Working "under the table"

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Thanks to everyone who responded to my last post, especially for the prayers. We are still in the very early stages of working with a counselor, God willing all will be well soon.

This is actually a completely different subject… A discussion came up today about people who have small home businesses i.e. catering, house cleaning, tutors, music lessons etc… Is there a moral problem here?
Is working under the table for cash only and not paying taxes morally wrong? Anyone?
 
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mks:
Thanks to everyone who responded to my last post, especially for the prayers. We are still in the very early stages of working with a counselor, God willing all will be well soon.

This is actually a completely different subject… A discussion came up today about people who have small home businesses i.e. catering, house cleaning, tutors, music lessons etc… Is there a moral problem here?
Is working under the table for cash only and not paying taxes morally wrong? Anyone?
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If tax is payable and it is not being paid then I would think this is a mortal sin (7th Commandment - You shall not steal).
 
Peace be with you

Give to the world what is the world’s and give to God what is God’s.

Make all your intrest the intrest of Christ and He will interm make His interst yours.
In other words do as jesus intends for your fellow man and you will forget about your own intentions and He will provide for all your needs better than you can. Hard to put into words and even harder to put into action, but with years of practice it get easier.
Ron
 
Hello mks,

If you spent trillions of dollars on roads, fire departments, police, schools, parks, protection from foreign invaders etc. but everyone using your services cheated you out of paying for your services, would you be a little upset? I Think So!
 
I think you do what you got to do.None of those jobs you mentioned seemed like there was enough money for employer or employee to pay taxes.
 
I would also assume there are laws (tax-related) as to how much you can earn before you have to pay taxes at all.

So, if this is more of a hobby, then you most likely wouldn’t even be required to pay tax (but I live in Canada so I’m sure the law varies). But if this is a business then I think you would be morally obligated to pay tax.

We are morally obligated to obey the just laws of our world. So, I’m sure with a little research, you can dig up the law for your area and know what is right.

Now, a little question of my own (I hope no one minds)…if you know of someone who is breaking the law what are your moral obligations?

Malia
 
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mks:
Is working under the table for cash only and not paying taxes morally wrong? Anyone?
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yes, so is employing household help and not paying their social security, so is cheating on your taxes, so is setting up a spurious business in order to deduct ordinary living expenses as business expenses, so is getting a mail order or internet ordination and establishing your own religion to duck paying taxes (a college friend actually invited me to a seminar billed as “financial planning” that turned out to be this dodge).
 
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thistle:
If tax is payable and it is not being paid then I would think this is a mortal sin (7th Commandment - You shall not steal).
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When you check out some of the wages that people earn in the government (for example $70,000 /year for a driver for the mayor)you wonder who is stealing. :confused:
 
Feanaro's Wife:
I would also assume there are laws (tax-related) as to how much you can earn before you have to pay taxes at all.

So, if this is more of a hobby, then you most likely wouldn’t even be required to pay tax (but I live in Canada so I’m sure the law varies). But if this is a business then I think you would be morally obligated to pay tax.

We are morally obligated to obey the just laws of our world. So, I’m sure with a little research, you can dig up the law for your area and know what is right.

Now, a little question of my own (I hope no one minds)…if you know of someone who is breaking the law what are your moral obligations?

Malia
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I think you should tell the person who is wrong that they might be making a sin, but I don’t think you are supposed to blow the whistle. Just my opinion.
 
Rebecca New:
When you check out some of the wages that people earn in the government (for example $70,000 /year for a driver for the mayor)you wonder who is stealing. :confused:
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So true, so true:hmmm:
 
I think it depends on the circumstance as to whether it’s a sin or not.

My mother is a single, 66 yrs. old, living on social security. She lives in a very modest government assisted living facility for seniors. She works about 6 hours a week sitting with an invalid woman - keeping her company, fixing her lunch etc so the regular caregiver can have a break. My Mom is paid $10.00 an hour. She does not pay tax nor does she report this money to social security. This little bit of money she spends on haircuts, small birthday gifts for her grandchildren and an occasional lunch out with her friends. Plus she gives a portion to the Church.

Do I think she’s sinning? No way.
 
carol marie:
I think it depends on the circumstance as to whether it’s a sin or not.

My mother is a single, 66 yrs. old, living on social security. She lives in a very modest government assisted living facility for seniors. She works about 6 hours a week sitting with an invalid woman - keeping her company, fixing her lunch etc so the regular caregiver can have a break. My Mom is paid $10.00 an hour. She does not pay tax nor does she report this money to social security. This little bit of money she spends on haircuts, small birthday gifts for her grandchildren and an occasional lunch out with her friends. Plus she gives a portion to the Church.

Do I think she’s sinning? No way.
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She should probably be reporting that income, but I doubt that she would have to pay any taxes on that amount of money.
 
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Prometheum_x:
She should probably be reporting that income, but I doubt that she would have to pay any taxes on that amount of money.
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The sad thing is that if she reported that income she could be no longer deemed eligible for her housing. I do not think under these conditions that she should be penalized for what she is doing.
Under the circumstances I would look at it more as a gift from the family that she is helping.
 
carol marie:
I think it depends on the circumstance as to whether it’s a sin or not.

My mother is a single, 66 yrs. old, living on social security. She lives in a very modest government assisted living facility for seniors. She works about 6 hours a week sitting with an invalid woman - keeping her company, fixing her lunch etc so the regular caregiver can have a break. My Mom is paid $10.00 an hour. She does not pay tax nor does she report this money to social security. This little bit of money she spends on haircuts, small birthday gifts for her grandchildren and an occasional lunch out with her friends. Plus she gives a portion to the Church.

Do I think she’s sinning? No way.
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If she was my Mom I tell her DON’T report it. My dad worked for a few years after recieving SS and they made him pay back a portion because he earned to much, (when he retired he worked part-time a school bus driver, not exactly a high paying job, but he needed to because he had two years left on the Mortage to pay.) how’s that for a kick in the pants.
 
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kaymart:
If she was my Mom I tell her DON’T report it. My dad worked for a few years after recieving SS and they made him pay back a portion because he earned to much, (when he retired he worked part-time a school bus driver, not exactly a high paying job, but he needed to because he had two years left on the Mortage to pay.) how’s that for a kick in the pants.
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She’s scared to death to report it. We told her don’t even think about it. She had to wait for an available spot in the facility she’s living in… she also gets reduced phone & free electricity/heat. She would never be able to pay for those things… she was poor her whole life… barely making ends meet (but never rec’d a dime from the goverment before - she was working poor) For the first time in her life at 66 she doesn’t have to worry about making the rent and there’s no way we want to mess that up. Her SS check is small… she wouldn’t have any $ for any extras at all so we’re happy that at her age she’s STILL trying to be resourceful & independent by working just a few hours a week.

With all the people who cheat on their taxes - right on up to the big corporations… I’m not losing sleep over senior citizens who continue to have to work - under the table or otherwise.
 
I can’t begin to understand the significance of the situation, so I won’t make any claim to that . . . I just hope that I don’t ever have to be in that situation. It really raises the question of how much of an obligation we have to obey the laws of the country, and under what circumstances we are free (or expected) to not follow them.
 
carol marie:
She’s scared to death to report it. We told her don’t even think about it. She had to wait for an available spot in the facility she’s living in… she also gets reduced phone & free electricity/heat. She would never be able to pay for those things… she was poor her whole life… barely making ends meet (but never rec’d a dime from the goverment before - she was working poor) For the first time in her life at 66 she doesn’t have to worry about making the rent and there’s no way we want to mess that up. Her SS check is small… she wouldn’t have any $ for any extras at all so we’re happy that at her age she’s STILL trying to be resourceful & independent by working just a few hours a week.

With all the people who cheat on their taxes - right on up to the big corporations… I’m not losing sleep over senior citizens who continue to have to work - under the table or otherwise.
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Carol, your Mom sounds like a remarkable woman God Bless her.
 
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