Define Duties, Deliverables, and Roles As part of defining your role, the consulting contract should clearly state that the client has engaged you as an independent contractor and that you bear sole responsibility for your tax obligations. As a contractor, you have the right to function as your own boss.
Essential clauses in a consulting contract include confidentiality, intellectual property, liability, scope of work, deliverables, payment terms, and governance. Each clause addresses different aspects of the consulting relationship and ensures that both parties have clear, agreed-upon terms for the engagement.
A contract protects you as an independent consultant and your client as well. Your willingness to bind yourself to a legal independent contractor agreement can often help establish a strong relationship based on your client's confidence and trust.
Here are six best practices to write a consulting contract that defines your project scope and protects both you and your business. Define Duties, Deliverables, and Roles. Prepare for Potential Risk. Specify Project Milestones and Engagement Time. Identify Expenses and Outline Payment Terms. Specify Product Ownership.
An employee is a business professional who performs specific duties based on the job role. These are professionals who work for a private company or a government agency.
Salaried employees enjoy certain straightforward tax benefits like standard deduction and HRA but have limited control over their income components. Consultants, on the other hand, have more complicated tax affairs but enjoy the flexibility to claim a variety of expenses to lower their taxable income.
Section 194J mandates tax deducted at source for payments made to residents for professional or technical services. The applicable TDS rates are as follows: For Professional Consultancy: The tax is to be deducted at 10%. For Technical Consultancy: The tax is to be deducted at 2%.
Write the contract in six steps Start with a contract template. Open with the basic information. Describe in detail what you have agreed to. Include a description of how the contract will be ended. Write into the contract which laws apply and how disputes will be resolved. Include space for signatures.
Ing to Boundy (2012), typically, a written contract will include: Date of agreement. Names of parties to the agreement. Preliminary clauses. Defined terms. Main contract clauses. Schedules/appendices and signature provisions (para. 5).