Salary under the table

[AdamP88]

Obviously your family comes first, but it is also our obligation as Catholics to pay our just taxes.
Also, are you sure this won’t come back on you in the future?

If it’s just the case that many businesses act dishonestly in Brazil and there’s nothing you can really do about that, then I would consider donating a bit extra to your local Church instead.

 

[farronwolf]

I certainly hope you aren’t speaking of what is deductible for US taxpayers, because much of what you stated is completely wrong regarding business deductions.

A quick review of Brazil’s tax structure tells me that the employer is supposed to withhold and remit taxes from the employee at a set rate.

However, there are options for people who work for themselves (self employed), to calculate and pay taxes monthly on their earnings minus allowable deductions.

So in a quick review, there are differences, but the basic outline for taxation in Brazil is similar to here in the US. OP, please seek the advice of a tax professional in your country. There is a way for you to pay your taxes correctly, without getting your employer in any hot water if you really have a desire to do so.

If you are simply looking for someone else to validate your position that your not paying taxes is ok, others might, but, that person isn’t me.

And yes, I am a tax professional, I didn’t just stay at a Holiday Inn last night.

 

[Annie]

Never mind…

 

[phil19034]

Hello. I would like to know if there is a (grave?) sin when someone receives its salary under the table, without the due taxes being properly collected

This is a little bit complex.

I would argue that you can accept payment “under the table” as long as you are claiming the income on your annual tax return.

I don’t think you are responsible for whether the employer properly pays his/her taxes or not. HOWEVER, if the employer specifically tells you that he/she is paying you that way in order to fraud the govt, you should look for another job - as you would be potentially complicit.

I hope I’m making sense. Anyone disagree?

 

[OKComputer]

Also, are you sure this won’t come back on you in the future?

That’s what I was thinking. It might not be sinful, it might be sinful. But it’s a bad idea. If your boss gets busted for something, you might be implicated in his dirty laundry,

 

[phil19034]

The only job I could find was selling dope to others. I did not want to sell dope, but I needed the money to feed my family.

Working “under the table” and selling dope are NOT the same thing. They are NOT morally comparable.

 

[farronwolf]

imo:

Hello. I would like to know if there is a (grave?) sin when someone receives its salary under the table, without the due taxes being properly collected

This is a little bit complex.

I would argue that you can accept payment “under the table” as long as you are claiming the income on your annual tax return.

I don’t think you are responsible for whether the employer properly pays his/her taxes or not. HOWEVER, if the employer specifically tells you that he/she is paying you that way in order to fraud the govt, you should look for another job - as you would be potentially complicit.

I hope I’m making sense. Anyone disagree?

Agree.

One thing the OP might keep in mind as well. By my understanding Brazil has a system similar to our Social Security. In our system, if nothing is being paid in, you get no credit for when you retire. Additionally, if you don’t pay into our system for 5 consecutive years, you no longer qualify for disability benefits until you have 5 of the last 10 years credit.

Folks don’t think about the long term usually, they simply enjoy the savings currently.

Sort of like sins. Enjoy the present, but may be costly in the future.

 

[John10]

Then Jesus said to them, “Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.”

It is a moral duty of all citizens to pay their due taxes. I wouldn’t want the company to give me a full paycheck with no taxes deducted, in many countries you could end up in jail.

Having said that, I cannot comment on the specific case of Brazil as I do not know how things work there. However I would do all I could to pay the taxes that I owe.

 

[MamaJewel]

Generally speaking, employers that pay under the table aren’t reputable. I would try to find a job that documents everything.

This^^

I’m not familiar with Brazilian law, but in the US, when a worker is injured on the job, that worker draws a percentage of their employment income.

I had a family member that was receiving pay under the table for roofing work. Roofing is considered a more dangerous line of work and contractors pay higher amounts insurance protection.

I explained to my relative that he didn’t want to be claiming less pay and receiving public entitlement programs, because if he were to be injured, he would receive a portion of the claimed lower income as workman’s compensation.

He argued that he was getting a better deal with the under the table pay and fell off of a roof 3 months later. He had some permanent injuries and ended up having to pay back taxes on the previous unclaimed income in order to get a settlement for his injuries. He was given a significantly lower settlement amount and on top of that, he received lower workman’s compensation checks because he had initially claimed lower wages that were being supplemented by under the table pay. Oh, and his family had to pay back the state assistance they received when claiming lower monthly income.

Please speak to a lawyer or tax advisor (not that you have to report your company) to see how you can legally claim your full pay. It’s good when you can show your true wages because it helps to keep you from future exploitation if an issue does arise.

 

[poche]

I think that the morality would depend on the situation that we find ourselves in. Is this in reference to the situation in Brazil?