Under the table

[farmerboy]

I have been working for a trucking company under the table for just over a year and would like to drive for a legal company again, but the problem is that they don't want to be identified on any applications. I don't want to get in trouble either so what should I do? What should I put on an application that I have been doing for the last year if they don't want me to list their company. I had 4 speeding tickets and they were the only ones that would hire me at the time and now my driving record is clean.

[ICS]

Thats a hard one. I had a little break between employers 2 months and i had a hard enough time explaining that.

[Sheepdancer]

You are most likely unhirable for most of the big companies. Especially right now when companies are being so picky.
I dont mean this rude or anything, Im just shooting straight. I recruit for 15 different companies, and I wouldnt waste my time trying to get you on any of them.

[dle]

Why did you have to work - 'under the table'?

[Rokk]

cant a person just 1099 the wages earned thus filing taxes on the wages you earned under the table.and forcefully put it back onto the company. thereby proving one worked for them.? just a thought. wouldnt a local state job service be able to help out in this manner.

take a picture of yourself holding truck keys by truck, with a dated newspaper in hand. or something

[greg3564]

Unless you have cancelled checks and some sort of logbooks, payroll sheets, etc. you would have a tough time even going to the labor board. The labor board is going to ask you why you agreed to work under the table too. You and your "employer" both willingly and knowingly broke the law. I'm afraid you're stuck on this one.

[kc0iv]

cant a person just 1099 the wages earned thus filing taxes on the wages you earned under the table.and forcefully put it back onto the company. thereby proving one worked for them.? just a thought. wouldnt a local state job service be able to help out in this manner.

take a picture of yourself holding truck keys by truck, with a dated newspaper in hand. or something

The company has to give an employee a 1099. You can't make one yourself.

kc0iv

[ICS]

I friend worked for a guy under the table once now that I think about it and the guy slow payed him and then took off. He went to the labor board and they said they might be able to get him some cash but it would probably only amount to minimum wage. Maybe you can say that you where under the assumption that you were considered an independent contractor, but then you will be responsible for the entire tax burden. Plus you would be screwing your past employer. Bottom line you shouldn't work under the table it is just not worth it. And this is coming from a guy that used to do it all the time. But that is the past, it is done so I guess the point is just dealing with the present. I am not sure if that independent contractor thing would work. but you might want to look into it.

[Skywalker]

cant a person just 1099 the wages earned thus filing taxes on the wages you earned under the table.and forcefully put it back onto the company. thereby proving one worked for them.? just a thought. wouldnt a local state job service be able to help out in this manner.

take a picture of yourself holding truck keys by truck, with a dated newspaper in hand. or something

There exists the possibility....that by going that route, he could trigger a sequence of events that are truly ugly. IRS audit, fines for failing to declare the income, interest on the taxes, the taxes, the full boat on 15+% of SS, fines on that, interest on that....and if the auditor is really ugly....possible jail time.

How would the IRS find out? The Labor Board people..... Oh, and if he lives in a state with state income tax....its really uglier in the long run.

Ever thought of moving to Canada or Mexico?

Working under the table...is truly not a good idea....unless its for a day or so.....

Yes, you can write your own 1099. You can buy them buy the bundle in any office supply store. But there's a serious trap there. Doing that is "fraud", and any reputable company is going to do a DAC check and possibly make a phone call or three....and when he's found out....oh well.

Did I mention Canada and Mexico.....

[golfhobo]

take a picture of yourself holding truck keys by truck, with a dated newspaper in hand. or something

PROOF OF LIFE???

[RR9501]

i have a freind of mine, O/O, who trained me for my CDL and i have worked for him a few times all under the table but he's my best friend and will vouch that i worked for him, but he never reported to DAC either. i did not even keep track 1099 but i also dont want to open a can of worms and get him in trouble either..
tho i'm about to go work for another O/O on a 1099 and he's willing to except my experience, so has any other trucking co. i worked for.

[Uturn2001]

i'm about to go work for another O/O on a 1099

Unless you have 100% control over when, where, and how you will work this is illegal. You are an employee.

[RR9501]

personally i've never filed 1099....dont really know how...never had to b4...

[thebaldeagle655]

Something else to remember that will come back and bite you in the butt in later years if you are working "under the table" or as a independent contractor, our Social Security Retirement is based on your earnings. If you are working under the table or on a 1099 and SSI is not taken out, you well may get to retirement age and realize that you have no income because you screwed the government all those years! If you are "under the table" or Contract, you are supposed to file a self-employment tax to offset this. Not sure how to do it? Contact your CPA or tax-professional for help.

Also, by filing the legal forms, you will have a record of your work history for future employers and won' t have to worry about IRS seizing your assets or at worst case, filing criminal charges and your having to serve JAIL TIME!

[BluHeeler]

If you took advantage of working in this situation, it would seem pretty low to then turn the employer in. Working under the table happens quite a bit, even though it's probably not a good idea, now you have to pay the price.

It's not illegal to work under the table, it's illegal for both you and the employer to not pay taxes.

When things appear to be too good to be true, they usually are.....think that may apply here.

[RR9501]

ok, i see ur point, but my best friend has been my "under the table" employer, and im certainly not turning him in, hes letting me use him for a reference and job history too...just irs doesnt know anything aboiut it...i dont exist...as i dont claim a single dime i make from him,,,and never will...

[HWD]

I have been working for a trucking company under the table for just over a year and would like to drive for a legal company again...

To a legitimate company, working "under the table" is like having never worked at all. All that "experience" you gained while knowingly and willfully working for someone who was purposefully evading tax and labor laws makes you not only inexperienced in the eyes of a legitimate company, it also makes you complicit in the act. If this guy ever gets pinched and rats you out, expect to be wearing jewelry.

What should I put on an application that I have been doing for the last year if they don't want me to list their company.

Put "I'm S.O.L".

I had 4 speeding tickets and they were the only ones that would hire me at the time and now my driving record is clean.

No wonder you've been "ridin' dirty" for a rouge outfit. I would hope you're not driving a CMV at all anymore.

[HWD]

ok, i see ur point, but my best friend has been my "under the table" employer, and im certainly not turning him in, hes letting me use him for a reference and job history too...just irs doesnt know anything aboiut it...i dont exist...as i dont claim a single dime i make from him,,,and never will...

Have one accident resulting in a lawsuit against you and you're "secret agent man" existence will come to an end. Hope you have tens of thousands stashed away for all the taxes and penalties you will be paying at that moment and in arrears

That's a pretty stupid thing to brag about, especially on a public internet forum.

[RR9501]

ok, i see ur point, but my best friend has been my "under the table" employer, and im certainly not turning him in, hes letting me use him for a reference and job history too...just irs doesnt know anything aboiut it...i dont exist...as i dont claim a single dime i make from him,,,and never will...

Have one accident resulting in a lawsuit against you and you're "secret agent man" existence will come to an end. Hope you have tens of thousands stashed away for all the taxes and penalties you will be paying at that moment and in arrears

That's a pretty stupid thing to brag about, especially on a public internet forum.

well hopefully you aint gonna turn me in, but i also never thought about it like that either...i mean im sure i'm not the first.....

[HWD]

ok, i see ur point, but my best friend has been my "under the table" employer, and im certainly not turning him in, hes letting me use him for a reference and job history too...just irs doesnt know anything aboiut it...i dont exist...as i dont claim a single dime i make from him,,,and never will...

Have one accident resulting in a lawsuit against you and you're "secret agent man" existence will come to an end. Hope you have tens of thousands stashed away for all the taxes and penalties you will be paying at that moment and in arrears

That's a pretty stupid thing to brag about, especially on a public internet forum.

well hopefully you aint gonna turn me in, but i also never thought about it like that either...i mean im sure i'm not the first.....

I don't know you, even if I did know you I would *not* turn you in. Although it's insulting to me as a taxpayer, you're grown and you know the risks inherent to the way you choose to "roll". I would suggest you keep it on the Q.T., though...