俺是合同工

去年因XX原因，俺从自以为退休的日子里走出来，加入了广大合同工队伍。当合同工，工作上的好坏俺先不说，光说说俺体会到的财务上的利弊，有遗漏之处，广大合同工们，请补充。

好处：
1. 工资略高，因为公司不必花钱为你的benefit 买单，工资高一点，让你自生自灭很合理。
2. 税务上有些好处（漏洞可钻）：不拿W2的自雇者（self-employed）IRA（SEP or self 401K) 可放上限$51,000，比公司的401K上限高出很多；平时的一些开销（车啊，饭局啊啥的）可抵税；这么一扣二抵的，就没剩几个要交税的钱了。
3. 奥八health care出笼了，也不用担心医保无着。
4. 半年9个月赚到本来要1年才拿的工钱，剩下的时间可以躺沙滩上看帅哥美女。：）

坏处：
1. 没公司为你交一半的社保税，也就是说要自己要交15%的社保税和医疗税，而不是正式工的6.2%。
2. 没公司为你交失业保险，一份工打完了，木有失业金的free lunch 吃。
3. 没有公司股票分红，碰上在谷歌脸书苹果等公司当合同工？看到周围同事个个因股票发财，就自认倒霉吧。：）

暂时想到这些，这里自雇的多，大家再补充。

对了，从心理上来说，合同工比较无忧无虑，不必混水于办公室政治，老板只管给俺分配任务，怎么完成俺说了算，少了很多婆婆指手划脚。呵呵。

IRS about self-employed tax:
Generally, if you are an independent contractor you are considered self-employed, and should report your income (nonemployee compensation) on Schedule C (Form 1040) (PDF), Profit or Loss From Business (Sole Proprietorship), or Schedule C-EZ (Form 1040), Net Profit From Business (Sole Proprietorship). Most self-employed individuals will need to pay self-employment tax (comprised of social security and Medicare taxes) if their income (net earnings from self-employment) is $400 or more. Use Schedule SE (Form 1040) (PDF), Self-Employment Tax, to figure the tax due.
Generally, there is no tax withholding on income you receive as a self-employed individual as long as you provide your taxpayer identification number (TIN) to the payer. However, you may be subject to the requirement to make quarterly estimated tax payments. If you do not make timely estimated tax payments, you may be assessed a penalty for an underpayment of estimated tax. Unlike independent contractors, employees pay social security and Medicare taxes, as well as income tax, through payroll deductions (withholding).