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All About:
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Swing Education Mailing Address
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Overview of Taxes for Independent Contractors
Overview of Taxes for Independent Contractors NOTE: Swing Education and its affiliates do not provide tax, legal or accounting advice. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only, and is not intended to provide, and should not be relied on for, tax, legal or accounting advice. You should consult your own tax, legal and accounting advisors before engaging in any transaction.
Table of Contents
You will find the following information in this article:
- What is this document all about?
- Where can I go for support to make sure I do this right?
- What’s the deal with having no taxes withheld from my pay?
- Do quarterly taxes apply to you?
- How do I pay quarterly/yearly taxes?
- I’d rather just pay my taxes at the end of the year, is that a problem?
- I didn't get a 1099
- I need your EIN (employment identification) number
- Helpful Links
What is this document all about?
As a Swing Sub, you are an independent contractor, rather than a direct employee, which means there are some significant differences in how you are expected to organize, track, and report your taxable income to the IRS. This document is intended to make you aware of some of these differences and equip you with resources that can help you estimate and manage taxes due on the money you earned working at Swing Education’s partner schools.
Where can I go for support to make sure I do this right?
There is a great option for many SwingSubs to get FREE support on Tax preparation! The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program offers free tax help to people who generally make $54,000 or less and need assistance in preparing their own tax returns. IRS-certified volunteers provide free basic income tax return preparation with electronic filing to qualified individuals.
This Flyer created by the IRS outlines the VITA program. To locate the nearest VITA site near you, use the VITA Locator Tool or call 800-906-9887.
If you do not qualify for the VITA program and still have concerns about doing your quarterly or annual taxes properly we recommend you contact an online or local tax professional that can give guidance more specific to your individual needs. Here are some tips for choosing a tax return preparer.
What’s the deal with having no taxes withheld from my pay?
When you begin earning money as an independent contractor, you essentially become a business-of-one. Because you are a self-employed individual this means you are paid the full amount listed on the assignments you worked and no taxes are withheld.
Unfortunately, this does not remove your tax burden, rather, it means you are required to report your income and resolve your tax debt directly with the IRS. Just how a company will withhold money from an employee's paycheck to send to the IRS, you need to take out your own taxes from the money you earn. Generally, as a self-employed individual, you are required to file an annual return and pay estimated tax quarterly. More about this below.
Do quarterly taxes apply to you?
Many SwingSubs earn enough to be expected to pay quarterly taxes. Here’s a general rule-of-thumb for determining if you should be paying taxes quarterly:
If you expect to owe more than $1,000 in taxes for the year for your contracting work (which amounts to around $3,000 or more in earnings) then you may need to pay quarterly taxes by the dates listed below.
Here is a link with the 2018 deadlines: https://www.irs.gov/faqs/estimated-tax/individuals/individuals-2
How do I pay quarterly/yearly taxes?
Paying quarterly taxes is done by submitting (by mail or electronically) the 1040-ES (for quarterly taxes) and Schedule C Form (for year-end taxes) to the IRS. It is HIGHLY ENCOURAGED that you read the instructions on the 1040-ES form closely as it has detailed information on tax rates, estimating your quarterly taxes, how to pay, etc.
Swing is required to send you a 1099-Misc form by January 31st which you will use to report your taxes from the previous year and fill out your Schedule C.
I’d rather just pay my taxes at the end of the year, is that a problem?
If you don’t pay quarterly when you should, you could face a penalty. Typically, you’ll pay a 6-8% penalty on the amount you underpaid. So if you made $10,000, owe $2,000 in taxes, and didn’t pay quarterly taxes, you might be subject to a penalty of 6% of the $2,000 underpayment, which is $120 -- yikes! In short, it is highly recommended that you pay your taxes quarterly if you expect to owe $1000 or more.
I didn't get a 1099!
You will only get a 1099 if you made more than $600 from Jan 1st to Dec. 31st. If you made less, you can use your payment history for tax purposes.
What is Swing's EIN (employment identification) number:
Our EIN number is: 47-4349654. If you receive a 1099 from us, this is also included on that form.
Helpful Links:
- Self Employed Individual Tax Center: The one-stop shop on the IRS website for all the forms, advice, and online learning tools.
- 1040-ES Estimated Tax Form: Instructions and form created by the IRS to help individuals pay estimated taxes. Read the instructions carefully.
- Schedule C Form: The end of year profits and loss tax form.
- Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program homepage: The homepage for this program on the www.irs.gov website.
- VITA Program Fyer: This is a flyer created by the IRS that outlines the basics of the VITA program, who qualifies, what you need to bring, etc.
- VITA Locator Tool: Help you find Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program locations in your area.
- Tips for choosing a tax return preparer: This website helps you select a tax return preparer and gives advice on who to select and what to look for This is particularly useful if you do not qualify for the VITA program.
- See what other subs are doing by taking a look at our lounge discussion about taxes.
NOTE: Swing Education and its affiliates do not provide tax, legal or accounting advice. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only, and is not intended to provide, and should not be relied on for, tax, legal or accounting advice. You should consult your own tax, legal and accounting advisors before engaging in any transaction.
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Long Term Requests
Long Term Requests What is a long term request?
- Any request over three weeks (21 days) is considered a long term request
- Depending on the nature of the work, most schools set a higher pay rate than the normal daily rate to compensate for additional work (e.g. office hours, lesson planning, etc)
Things to note:
- Subs aren't automatically confirmed into a long term request
- ONLY interested subs should add themselves to the waitlist
- The school will interview the subs on the waitlist and may ask subs for their resumes
- After the interview process, the school will select one of the subs into the request
Please note that Swing has no control over when/ if you will ever be chosen as a sub for a long term request. You can send a quick note to the school expressing your interest but it is completely up to them if they chose you for their role.
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Cancellations
Cancellations Something came up and I can no longer fill a request. Can I cancel?
Yes, we understand that sometimes you just get sick or a personal issue comes up and you suddenly can't make a job. You can cancel a request by pressing the Teal "Cancel" button on the request page.
A couple of things to keep in mind about cancellations:
- You will be penalized for cancelling within 24 hours of the request's start time. A high cancel rate will make you ineligible for Star Sub Status
- There's no penalty for cancelling within 30 minutes of signing up for a request.
- Schools are counting on you to show up - a cancel (especially last minute) is a big deal for a school to try to cover. Often times this means teachers (and office admins, principals, etc.) have to scramble to cover. If you cancel too often, Swing will send you a warning email and possibly consider removing your ability to sign up for requests.
What if a school cancels on me?
- If you’ve signed up for an assignment for more than 30 minutes, and the school cancels it within 24 hours of the start time (and the cancel is not based on performance reasons), you’ll get paid for one day.
- If the cancellation is because the school is giving negative feedback or a school emergency that required the school to close you won't get paid for the cancellation.
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Fulltime Employment Offer at a Swing School Partner
Fulltime Employment Offer at a Swing School Partner Congratulations, that is great news! Part of Swing’s mission is to help our awesome subs find full-time positions with our school partners. When subs find jobs, that’s something Swing wants to celebrate with you! If you accept a full-time offer with one of our school partners, please email submit a request and let us know your start date, title, and school you will be working for.
You may be eligible for a $250 bonus so make sure you reach out to us right away!
All About Swing Heroes!
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What is Swing Heroes?
What is Swing Heroes? IMPORTANT NOTICE: In the midst of COVID-19 (coronavirus), we understand that many of our school partners are taking the necessary measures to keep their children and staff safe.
Due to the extremely high number of school closures and the safety of the public, all Swing Hero assignments are canceled. If you had a Swing Hero commitment, it will no longer appear in your commitments tab. When Swing Hero assignments resume, you will automatically begin seeing new requests. As we continue to learn about more school closures, we will keep you updated with changes to the Swing Hero Program.
We empathize with your concerns around the impact of school closures on your families and communities. For additional information on these types of situations, please see our Coronavirus FAQs.Swing Heroes is a program for filling last-minute requests in the same schools we already partner with for standard requests. Some teacher absences can’t be anticipated in advance, such as illness-related or other last-minute absences. Swing Heroes is designed to cover last-minute absences, minimize classroom disruptions and encourage learning when a teacher is unexpectedly out.
Because Swing Heroes is designed to fill last-minute absences, the program is limited to school districts with a high rate of last-minute absences. If you do not see Swing Hero requests when you log into your account, it is likely because schools in your region have a lower rate of last-minute absences.
Advantages for Subs
Unlike standard requests, you can secure a Swing Heroes request up to 14 days in advance. The pay rate for Swing Heroes is often higher than for standard requests, and you’re guaranteed to be paid even if your local schools end up not needing a sub that day. Plus, Swing Heroes saves you the hassle of having to constantly check our site or app for last-minute requests. For more details, see our FAQ page.
How it Works
Substitute teachers who accept Swing Hero requests allow Swing Education to reserve on-call subs in anticipation of last-minute requests from schools. Because requests from schools come in at the last minute, we won’t be able to tell you the name of the school up front, but we can tell you the city where you’ll be teaching. Additionally, we can tell you the range of grades you may end up teaching, but not the exact grade.
For example, when you accept a Swing Hero assignment, you may see “A school in San Rafael” but not the exact school. This means Swing Education has reserved on-call subs for schools in San Rafael that are likely to have last-minute absences. You may also see “Grades K-5”, which means that Swing Education is reserving on-call subs for grades kindergarten through 5th grade. Swing will communicate the exact school and grade to the on-call sub when the last-minute request comes in from the school, 0-24 hours before the committed date.
Please note: you will only be matched with schools your account is already linked to. Also, you will only be matched with assignments for which you have the appropriate credentials.
Accepting a Swing Hero Request
- To sign up, log into your account and look for the yellow Swing Hero flag on the request. You will see the minimum pay rate and region in the request. (If the school has a rate that is higher than the minimum pay rate, you’ll be paid the higher of the two.)
- The morning of the request, no later than 9:30 a.m, you will receive a text message with final details of the assignment including school and subject.
- Plan ahead and be on time. The school day can start as early as 7 a.m., so you'll want to be awake, checking your messages, and ready to commute to campus by 6 a.m. (The text message may arrive overnight, so look carefully through your message history.) If you are matched with a school after the start time, please call the school and let them know what time you’ll arrive.
- If you do not receive final details by 9:30 a.m. on the morning of the assignment, we will send you a text message telling you that you are relieved from your Swing Hero assignment for the day. You will still be paid the rate listed on the request, and you’ll be free to accept another request for the same day.
- Cancellations: we understand that life happens, but in the interest of ensuring classrooms are covered for the day, we strongly discourage last-minute Swing Hero cancellations. If you need to cancel, please do so at least 48 hours in advance. Cancelling after you have been matched to a specific Swing Hero assignment can lead to exclusion from the Swing Hero program.
Ready to be a Swing Hero?
Just log in and look for open requests with the yellow Swing Heroes ribbon.
Swing Heroes vs. Standard Requests
Standard
Swing Heroes
Accept on online platform ✔ ✔ Booking window As they come, usually 0-3 days prior to the request Up to 14 days in advance Lock in pay long before the assignment X ✔ Weekly digest of open requests X ✔ Request Information Available Date ✔ ✔ Grade Level ✔ Choose K-5, 6-12, or all grades Exact Location ✔ 0-24 hours before the committed date Subject ✔ 0-24 hours before the committed date Have questions? Contact our Support Team!
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Swing Heroes FAQ
Swing Heroes FAQ IMPORTANT NOTICE: In the midst of COVID-19 (coronavirus), we understand that many of our school partners are taking the necessary measures to keep their children and staff safe.
Due to the extremely high number of school closures and the safety of the public, all Swing Hero assignments are canceled. If you had a Swing Hero commitment, it will no longer appear in your commitments tab. When Swing Hero assignments resume, you will automatically begin seeing new requests. As we continue to learn about more school closures, we will keep you updated with changes to the Swing Hero Program.
We empathize with your concerns around the impact of school closures on your families and communities. For additional information on these types of situations, please see our Coronavirus FAQs.How do I find Swing Heroes requests?
You can accept Swing Heroes requests by logging in to your Swing account. (They are not currently available via text message.) These requests are labeled “Swing Heroes” on our platform and have a “Swing Hero” banner.
Why do I only get certain assignment details in advance?
Swing Heroes requests are designed to address the growing challenge of last-minute teacher absences. When you accept a Swing Heroes assignment, you are accepting an on-call assignment for local schools in your area. This enables Swing to match you with nearby school sites that need a substitute teacher to cover a last-minute absence.
What does guaranteed minimum pay mean?
If you accept a Swing Heroes request, you will always earn at least the rate listed in the “guaranteed minimum pay” section. If the school you are matched with has a higher guaranteed minimum, you will be paid the higher of the two.
What is the Swing Heroes cancellation policy?
Swing Hero slots are intended to help lock in pay and secure the position in advance for days that are in high need. We understand things may come up or your schedule may change as the date nears. Cancellations that occur within 48 hours of your assigned date may affect your ability to continue subbing via Swing Heroes.
What if I can’t make it to the school on time?
Call the school administrator listed on the request as soon as you determine that you will be late. Let them know you just received the assignment, but that you're on your way. If you can't reach the administrator, call Swing’s support team and let us know. If you are marked late, contact us so that we can waive the penalty.
What if I don’t want to sub at a certain school?
Contact Swing’s support team here and let us know the names of any specific schools you’d like to avoid. We’ll then remove them from your account to ensure you don’t receive requests from them.
What if I’m not qualified to fill the request?
Particularly when faced with filling a last-minute teacher absence, schools generally prioritize finding someone who can follow the teacher's lesson plan and maintain a safe classroom environment. Teachers often leave lesson plans understanding that the substitute may not be an expert in their particular subject.
How many open Swing Heroes requests are available near me?
Each Wednesday, you’ll receive a text message that has information on open requests for the upcoming week. Or check for openings on our online platform any time.
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How do I know I'm signing up for a Swing Hero request?
How do I know I'm signing up for a Swing Hero request? IMPORTANT NOTICE: In the midst of COVID-19 (coronavirus), we understand that many of our school partners are taking the necessary measures to keep their children and staff safe.
Due to the extremely high number of school closures and the safety of the public, all Swing Hero assignments are canceled. If you had a Swing Hero commitment, it will no longer appear in your commitments tab. When Swing Hero assignments resume, you will automatically begin seeing new requests. As we continue to learn about more school closures, we will keep you updated with changes to the Swing Hero Program.
We empathize with your concerns around the impact of school closures on your families and communities. For additional information on these types of situations, please see our Coronavirus FAQs.Log on to your account to view open requests. Swing Hero requests have a yellow "Swing Hero" flag on the request. To see more information related the Swing Hero request, click "View Details". Click the "Sign up!" button to sign up for the request.
For questions, contact us here.
Substitute Status
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Substitute Teacher Code of Conduct
Substitute Teacher Code of Conduct Swing partners with schools that serve a wide diversity of students and communities across the United States and your hard work makes that possible. Swing has a responsibility to meet the needs of schools and also understands the challenges of substitute teaching.
We expect our subs to have the utmost professionalism when representing Swing on a school campus.
Professional= be on time, be respectful, be prepared!
Although the specific protocols and rules of schools can be different, this list of standard expectations will help you be successful in most situations across all schools:
- All communication will be professional and courteous with school staff- at all times.
- In the event that the school or you, as the sub, are not satisfied with your experience at any assignment for any reason, the school or the sub can request to be unlinked from each other.
- When a school requests to unlink a sub we strive to objectively provide you with any actionable feedback so you can reflect on and improve in your practice.
- We want our subs to succeed, so we are happy to keep working with subs if they indicate that they have a desire to continue growing as an educator and we find that they’re a good fit for other schools.
- There are some behaviors, however, which are considered safety concerns. Those behaviors are never acceptable at any school and can be grounds for immediate removal from the platform.
- We may also consider removing a substitute from the platform when we observe a pattern of unchanged negative behavior or if the sub’s response indicates that the sub is unable to adequately improve.
Expectations Regarding Safety Concerns
This section contains behaviors that are never acceptable at any school and can be grounds for removal from the Swing platform. They could also result in schools or parents pursuing legal actions.
We caution you to avoid the following behaviors to be successful at a school:
- Have any physical contact with a student or their belongings
- Have any interaction with a student or staff that can be considered lewd or sexual harassment
- Use inappropriate language (socially offensive/lewd) or verbally abuse a student, staff member, parent, or member of the public while on school property
- Comment on a student’s personal appearance/characteristics, identities, abilities, or known disability
- Have sole custody of a student in a private setting
- Leave students unattended or not actively monitoring the class (ex: sleeping, being engaged with electronic devices, ignoring safety issues)
- Leave the school grounds during school hours without notifying school administration
- Bring or show unauthorized movies (including but not limited to internet clips) or
photographs to the students - Transport students in a vehicle without authorization from the school
- Provide medication to a student
- Attempt to contact or be contacted by a student outside of the assignment
- Remove school property from school grounds or fail to return school property
- Share confidential information about a student or school employee with
non-relevant/third parties unless required by law (including but not limited to photographs, recordings, social media posts, or discussing a student's information - especially about a student’s disability or learning accommodations)
Expectations for Accepting Assignments
Reliability is extremely important to schools. By following these expectations you have the opportunity to earn Star Sub status.
- Complete all accepted assignments
- Use the Swing platform to cancel an assignment, if you are no longer able to meet the assignment requirements
- Avoid canceling any assignments less than 24 hours before the assignment start time
Expectations On the Day of an Assignment
First impressions matter, you may find yourself developing your network! Follow these expectations to make a great first impression.
Checking In:
- Arrive on time or earlier than the expected start time
- Contact the school immediately via phone if there is an emergency cancel or tardy
- Contact Swing Support (support@swingeducation.com) to explain the nature of the cancel or tardy. This also helps us confirm any appropriate changes to the assignment.
- Follow the school’s’ dress code
- Follow the school’s check-in procedures
- Be approachable, flexible, and ready to assist the school with their needs
- Communicate professionally with all school staff
- Do not use curse words or derogatory language
- Avoid discussing controversial or polarizing topics such as politics, religion, drugs, sexuality, etc
Before Class Starts:
- Read over lesson plans and prepare materials needed to execute the plans
- Familiarize yourself with the school’s behavior management policies and style
- Familiarize yourself with all school safety equipment, such as fire extinguishers or eye washes and protocols including but not limited to lockdown procedures, codewords, fire/earthquake/tornado procedures, and medical emergencies
- Make sure you know how to communicate with your point of contact while in the classroom
During Class:
When executing classroom duties:
- Never leave students unattended
- Make sure all students are accounted for by following procedures for attendance, hallway passes, and transitions
- Actively monitor students - do not use personal electronics, read, or sleep
- Follow the lesson plan and/or instructions provided by the school
- Commit to remain objective with students and the learning material, without bias or prejudice
- Communicate with staff if there is a safety concern in the classroom
- If you are working as substitute teacher’s aide or paraprofessional, follow the directions of the lead teacher
When interacting with students:
- State and uphold behavioral expectations so the class maintains a safe learning environment
- Treat all students with courtesy, kindness, and respect at all times
- Engage with students by answering their questions. Walk around the room and go to students
- Understand and respect the values and traditions of the diverse cultures represented in the community and in the classroom
- Avoid discussing controversial and polarizing topics including but not limited to: religion, race, politics, sex, drugs etc.
Passing Periods / Lunch / Planning Periods / Recess:
- Follow all hallway, transition, and dismissal procedures
- Only dismiss students at the bell or designated dismissal time
- Follow any break, lunch, planning period, or recess procedures and complete any student monitoring duties or administrative duties during these time periods
- Do not leave students unattended; wait until a qualified adult is present
- Ask permission, and inform staff if you need to leave campus
- Arrive at least 3 minutes early to assigned area after a break
- Take breaks / eat lunch in designated areas on campus
- Do not smoke cigarettes, use electronic cigarettes, or vaping on school grounds or near campus
End of Classes / Assignment:
Following these expectations will help you leave a good impression with the school. This can lead to you becoming one of their preferred subs in the future.
- Leave detailed notes for the teacher, avoiding judgemental or subjective language
- Collect all school work from students and make sure it is organized
- Follow all procedures for student dismissal
- Do not let students leave until the designated time for dismissal
- Leave the classroom as tidy as possible or in the same condition as it was upon arrival
- Make sure any technology or equipment is accounted for and properly stored/locked
- Ensure classroom is locked/secured
- Return all school property, including keys
- Follow all school check-out procedures
- Ensure school admin is aware that you are leaving campus
Featured Articles:
Check out the Swing Faculty Lounge for useful resources on how to make your first day successful, how to build classroom culture and how to become a StarSub.
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Leaving Swing
Leaving Swing If you can no longer sub with Swing:
We'll be sad to see you go! We thank you for your time with us and wish you the best in your next adventure!
- Email us here after you have completed all assignments and we will deactivate your account
- Your final payment(s), if applicable, will arrive as regularly scheduled.
If you ever want to come back, just email us here and we'll add you back!