Money Under The Table?
Posted by Cap in Even More Ramblings |No-no? Who cares? Have you ever been paid under the table before?
To be honest I don’t really have an opinion on it, nor any experiences, as I have never been paid under the table before. An acquaintances asked me yesterday if I know of anyone looking for a job.
“Maybe, whats the job?”
“Just some shipping and packing. 10 AM to 7 PM. Legit $10 an hour, or $8 an hour cash.”
“Alrighty, I’ll ask around. Someone’s bound to want some easy work.”
And then I realized that I don’t really have an opinion about being paid under the table, at least—not for a job like that. I understand not being able to report every single income source, but what about being paid under the table for a “real” job? Hmm.
19 Comments to “Money Under The Table?”
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April 7th, 2006 at 6:21 am
My husband worked construction for years and was paid in cash and we declared it on our taxes, as self employed. Kept daily records of what he made and mileage driven in case the IRS did decide to question anything. Never had any problems with them.
April 7th, 2006 at 6:54 am
I think it is a bit dishonest. Plus you don’t pay into social security, disability and such. I think it will end up hurting you in the end.
Karma.
April 7th, 2006 at 8:07 am
I’m not sure if you are referring to me or the first post, but we filed our taxes legally. Lots of people who are paid cash under the table don’t file ourt of fear, but we did. Actually it was in our benefit to, Earned Income Credit etc. And yes, when you file as self employed, Social Security, etc, is taken out.
April 7th, 2006 at 8:50 am
We own multiple businesses and anytime some one mentions “cash job” it spins my stomach. I think the main reason people bring this into the equation is to hide something.
My husband and his father have been in business for over 28 years (construction). It does them no good to get paid cash. Maybe if you work work for someone else and are bringing in side cash but for the owners it is no good they make their money on the mark up without it they work for free.
“Cash Jobs” are another reason my children don’t receive child support. Their father is long gone with out a trace (per the d.a. & county), I believe thanks to the enablers of cash jobs.
April 7th, 2006 at 10:42 am
Actually the construction job he had where he got paid in cash was terrible. Made $10.50 an hour, but sometimes had to drive over 100 miles 1 way to work, pay for own gas, etc. No pay for driving time. He finally got it, when I showed him on paper, when you broke it down, that with his driving time not being paid for, plus gas, etc. that he was making $6.50 an hour!
The only one who benefited from the “paid in cash” system was his boss.
April 7th, 2006 at 11:36 am
I guess there’s two sides to it, but in the long run it’s not good for either the employer or the employee to avoid reporting these expenses/income. I doubt Leigh Ann was referring to you specifically Skye, as obviously in your case, you guys were on the losing end for being paid in cash.
There’s of course always the shady aspect, especially if it involves some work that you think should be documented. I was always thinking about long term economic impact (to the individual and beyond), but yeah another vague question, heh sorry. Just curious—what with tax season and all.
April 7th, 2006 at 12:22 pm
Talking to an UnderTheTable king here. I didn’t claim it as income, employer didn’t claim it as an expense. That’s how construction business is run.
April 7th, 2006 at 4:53 pm
The guy he worked for has been doing that for at least 20 years, and has never reported a DIME of it as income to the IRS. I’m glad WE won’t be around when the lightning strikes that guy! He hasn’t worked for him in almost 2 years.
April 7th, 2006 at 6:12 pm
hmm I guess that is how the construction business work. The IRS is the last agency I’ll want to screw with (or work at, or relate to, or have anything to do with).
April 7th, 2006 at 6:21 pm
Nah, THEY are smarter than the IRS. I wonder if those are famous last words?????
April 12th, 2006 at 4:37 am
Back when I worked for employers, I often wished I could do it that way, but could never find one willing to.
Now that I run my own business, I’m able to avoid most US taxes without breakng any laws. So…win/win. The money my clients pay isn’t taxable in the US, and I’m not risking prison to make it happen like I would be if I had an employer who paid me “under the table”. (Yeah…I’d have gladly risked prison for the option of not paying Uncle Scam. Glad I don’t have to anymore.)
April 13th, 2006 at 8:10 am
well, there’s a different perspective.
March 16th, 2009 at 1:09 pm
What if you are paid in cash and never recieve a payroll check showing what taxes were withheld?
March 16th, 2009 at 1:11 pm
What if you are being paid in cash and never receive a payroll check showing what taxes were being withheld?
May 8th, 2009 at 1:01 pm
I am sick of paying taxes to support the Obama National Socialist Party. This country is headed for true communisum and I refuse to be a part of it. I will never pay another dollar of tax again.
June 11th, 2009 at 11:01 am
For the half of the population that actually pays federal income tax, your burden will only increase due to the spending of Obama and both parties. I feel that it is immoral for our government to such money out of the producers to give to those who dont produce or those who “are too big to fail”. Try to get paid in cash when you can, and pay your bills in cash. Save as much as you can, because the government is broke and will not provide for you. The only solution to this mess is a national sales tax and the abolishment of the damn IRS.
January 12th, 2010 at 12:52 pm
I’m honestly unsure of how to file, I have no W-2, but I am reporting the amount I made, (certainly not enough for the government to deem worth of investigation). Does it matter if you have a W-2 if you say you are self employed?
April 20th, 2011 at 7:13 pm
you notice, comments from 2008 to 2009 change? People got more sick of government control and being ripped off.
It’s all collapsing anyway so pretty soon, you’ll be getting paid in krugerrands if you’re very very lucky. Ah the sweet smell of starvation.
I for one am running a cash business. I’ll stop taking dollars soon and invoicing in silver or other real money. You’ll see more and more of this.
freestateproject.org