First, I'll apologize in advace to the OP for this thread being jacked. Certainly, the OP deserves relevant answers to the questions asked based upon the actual information given, sans accusations based upon speculation and perhaps the personal experiences & projections of other members.
usmc58555,
It is nothing other than judgment, lacking in evidence no less, when you make accusations of criminal activity based upon circumstantial evidence that you've interpreted from an unqualified comment. Unless the OP decides to offer clarification, you are unaware of the circumstances with regard to his or her tax filings or lackthereof. You don't know. Just as you make assumptions about the way people live, and how they ought to live based upon your ideas of money management and your personal experiences, you've jumped to a hasty conclusion that you are unqualified to make about the OP.
Before jumping to conclusions based upon what you imagine is the case, why not ask for clarification first? I don't find fault with you pointing out that an *established* activity is illegal. I find fault with your baseless accusations that are grounded in bias rather than fact.
Eager2Learn,
Just as I stated previously, there are a number of circumstances (all legal and legitimate) that MIGHT qualify that statement. There is also the possibility of tax evasion. The statement didn't offer the information necesary for any of us (unless we are personally privy to the OPs financial books) to determine. What anyone of us think that the OP meant is just speculation, until/unless the OP comes back to tell us.
It's easy enough to believe, because it is common practice, that the statement is a dead ringer for not reporting or under reporting income from tips. The assumption, however, and any argument based upon it is a philosophical fallacy-- a flawed argument founded in illogical bias. "Because a lot of people do it" shades the view of vague statements like "I clear $1200 a month but make about another $600 week in tips.. Can't prove it but have bank statements showing big deposits everyweek..." The problem is that the OP doesn't qualify "can't prove it". Does "can't prove it" mean that it's cash under the table? Does "can't prove it" mean that the OP has an incomplete understanding of income and tax reporting & finance-- perhaps thinking that big banks and finance companies won't consider tips? Does "can't prove it mean that the OP keeps a legal and legitimate log, but his employer is behind in their reporting resulting in quarterly or annual adjusted income declaration? Does "can't prove it" mean that the OP hasn't been collecting tips long enough to have reported the income? Does it possibly mean something else that makes sense to the OP, but the language used sent us down a totally different path?
I agree with you that as responsible citizens we should offer advice that is in keeping with legality and ethics. I'd add, however, that we also have the responsibility of dispensing advice that is relevant to the inquiry, and free of harmful accusations that may not reflect reality. We have the responsibility of being respectful, kind, and supportive in these forums.
