
Voluntary Classification Settlement Program (VCSP)
- Eligibility. The VCSP is available for taxpayers who want to voluntarily change the prospective classification of their workers.
- VCSP Agreements. A taxpayer participating in the VCSP will agree to prospectively treat the class or classes of workers as employees for future tax periods.
- Applying for VCSP. ...
What is the voluntary classification settlement program?
Voluntary Classification Settlement Program (VCSP) The VCSP is a voluntary program that provides an opportunity for taxpayers to reclassify their workers as employees for employment tax purposes for future tax periods with partial relief from federal employment taxes.
What is a workers classification settlement agreement (CSP)?
Under the CSP, Internal Revenue Service (IRS) examiners are able to offer taxpayers under examination a worker classification settlement using a standard closing agreement. CSP agreements are closing agreements that bind the Service and the taxpayer to prospective tax treatment for future tax periods.
What is the voluntary classification of potential employees program (vcsp)?
The VCSP is available for taxpayers who want to voluntarily change the prospective classification of their workers. The program applies to taxpayers who are currently treating their workers (or a class or group of workers) as independent contractors or other nonemployees and want to prospectively treat the workers as employees.

What is the Voluntary Classification Settlement Program?
The VCSP is a voluntary program that provides an opportunity for taxpayers to reclassify their workers as employees for employment tax purposes for future tax periods with partial relief from federal employment taxes.
What is Form 8952 and when is it used?
This form is used to apply for the Voluntary Classification Settlement Program (VCSP) which provides an opportunity for taxpayers to voluntarily reclassify workers as employees for federal employment tax purposes.
Does IRS settle tax debt?
Apply With the New Form 656 An offer in compromise allows you to settle your tax debt for less than the full amount you owe. It may be a legitimate option if you can't pay your full tax liability or doing so creates a financial hardship. We consider your unique set of facts and circumstances: Ability to pay.
What is a CSP settlement?
Under the CSP, Internal Revenue Service (IRS) examiners are able to offer taxpayers under examination a worker classification sett lement using a standard closing agreement. CSP agreements are closing agreements that bind the Service and the taxpayer to prospective tax treatment for future tax periods.
How long does it take to accept a CSP settlement?
Once the group manager approves the CSP Settlement Memorandum, examiners will make the settlement offer to the taxpayer, allowing 30 days for acceptance. See IRM 4.23.6.15.1, CSP Settlement Memorandum.
How to determine CSP offer?
To determine which CSP offer, if any, is appropriate, examiners should follow the procedures in IRM 4.23.6.14, Procedures for CSP. The examiner must consider the facts and circumstances of each case and make a CSP recommendation to the group manager for approval. The recommendation will be made on a Settlement Memorandum. See IRM 4.23.6.15.1, CSP Settlement Memorandum. If the examiner is unsure of which offer to propose to the taxpayer, the examiner should discuss the issues with the group manager and/or contact the CSP policy analyst for advice and assistance. See the listing Employment Tax Policy Analysts at: Policy Analyst Listing.
What is CSP in tax?
The Classification Settlement Program, "CSP" , allows taxpayers and tax examiners to resolve worker classification cases as early in the administrative process as possible, reducing taxpayer burden. The procedures also ensure that the taxpayer relief provisions under section 530 of the Revenue Act of 1978 are properly applied. Under the CSP, Internal Revenue Service (IRS) examiners are able to offer taxpayers under examination a worker classification settlement using a standard closing agreement.
Where is CSP monitoring and follow up activities for SB/SE centralized?
CSP monitoring and follow-up activities for SB/SE are centralized in the ET - WSD for agreements secured in SB/SE and Appeals. These CSP agreements and related documents should be sent to:#N#Internal Revenue Service#N#Stop 5702A / Employment Tax#N#CSP Follow-up#N#7940 Kentucky Dr#N#Florence, KY 41042
When an examiner initiates an employment tax exam of a taxpayer who treated certain workers as non-emplo?
When an examiner initiates an employment tax exam of a taxpayer who treated certain workers as non-employees, the examiner must first determine whether the taxpayer is entitled to relief from the reclassification of the workers who were treated as non-employees, and resulting liability for employment taxes, under section 530 of the Revenue Act of 1978 (section 530 relief). To qualify for section 530 relief, the taxpayer must meet three requirements:
When does the statute of limitations expire for CSP?
When the CSP agreement is prepared on June 15, 2020, the oldest year for which the statute of limitations is still open is 2010 (normal statute for Forms 941 expires on April 15, 2021; for Form 940, the normal statute expires on January 31, 2021), even though that period is not open for examination.
What is the IRS classification settlement program?
This IRS instituted the classification settlement program to help employers manage the burden of employment tax reporting and to discourage employment fraud related to misclassification of independent contractors to avoid paying employment taxes. While the program is open to just about any taxpaying employer, there are certain eligibility requirements. For instance, the IRS wants to make sure that no employer in the program is currently under tax audit for the classification of its employees. Once businesses have been approved for the program, they must agree to prospectively treat the class or classes of workers as employees for future tax periods.
Who is eligible for the Voluntary Classification Settlement Program?
As you may expect, not every business automatically qualifies for this IRS classification settlement program. To be eligible to participate and gain IRS approval, businesses must meet the following conditions:
What is voluntary worker classification settlement?
By applying for the IRS' voluntary worker classification settlement program, companies may be able to significantly ease the tax burdens associated with the prior misclassification of their workers. Acceptance into the program means: Employers pay only 10 percent of the employment tax liability that they owe on workers from the previous tax year.
What is VCSP in tax?
The Voluntary Classification Settlement Program (VCSP) is an initiative that allows qualified businesses to reclassify certain workers from independent contractors or non-employees to employees for employment tax purposes.
What is voluntary classification settlement program?
What is Voluntary Classification Settlement Program (VCSP): One of the most complicated aspects of owning a business and managing employees, is simply determining how to classify an employee for employment tax purposes. Are they really an independent contractor — or are they an employee? When it comes to classifying employees, a key issue becomes taxes — and specifically the withholding tax. The Internal Revenue Service acknowledges that sometimes employers get it wrong. Similar to the “Domestic” Voluntary Disclosure Program, the IRS has developed the VCSP (Voluntary Classification Settlement Program). The Purpose of the VCSP is assist employers with properly “reclassifying” their employees for employment tax purposes. Let’s go through the requirements.
What is a VCSP closing agreement?
Eligible taxpayers accepted into the VCSP will enter into a closing agreement with the IRS to finalize the terms of the VCSP and will simultaneously make full and complete payment of any amount due under the closing agreement.
What is VCSP in tax?
The VCSP is a voluntary program that provides an opportunity for taxpayers to reclassify their workers as employees for employment tax purposes for future tax periods with partial relief from federal employment taxes. To participate in this voluntary program, the taxpayer must meet certain eligibility requirements and apply to participate in the VCSP by filing Form 8952, Application for Voluntary Classification Settlement Program, and enter into a closing agreement with the IRS.
How to apply for VCSP?
To participate in the VCSP, a taxpayer must apply using Form 8952, Application for Voluntary Classification Settlement Program. The application should be filed at least 60 days prior to the date the taxpayer wants to begin treating its workers as employees. The IRS will make every effort to process Form 8952 with sufficient time to allow for the voluntary reclassification on the requested date.
Who can participate in VCSP?
Exempt organizations and government entities may participate in VCSP if they meet all of the eligibility requirements.
Question
What is the new Voluntary Classification Settlement Program (VCSP) and what, if anything, does my company need to do?
Answer
The new Voluntary Classification Settlement Program (VCSP) was developed by the IRS to provide payroll tax relief to employers that reclassify their workers (as employees) for future tax periods. Part of the Fresh Start initiative created by the IRS, this program aims to increase compliance and reduce the tax burden for employers.
What is the CSP program?
The IRS Classification Settlement Program. For employers that do not meet all of the safe harbor tests, the CSP offers a chance to settle the tax debt for employment taxes owed due to worker misclassification.
What is a CSP?
The IRS Classification Settlement Program (CSP) is designed to allow businesses to settle a tax debt owed due misclassifying employees as independent contractors. Along with safe harbor relief under Section 530, the CSP can be an effective tool for businesses involved in payroll tax disputes.
What is Section 530?
Section 530 Safe Harbor Relief. To make things easier on employers, Section 530 of the Revenue Act of 1978 allowed employers to treat employees as independent contractors if certain tests are met. The employer must show that:
