Newspapers that are using greater numbers of freelance journalists in an attempt to reduce payroll budgets may be forced by the IRS to pay taxes on such independent contractors. However, laws regarding the taxation of independent contractors are vague. The IRS has constructed its own set of criteria to determine the employee status of such people in the absence of legislation from Congress. Freelancers can sometimes convince the IRS of their employee status and thereby save 50% on their social security tax. However, the IRS has also exempted some newspapers leaving freelancers in a tax bind.