractor advice

Accurately determining whether a worker is an employee or an independent contractor is critical for managing tax, superannuation, and employment law obligations. Misclassification can lead to costly ATO scrutiny, penalties, and reputational risk.

Alison advises clients across a wide range of industries on how to navigate this complex and evolving area of law. Her advice is commercially grounded, technically precise, and tailored to each client’s circumstances.

Alison regularly assists with:

• Assessing whether working arrangements meet the legal definition of employee or independent contractor
• Advising on superannuation, payroll tax, PAYG withholding, and FBT implications
• Responding to ATO and state revenue authority audits or reviews
• Advising on risk mitigation strategies when engaging contractors

Whether clients are engaging new workers or reviewing existing arrangements, Alison helps ensure their structures are legally robust, tax-effective, and compliant with current regulatory expectations.

Alison also has considerable experience interpreting and applying the personal services income (PSI) regime, including assessing PSI exposure and eligibility for relevant exceptions.