You can even get in trouble when you don't owe anything.
Moving in and out of W-2/Corp-to-corp status many years ago, we set some consultants up on W-2. Then we changed up the mix, went back to just me, and I went on W-2 with another consulting firm for a while.
Got a letter from the state tax guys. Even though nothing was owed, we were supposed to file forms with all zeroes on them. There was a fine, yadda yadda.
Unfortunately, logic, reason, and common sense are not a reliable guide here.
> You can even get in trouble when you don't owe anything.
Yep. I recently got a Texas sales tax certificate for my unincorporated side business. Even though I am not doing anything yet, because I have the certificate every quarter I have to log in to a state website and check a box that says I had no sales. Not doing to on time will cost me $500 per incident (I think).
Moving in and out of W-2/Corp-to-corp status many years ago, we set some consultants up on W-2. Then we changed up the mix, went back to just me, and I went on W-2 with another consulting firm for a while.
Got a letter from the state tax guys. Even though nothing was owed, we were supposed to file forms with all zeroes on them. There was a fine, yadda yadda.
Unfortunately, logic, reason, and common sense are not a reliable guide here.