Anonymous wrote:OP here. First, thanks for responding!

I doubt that she will want to go through the hassle of taxes for only 4 hours. My biggest concern would be that she'll want to claim that money come tax time. I will talk to her about it and walk her through both options.

I read somewhere that if you make $1,700 from a particular family (obviously not total annual income), then you need to pay taxes. I will read up on it as I'm not really sure.

To the person with the incredible wisdom of take what they are offering or don't, some of us are skilled enough to set our own rates. I did not apply for a position, but was approached when out with my charges. I will tell her my rates to take the position and she can choose to hire me or not.

I highly doubt you are skilled, since you want to be paid off the books.

Anonymous wrote:I don't even think taxes need to be withheld because it's under 4 hours/week which is very low. There's a certain amount that needs to be made per month (atleast where I live, in Northeast US) in order for taxes to be taken out. FOr example; making over $600/month. I don't no how it is in DC but i'm assuming it's the same. Google.

The deal is if you earn more than $1800/year or something else (I can't remember what) in a quarter (possibly around $1000), then it needs to be done with taxes taken out. To legally not have taxes taken out with a 4 hour per week position, it would have to be $8.65/hr (assuming a full 52 weeks a year, or a bit more if fewer weeks). Since no one is likely to work for just 4 hours a week at that rate, you will likely never find someone that is willing to do it for that rate and lose some to taxes.

So that type of position will always end up being under the table, no matter who likes it or not. I know homeless people that would rather sit and spare change and make more than that an hour and could do it for more hours each week (and then not have employer taxes).

OP here. First, thanks for responding!

I doubt that she will want to go through the hassle of taxes for only 4 hours. My biggest concern would be that she'll want to claim that money come tax time. I will talk to her about it and walk her through both options.

I read somewhere that if you make $1,700 from a particular family (obviously not total annual income), then you need to pay taxes. I will read up on it as I'm not really sure.

To the person with the incredible wisdom of take what they are offering or don't, some of us are skilled enough to set our own rates. I did not apply for a position, but was approached when out with my charges. I will tell her my rates to take the position and she can choose to hire me or not.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why not just ask if she is planning to pay on the books. I bet her answer is "no." Most people are reluctant to jump through all the payroll/tax/paperwork hoops over 4 hours a week ... even though they should.

I couldn't disagree more.

Why would anyone take the time to do payroll, taxes, etc. over a four hour a week position??!

That's just nuts.

+1