Payroll Software for Contractors and the Self-Employed: 6 Tools Compared by Tax Forms, Reach, and API

Short summary

A detailed comparison of six contractor payment tools (Gusto, OnPay, QuickBooks, Wise, 4dev.com, Deel) evaluated across tax form handling, cross-border payout reach, invoicing, and API automation. Highlights the 2026 change raising the 1099-NEC filing threshold from $600 to $2,000 and explains W-8BEN expiration tracking for foreign contractors. No single tool covers all axes; the right pick depends on which gap you actually need to fill.

• •1099-NEC filing threshold rose from $600 to $2,000 per contractor per year starting 2026
• •US-only tools file 1099s but stop at the border; cross-border tools (Wise, Deel) move money internationally
• •W-8BEN forms expire after three calendar years and must be tracked like certificate rotations

Generated with AI, which can make mistakes.