The IRS has begun to enact its plan announced last fall to conduct random employment tax examinations of 6,000 U.S. companies over the next three years. The examinations will be conducted by specially-trained employment tax specialists, who will focus on worker classification - whether the person was an employee or technically a contractor.

The consequences of misclassifying workers are significant to the worker, the employer, and governmental agencies. Misclassifying contractors or even temporary laborers that the IRS feels should be treated as employees can cost companies massive amounts of money in terms of payroll taxes, penalties, and interest.

Ryley Carlock and Applewhite, the third largest law firm headquartered in Phoenix and with offices in Colorado, is combining its Chambers-USA ranked employment law expertise with its Chambers-USA corporate and tax expertise to both prepare and protect employers. The firm has formed a special task force practice area featuring leaders of its employment law, corporate and tax law, and employee benefits departments. The group works with companies to help prevent penalties and problems. For more information on the practice group, click here.