Employment Tax Schemes – A Way to Save Money and Land in Prison

BBB encourages business owners to be intimately involved in tax filing and payment processes – including knowing all of the details if a third-party is handling the process on behalf of the business.

Also, BBB is advising businesses to be aware of six common ways companies have gotten into hot water for employment tax non-compliance. 

Hiring unreliable third-party payers
Most payroll service providers and professional employer organizations provide upstanding service. But there are some less-than-reputable third-party payers who fail to pay the collected taxes to the IRS. Employers should check with BBB (www.bbb.org) to find a trustworthy third-party payer, and once hired, regularly verify that payments are being made on their behalf.

Believing frivolous arguments
Unscrupulous promoters use misleading arguments to encourage businesses to avoid paying employment taxes. Don’t fall victim to incorrect interpretations of tax laws or the improper use of Form 941c to attempt to secure a refund of previously-paid employment taxes.

Offshore employee leasing schemes
Don’t do business with shady promoters affiliated with offshore companies who misuse the otherwise legal business practice of employee leasing. Consult with reputable legal and tax experts before entering into employee leasing arrangements.

Misclassifying worker status
Don’t be tempted to incorrectly treat employees as independent contractors to avoid paying employment taxes. If the employer has the right to control what work will be done and how it will be done, the worker is an employee.

Paying employees in cash
There is nothing wrong with compensating an employee in cash, as long as the business recognizes that employment taxes are owed regardless of how the employee is paid.

Filing false payroll tax returns
Preparing false payroll tax returns or understating the amount of wages on which taxes are owed is illegal.