I haven’t run this Bozo Tax Tip in a few years, but it reared its head again just a couple of weeks ago (as you read this). A new client came into my office for the preparation of his tax return. Everything went smoothly, and an hour or so later his returns were complete and electronically filed, he had his copies of the returns, and the Bozo festivities (unknowingly to me) were about to begin.
He asked me if I’d take cash. “Sure,” I replied.
The client then handed me an amount exactly 10% less than the amount of the invoice. “This way you don’t have to report it—after all, it’s cash so there won’t be any record.”
“Cash income is just as taxable as any other source,” I replied. “I’m ethical, and I report all my income.”
“Oh, come on,” he replied. “When I was self-employed everyone did that.” Thankfully, my client is currently not self-employed.
“Well, that’s a good way to get in trouble. That’s called tax evasion. I don’t need to get myself involved in that, and neither does anyone else today.” I pointed out to my client the number of business owners who have done what he thought was ‘normal’ who are now residing in ClubFed. It’s amazing how many owners of Gentlemen’s Clubs (which are definitely cash businesses) get in trouble, thinking that they only have to report some of the income.
My client, after some prodding, came up with the other ten percent of the fees, and he ended up (hopefully) a little wiser. You needn’t worry about this: Just report all of your income on your tax return. But if you want to live on the Bozo side of life, skip reporting the cash…until one day you find out that really was a Bozo move.
Tags: BozoTaxTips