Tax Related Query - Part-time Job

[py_mission]

Hi there,

I've got a question that's been nagging me for a few days now and thought I'd ask here.

I worked a couple of odd part time jobs while in university. While filling out the Schedule A form, I realized that one of the jobs never gave me a T4 or pay stubs. The owner paid in cash, and I worked there for less than a month since it was an occasional job just on weekends. I've already mentioned this job in my study permit and PG work permit, since I didn't want to omit anything and be blamed with misrepresentation on a later date.

I never thought about it until now since the total amount paid to me was less than $200, so I never bothered or thought much about it. I have filed my taxes for that year already, but I can always make an amendment to line 104 and declare this as Other Employment Income. Do you all think this is a good idea? The reason I bring this up now is because I don't want my file to have any red flags, so I'd rather sort out these issues beforehand.

Will be seeing a tax accountant tomorrow, but until then I appreciate any feedback I can get!

 

[KBH]

Hi there,

I've got a question that's been nagging me for a few days now and thought I'd ask here.

I worked a couple of odd part time jobs while in university. While filling out the Schedule A form, I realized that one of the jobs never gave me a T4 or pay stubs. The owner paid in cash, and I worked there for less than a month since it was an occasional job just on weekends. I've already mentioned this job in my study permit and PG work permit, since I didn't want to omit anything and be blamed with misrepresentation on a later date.

I never thought about it until now since the total amount paid to me was less than $200, so I never bothered or thought much about it. I have filed my taxes for that year already, but I can always make an amendment to line 104 and declare this as Other Employment Income. Do you all think this is a good idea? The reason I bring this up now is because I don't want my file to have any red flags, so I'd rather sort out these issues beforehand.

Will be seeing a tax accountant tomorrow, but until then I appreciate any feedback I can get!

They don't look at your taxes when deciding if you are admissible (and certainly not at that level of detail). While it may be something you decide to sort out, it won't have an impact on your application.

 

[canuck_in_uk]

Hi there,

I've got a question that's been nagging me for a few days now and thought I'd ask here.

I worked a couple of odd part time jobs while in university. While filling out the Schedule A form, I realized that one of the jobs never gave me a T4 or pay stubs. The owner paid in cash, and I worked there for less than a month since it was an occasional job just on weekends. I've already mentioned this job in my study permit and PG work permit, since I didn't want to omit anything and be blamed with misrepresentation on a later date.

I never thought about it until now since the total amount paid to me was less than $200, so I never bothered or thought much about it. I have filed my taxes for that year already, but I can always make an amendment to line 104 and declare this as Other Employment Income. Do you all think this is a good idea? The reason I bring this up now is because I don't want my file to have any red flags, so I'd rather sort out these issues beforehand.

Will be seeing a tax accountant tomorrow, but until then I appreciate any feedback I can get!

Hi

As you were legally allowed to work while studying (I'm assuming you weren't going over the 20 hour/week limit), there is no issue immigration wise. IRCC doesn't even have any way of knowing that the work was under the table unless you actually tell them.

IRCC is concerned with people working in Canada without authorization, which you didn't do. It is CRA that is concerned with people working under the table, which you did do. That said, for $200 of income, CRA won't really care. To cover yourself with CRA, you can file the amendment and declare the income.

I don't see any need to spend your money on a tax accountant. It is very simple to amend your taxes yourself and it won't cause any issues.

 

[py_mission]

They don't look at your taxes when deciding if you are admissible (and certainly not at that level of detail). While it may be something you decide to sort out, it won't have an impact on your application.

Thanks for your reply, KBH! That puts my mind at ease. I'll definitely sort the issue out with CRA.

 

[py_mission]

Hi

As you were legally allowed to work while studying (I'm assuming you weren't going over the 20 hour/week limit), there is no issue immigration wise. IRCC doesn't even have any way of knowing that the work was under the table unless you actually tell them.

IRCC is concerned with people working in Canada without authorization, which you didn't do. It is CRA that is concerned with people working under the table, which you did do. That said, for $200 of income, CRA won't really care. To cover yourself with CRA, you can file the amendment and declare the income.

I don't see any need to spend your money on a tax accountant. It is very simple to amend your taxes yourself and it won't cause any issues.

Hi Canuck, thanks for your detailed reply! I wasn't working more than 5-7 hours a week, so surely didn't break any laws. I thought this would show up on my background verification/check as not having a T4 for this job, which is why I was worried. But your reply is definitely reassuring.

The employer took down all my information, like SIN, address, etc. but then he offered to pay in cash so I didn't think much of it. Checked online and didn't see a T4, then called him up recently asking for the T4 and he refused to give one saying there is no need to file tax cause the amount was too small.

What's been bothering me is, that would this be legally considered tax evasion on my part? And by fixing my return and declaring this money now, will I be clear of any wrongdoing? This is why I wanted to go see a tax accountant, to clear out some of these issues.

Again, thanks for your help Canuck!

 

[canuck_in_uk]

Hi Canuck, thanks for your detailed reply! I wasn't working more than 5-7 hours a week, so surely didn't break any laws. I thought this would show up on my background verification/check as not having a T4 for this job, which is why I was worried. But your reply is definitely reassuring.

The employer took down all my information, like SIN, address, etc. but then he offered to pay in cash so I didn't think much of it. Checked online and didn't see a T4, then called him up recently asking for the T4 and he refused to give one saying there is no need to file tax cause the amount was too small.

What's been bothering me is, that would this be legally considered tax evasion on my part? And by fixing my return and declaring this money now, will I be clear of any wrongdoing? This is why I wanted to go see a tax accountant, to clear out some of these issues.

Again, thanks for your help Canuck!

Technically, it was tax evasion, as it was also your responsibility to ensure you were being paid legally and to declare the income even if you didn't get a T4. However, it is such an incredibly small amount that CRA really wouldn't take action anyways. They offer a great deal of leniency for people to voluntarily declare previously undeclared income, so this isn't going to cause you issues.

Honestly, it is nothing to stress about in terms of immigration or the taxman.