when you work as an independent contractor you have more control over when and how much you work and are essentially your own boss you are considered self employed and are responsible for paying your taxes 
independent contractors must decide how much freedom they need versus how much risk they are willing to assume independent contractors must keep track of their earnings and include every payment received from clients clients are legally obliged to issue 1099 misc forms to their contractors if the amount they paid warrants that expense if an independent contractor earns more than 600 from a single payer that payer is required to issue the contractor a 1099 form detailing their earnings for the year 4