The contractor object

When including contractors in payroll, Check will automatically file all associated 1099 forms.

{
    "id": "ctr_CyQIKSp6YvU6mBe2a6iq",
    "type": "individual",
    "company": "com_EkIJ9RewumnQLODHv1vl",
    "workplaces": [
        "wrk_ZquJLY48hvpLDSTT6JBn"
    ],
    "primary_workplace": "wrk_ZquJLY48hvpLDSTT6JBn",
    "first_name": "Bruce",
    "middle_name": "Frederick Joseph",
    "last_name": "Springsteen",
    "business_name": null,
    "dob": "1970-05-29",
    "start_date": "2019-03-01",
    "termination_date": null,
    "email": "[email protected]",
    "bank_accounts": ["bnk_rLXONRICxgyyeUaS16"],
    "ssn_last_four": "0000",
    "ssn_validation_status": "validated",
    "ein": null,
    "default_net_pay_split": "nps_lk218jk9082mjkjljT1c",
    "payment_method_preference": null,
    "onboard": {
        "status": "needs_attention",
        "blocking_steps": [],
        "remaining_steps": [
            "payment_method"
        ],
        "payment_method": [
            "payment_method_preference_set",
            "bank_account_exists",
            "bank_account_verified",
        ],
    },
    "address": {
        "line1": "913 Ocean Ave",
        "line2": null,
        "city": "Asbury Park",
        "state": "NJ",
        "postal_code": "07712",
        "country": "US"
    },
    "mailing_address": null,
    "1099_nec_electronic_consent_provided": false,
  	"metadata": {}
}

Attribute	Description
`id` string	Unique identifier for the contractor.
`type` string	`individual` if the contractor is a person. `business` if not a person.
`company` string	ID of the company the contractor performs work for.
`workplaces` array of strings	IDs of workplaces where the contractor works.
`primary_workplace` string	ID of the contractor's primary workplace.
`first_name` string	Contractor's first name. If contractor `type` is `business`, a primary contact is needed for 1099 filing so use the first name of the business's primary contact.
`middle_name` string	Contractor's middle name. If contractor `type` is `business`, a primary contact is needed for 1099 filing so use the middle name of the business's primary contact, if it exists.
`last_name` string	Contractor's last name. If contractor `type` is `business`, a primary contact is needed for 1099 filing so use the last name of the business's primary contact.
`business_name` string	Contractor's business name if they are a business entity.
`dob` YYYY-MM-DD	Contractor's date of birth.
`start_date` YYYY-MM-DD	Most recent start date of contract. To cancel a contractor who never started, see Start and termination dates.
`termination_date` YYYY-MM-DD	Most recent termination date of contract. Must be null, or on or after `start_date`, which must be set. To rehire, send `termination_date: null` with the new `start_date`. See Start and termination dates.
`email` string	Contractor's email address.
`bank_accounts` array of strings	Read only. An array of bank account IDs.
`ssn_last_four` string	The last four digits of the contractor’s SSN.
`ssn_validation_status` string	The validation status of the contractor's SSN. Either `pending` indicating validation in progress, `validated` indicating the SSN passes our validation criteria, or `invalid` indicating the SSN is not valid. For more details see SSN Validation .
`ein` string	Contractor's Employer Identification Number.
`default_net_pay_split` string	ID of the net pay split currently active on the contractor.
`onboard` object	Structured information about the onboard status of the contractor.
`address` object	Legal address of contractor on file with the federal government. If the contractor has a `type` of `business`, then you should use the address of the business.
`mailing_address` object	Mailing address for paper correspondence. Separate from the contractor's legal address and not used for tax calculations. Pass null to clear.
`payment_method_preference` string	Either `manual` or `direct_deposit` if the contractor has a linked bank account.
`1099_nec_electronic_consent_provided` boolean	Indicates whether the contractor has opted into electronic delivery of Copy B of 1099-NEC.
`metadata` object	Additional loosely structured information to associate with the contractor.

Start and termination dates

Starting November 19, 2026, Check enforces these rules on every API version. They apply to Create a contractor, including bulk create, and Update a contractor whenever the request sends start_date or termination_date. A request that sends neither date is not checked against them.

A termination date can't be earlier than the start date. The request returns a 400 error on termination_date with the message "Termination date cannot be earlier than the start date.", and nothing in the request is saved. A termination_date on or after the start_date is valid, including a date in the future.
To rehire a contractor, clear the old termination date. Send the new start_date with termination_date: null in the same request. If a request moves start_date past the existing termination_date without clearing it, it returns a 400 error on termination_date with the message "To rehire, send termination_date: null with the new start date."

{
    "start_date": "2026-03-02",
    "termination_date": null
}

Before November 19, 2026, Check accepts a termination_date earlier than the start_date with a success response but saves termination_date as null, even when the contractor already had a valid termination date. A request that moves start_date past the existing termination_date also clears it.

To cancel a contractor who never started, send start_date: null. If the contractor has a termination_date, also send termination_date: null, because a termination date requires a start date. This works before and after November 19, 2026.