[tehwebguy]

I’d say the opposite, that businesses large and small have perverted the concept of “independent contractor” to just mean “lower class worker we can pay less & treat as disposable.”

Thats not to say there isn't tons of “real” contractor work available to people who actually work independently.

But it only takes like 5 minutes to read the IRS 20 factor test and it pretty much immediately makes it clear what’s a “real” contractor relationship and what isn’t. IMO people running a serious business shouldn’t have a problem doing the most basic research to make the determination.

To be super clear, California’s ABC test is only 3 factors and it codifies that those 3, which are already in the IRS test (A is 1, B is 3 & C is satisfied by 17 or 18). It mandates that these 3 (out of the 20 supplied by IRS) in particular must be present, clearing up the existing rules.

[Enginerrrd]

What you just said is almost a verbatim summary of what my naive understanding was before watching my business partner undergo an EDD audit earlier this year where I myself was scrutinized heavily and interviewed by the EDD, having done some 1099 work for this guy. (And, the audited year was actually BEFORE the CA ABC test came into effect.)

What I'm trying to communicate is that this understanding will NOT sufficiently protect you from the CA EDD. It goes MUCH deeper than the above and they have no problem making assertions that probably would not stand up in court if you hired a tax attorney, but they don't really care.