Originally posted by @Mike F.:
You're paying them cash for a reason right? To avoid payroll taxes and insurance?
Maybe you're not realizing it but you'd be documenting your illegal activity if you record it for a deduction? This move would be similar to a drug dealer taking a deduction on his taxes for the meth he bought wholesale from his source.
Keep in mind per Beth's advice, about 1099ing them, the reason for 1099's is for the IRS to have a paper trail to follow the money back to the source to see if there are further taxes due to a miss-classified sub-contractor which is what the boys are.
The chances of you being caught when you're paying them just cash would be much less so than if you actually reported what you are doing to the IRS would it?
I'm not telling them how to do their jobs in any compactly. I am telling them what needs done and how I want the finished product to be color , layout etc... I am not overseeing their work in the same manner a boss would to workers. I am trying to avoid payroll, insurance and the other things that come along with it but once again I am not on location during the day when they are work to observe their work .they are not doing anything that would require a license such as plumbing or electrical