Part 1
Workers subject to Borello Test only, in the following categories need satisfy only the Borello test to be ICs:
Physicians, surgeons, dentists, podiatrists, psychologists, veterinarians, Insurance brokers, lawyers, architects and engineers, private investigators, accountants, registered securities broker-dealers and investment advisers and direct sales salespeople who sell (must not be paid by the hour and have written IC contracts). Workers in these categories must have all required professional or occupational licenses.
Workers Providing Professional Services
Workers providing various types of professional services are ICs if they pass the Borello test—plus satisfy the following six factors. They must:
A) Maintain a business location separate from the hiring firm—this may include their residence.
B) Have a business license, in addition to any required professional licenses or permits.
C) Be able to set or negotiate their own rates for the services performed.
D) Be able to set their own hours.
(1) Be customarily engaged in the same type of work under contract with another hiring firm, or (2) hold themselves out to other potential customers as available to perform the same type of work, and customarily and regularly exercise discretion and independent judgment performing their services.
The professional services exception applies to the following workers:
Marketing professionals (provided that the contracted work is original and creative), travel agents, human resources administrators (provided that the contracted work is predominantly intellectual and varied in character), graphic designers, grant writers, fine artists, enrolled agents, payment processing agents through an independent sales organizations, photographers or photojournalists who license content submissions to a hiring firm no more than 35 times per year (exception not applicable to individuals who work on motion pictures), and freelance writers, editors, or newspaper cartoonists who provide content submissions to hiring firms no more than 35 times per year. Licensed barbers, manicurists, electrologists, cosmetologists, and aestheticians also qualify as ICs under this exception if they meet the above requirements and also:
- set their own rates, process their own payments, and are paid directly by clients
- set their own hours of work and have sole discretion to decide the number of clients and which clients they provide services for
- have their own book of business and schedule their own appointments
- maintain their own business license for the services offered to clients, and
- issue a Form 1099 to the salon or business owner from which they rent their business space.
(However, the ABC test will apply to licensed manicurists on January 1, 2022.)
Business-to-Business Contractors
Business service providers involved in a bona-fide business-to-business contracting relationship are ICs if (1) they pass the Borello test, and (2) they satisfy the following criteria. The business service provider (worker):
- is free from the hiring firm's control and direction while performing the work (this must be set forth in the contract and be true in fact)
- provides services directly to the contracting business rather than to customers of the contracting business
- has a written contract
- has all required business licenses or business tax registration
- maintains a business location separate from the business or work location of the hiring firm
- is customarily engaged in an independently established business of the same nature as that involved in the work performed
- actually contracts with other businesses to provide the same or similar services and maintains a clientele without restrictions from the hiring firm
- advertises and holds itself out to the public as available to provide the same or similar services
- provides its own tools, vehicles, and equipment to perform the services
- can negotiate its own rates
- consistent with the nature of the work, can set its own hours and location of work, and
- is not performing the type of work for which a license from the Contractor’s State License Board is required.
Unlike the other exceptions, this exception is not limited to workers performing specific types of services. It applies to individuals who conduct business as sole proprietors, partners in partnerships, members of limited liability companies, or corporations.
Construction Subcontractors
Construction industry subcontractors are exempt from the ABC test. They qualify as ICs if they pass the Borello test and satisfy the following criteria:
The subcontract is in writing, subcontractor is licensed by the Contractors State License Board and the work is within the scope of that license; subcontractor has all required business licenses or business tax registration; subcontractor maintains a business location separate from the business or work location of the contractor; subcontractor has authority to hire and to fire other persons to provide or to assist in providing the services; subcontractor assumes financial responsibility for errors or omissions in labor or services by having insurance, legally authorized indemnity obligations, performance bonds, or warranties for the labor or services provided; subcontractor is customarily engaged in an independently established business of the same nature as that involved in the work performed; subcontractor has the right to control how the work is performed, and, subcontractor's IC status is bona fide and not a subterfuge to avoid employee status.
Real Estate Licenses
Licensed real estate salespeople and real estate brokers are not subject to the ABC test. For purposes other than unemployment and worker's compensation insurance, they must satisfy the Borello test to be ICs. For unemployment purposes, if they are ICs if they: are duly licensed; paid based on sales, and have a written IC agreement.
Businesses that Obtain Work through Referral Agencies
Ten factors are used to determine the employment status of businesses that obtain work through job referral agencies that connect them with clients to provide graphic design, photography, tutoring, event planning, minor home repair, moving, home cleaning, errands, furniture assembly, animal services, dog walking, dog grooming, web design, picture hanging, pool cleaning, or yard cleanup services.
These ten factors are:
1) The service provider is free from the control and direction of the referral agency while working for the client, both as a matter of contract and in fact.
2) The service provider has all required business licenses or business tax registration.
3) If the work for the client requires the service provider to hold a state contractor’s license, the service provider has the required contractor’s license.
4) The service provider delivers services to the client under the service provider’s name, rather than under the name of the referral agency.
5) The service provider provides its own tools and supplies to perform the services.
6) The service provider is customarily engaged in an independently established business of the same nature as that involved in the work performed for the client.
7) The service provider maintains a clientele without any restrictions from the referral agency and the service provider is free to seek work elsewhere, including through a competing agency.
8) The service provider sets its own hours, terms of work, and is free to accept or reject clients and contracts.
9) The service provider sets its own rates for services performed, without deduction by the referral agency.
10) The service provider is not penalized for rejecting clients or contracts (this does not apply if the service provider accepts a client or contract and then fails to fulfill any of its contractual obligations).
Other Exemptions
Commercial fishermen on American vessels (exception ends on January 1, 2023). Licensed repossession agencies, and individuals providing driving services for motor clubs.
As we can see, there are many ways to avoid be trap or not in this law. For full information on California Assembly Bill 5 (AB5) visit the California Legislative Information site;
https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201920200AB5
