Re:Ask HN: My client want an agent on my laptop. Is this the...
by hoffspot on Friday December 17, 2021 @03:38PM
(#29598024)
We provide hardware to contractors all the time. They don't own the hardware so the loaner does not trigger a taxable event for them. When the contract is over, they return the hardware. The hard part about this in the current day and age is getting the units through customs.
Re:Ask HN: My client want an agent on my laptop. Is this the...
by blihp on Friday December 17, 2021 @08:14PM
(#29600435)
In the U.S. the issue isn't a taxable event, as in a gift. The issue is 'independent' contractors working on equipment supplied by their 'client'. This is one of several tests the IRS can use to reclassify them as an employee for tax purposes.
This tends to be more of an issue for solo contractors rather than contract houses as the IRS tends to look the other way on most of the larger contracting outfits.
1) Keep all software related to work for their company segregated inside a VM. Then you can install whatever they require without interfering with your main system or potentially exposing data for other clients.
2) If they want a separate physical system, tell them you would be happy to provide it for a fee: an upfront fee for the cost of the system and an ongoing fee for maintenance of it. Be sure to mark everything up as you don't work for free.
Since you're not an employee, you really shouldn't be asking them to provide hardware as (in the U.S., at least) this could create tax problems.