What would you do...
 

if you discovered someone you knew was working here in Canada illegally?

Re: What would you do...
 

There are thousands of illegal workers, so i'd say nothing, i'm sure most people have worked cash in hand at sometime or paid someone off the books to do a job, thats tax evasion, would you report that?

Re: What would you do...
 

i would mind my own business lol..

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Nothing, of course. What would you do?

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Turn them in. Think how hard it was for you to get to Canada and you did the proper way, plus, you’ll feel really superior.

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Personally I don't think I'd do anything .... I'd just be satisfied with the knowing that we "did it the proper way" plus feeling really superior. :p

What YOU do with the information however is for you to decide. If you turn them in are you being a good citizen or just plain mean? :unsure:

Re: What would you do...
 

Turn them in...? What sort of deterrent is that? Working here illegally is worse than being a nonce so I'd burn their house down, and maybe shoot their dog - it's the only way they will learn.

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I would be very annoyed, plot all kinds of things, think some more, and then do nothing.

Mind you if it was my neighbour........

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I would do whatever my conscience told me to, but then I have never worked "cash in hand" and have always done things by the book. It seems that others believe breaking the law is fin - I hope they don't complain when a crime is committed against them but no action can be taken by the police due to lack of witnesses.

I love the posts by those that are claiming to be superior - hypocritical barstewards

Re: What would you do...
 

Breaking the law is fine if it's a stupid law or it involves sticking it to the man in some way. I'd actually go as far as saying we have a moral duty to do this.

Re: What would you do...
 

Laws are passed by people that are voted in by the general public. Therefore, stupid laws reflect the will of the general public. In England or in Canada, Parliament cannot bind its successors so even if a stupid comes about, it is a relatively simple process to have it removed.

Re: What would you do...
 

My do nothing would be more from fear of retribution but you are right. I do tend to do things by the book and often find I am disadvantaged or mocked for this.

Now my neighbour is here on a visitors visa and works over the internet running his business in the UK. I suppose that isn't working in Canada though.

Re: What would you do...
 

I am sure the posters above believe they are correct (as I do) and that is fine. I suspect they are the type that believe that rich tax evaders should be locked up but that little Jimmy not paying tax on $200 earned is doing nothing wrong. Where does one draw the line - it is either criminal or it isn't, isn't it?

Re: What would you do...
 

Obviously, you can't stick it to the man if you are the man.

I'd have no qualms at all about paying cash in hand for a job that doesn't require accountability. None at all. If this makes me a criminal in the eyes of the state then I can easily live with that.

Re: What would you do...
 

I would like you to explain which jobs don't require accountability. I would think that they all do. Of course, the person performing the work may decide that s/he isn't accountable, but that is a different argument isn't it?

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Stick it To The Man!

:thumbup:

Re: What would you do...
 

Hiring a gardener? Paying somebody to clear snow off your drive? No need for them to guarantee the work.

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I guess you believe that it is OK for such people to not contribute to society through the payment of taxes.

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Almost all the at home childcarers I know do the same thing. Cash only. It sucks from a parent point of view because you can't claim it for taxes, but, childcare shortage being what it is, you have to do what you have to do.

I always figured it evened out because you can't write things off against your business etc.

Re: What would you do...
 

Just curious..what about babysitters i.e. 13 year olds looking after the kids for a few hours. Do you think they should declare?

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Yep. I have no moral or ethical problem with this kind of small scale tax evasion.

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Of course they should. It is unlikely that they would owe any tax at the end of each tax year and they would be building RRSP contribution room.

If for whatever reason, they are a rock star babysitter and earn enough to have to pay tax, please explain to me why they shouldn't. If they shouldn't, why should anyone?

Re: What would you do...
 

You are 'the man' and I claim my five pounds (expecting 13y.o. kids to declare a few dollars... really)

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I didn't say I expected them to, as it is unlikely they would owe any tax, just that it would pay them to, as it would allow them to build up RRSP contribution room.

I find your attitude to tax evasion surprising.

Re: What would you do...
 

So at what point does it become immoral or unethical in your opinion $10,000, $100, 000, $1,000,000? Why the distinction, either it is wrong, or it isn't?

Re: What would you do...
 

to clarify, this person moved here with a TWP, left their job, moved Province & has Salary paid into UK bank in order to
a. avoid paying tax
b. avoid getting caught

I haven't done anything about it but after much discussion over a few vinos yesterday, my Canadian friends were appalled & felt very strongly that this person should be 'shopped'

I was just interested to see what other expats thought, particularly when we have jumped through a gazillion hoops to emigrate legally.

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I disagree.

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The line is drawn somewhere between minor and major; so Jimmy gets a slap on the wrists while the person guilty of the bigger offence gets a bigger punishment.

Isn't it an immigration offence as well?

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bribe them or you dob them in!

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Thought that might be the motivation. :zzz:

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Nobody likes a grass.

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Nobody has to know:sneaky:

Re: What would you do...
 

Surely that depends upon the circumstances: grassing a neighbour for $2.50 tax evasion, probably not; not informing the authoritieis of the whereabouts of a child rapist - you may find yourself alone on the side of the fence that believe that grassing is inappropriate.

Re: What would you do...
 

Of course.

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Hmm. I wonder how the company explains away UK bank payments?

I wonder what would happen if they got audited.

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Well, I guess I don't want to stick it to the Man that much because the not paying tax aspect is bugging me.

I actually know of some Americans living in Canada who do this: they are paid by the US company for the job they do here in US dollars into a US account, and don't pay any Canadian tax. Meanwhile, they send their kids to public school, make use of all the health services, etc.

Gotta admit that bothers me, esp. in light of the funding cuts to schools etc. It just seems incredibly cynical.

Re: What would you do...
 

Sure, it's context dependent. I disagree with ac here, some guy doing the odd job for beer money level cash is ok, but wholesale tax evasion by middle class people on salaries is not.

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I guess that's why CRA have a 'rat' line

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I'd dob them in, no question. It is something that costs all of us, they deserve to be deported.

http://www.immigrationwatchcanada.or...sition=138:138

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/informa...aud/report.asp

Re: What would you do...
 

Who do you see as claiming to be superior Mr High-Horse? Oink was being his usual sardonic/sarcastic self, and I was just feeding off his post. (Hence the :p) :rolleyes: