Is it moral to not report all of your tips for taxes if you are a waiter/waitress?

[PaulConventionWV]

This just crossed my mind. I'm not working as a waiter, but I have considered it. If you see your tip lying on a table, it seems like nobody would know if you acted like half of it wasn't there and just stuffed it in your pocket. Of course, I don't think anyone's going to believe you if you report 0 tips.

The question is, is it moral to lie if the IRS shouldn't have the money anyway? Most people will scoff at this question, but others I know would also have questions about this. I have a firm conviction against lying, but I'm not sure how this could even be considered that since it is to protect your rightful earnings.

 

[phill4paul]

I don't have a problem with not reporting. I consider tips to be gifts. If some one gives me a $20 in a birthday card should I report that?
Granted that is not as the laws are written. But, then, I don't believe most laws are written from a moralistic standard.

 

[WilliamC]

Hell yes its moral to keep your money from the IRS, it doesn't belong to them!

If you don't you are guilty of deliberately feeding the beast.

Just keep yourself off their radar as much as possible, period.

 

[angelatc]

The IRS automatically taxes servers on their tickets. So the question becomes whether its moral to not report tips that exceed the amount ( IIRC 8%) that the IRS assumed you got.

My answer: Depends if you're a Libertarian. As long as you're voting to tax other people, it's immoral for you not to pay the amount that those other people have decided is your fair share.

 

[KMX]

I have been a bartender/sever for many years. I NEVER report all my tips and here is why.

They are taking enough money from me already.
I get paid 2.13 an hour plus tips. Some people don't understand that. Some think I get $8 an hour or something.
When I bartend I get $5.50 plus tips but still I don't get paid min wage.

Ron Paul is trying to pass a bill that will allow ALL tips to be kept in pocket and 0% tax on tips. LOVE IT! Keep the fruits of your labor!

 

[ghengis86]

Is extortion moral? No, so not complying is moral.

If I put a gun to your head and demand money, is that moral? If you refuse, is that immoral (maybe it's not smart since I lay claim to your life if you do not comply, but certainly not immoral)?

 

[Liberty74]

It's technically against the law but the law itself is immoral. Income taxation is theft.

 

[oyarde]

Fed govt is immoral , therefore it is immoral ( and foolish )to give them anymore than you have to. Tips are not earned income , it is a gift , does every ten year old need to report the $20 Grandma gave them for birthday ??

 

[Danke]

Tips in the private sector are beyond the scope of the Income Tax, Title 26 - INTERNAL REVENUE CODE.

 

[Acala]

You should not only declare your tips but give extra to the Treasury Department because all the money they get is used for good things like killing people who are different than us and making sure that bankers and military contractors can continue to live in the lifestyle to which they have become accustomed.

 

[MaxPower]

I think it is thoroughly morally justifiable not to file an income-tax return at all, and to be open about the reasons you have not-- that the money is used in an array of grossly-immoral ways and in blatant violation of the Constitution, which is the "contract" from which the government purports to derive the authority to tax you in the first place-- but I do not support the practice of deception.

 

[sync]

Wouldn't that kind of be like volunteering information to a thief, that you have more money stashed some place else? A rose is a rose by any other name... You can call it taxation, but if you are being forced to hand something over at the barrel of a gun it's theft, no matter what entity is holding the gun.

 

[Acala]

I file honest returns because I don't want the hassle of trying to hide. But it has nothing whatsoever to do with morality. Taxation is theft. You are not morally required to cooperate with a thief.

 

[Lishy]

What the fuck, now we have to tell our mommy and daddy government when someone gives us money too!?

 

[eduardo89]

You should not only declare your tips but give extra to the Treasury Department because all the money they get is used for good things like killing people who are different than us and making sure that bankers and military contractors can continue to live in the lifestyle to which they have become accustomed.

Did you know you can write off any contribution to the treasury to reduce the federal debt as a "charitable donation"?

 

[Kodaddy]

Who gets to decide what is moral or not?

 

[sync]

Who gets to decide what is moral or not?

The universe. Morality is not relative.

 

[tfurrh]

is it moral to not tip at sonic?

 

[sync]

is it moral to not tip at sonic?

Rude, maybe. But not immoral.

 

[kah13176]

OP, please understand that tax evasion is moral. Not just tips, but wages too.