Do you have to pay taxes even if you don't work?

Question

My neice was born here, she's 22 and she's a beautican, she is working but being that she's a hair dresser and renting her chair, she's not on anyone's payroll, so she does not pay taxes. But I was telling her that she need to start paying her taxes, before the government track her down in the long run and throw her in jail. But I dont really know how the system work in this country. If she's not on anyone's payroll, would she still be in problems for not paying taxes? I was saying that since she's basically self employed and their is no record of that, she'll be written off as she never worked, so she dont have to pay taxes. Is this the case?

P.s. She never did anything stupid, like go file for a tax return to receive extra money, she's just a young adult making a living. I was also telling her that she should start, because maybe when she decided to make investments in the future or she get a 9-5, they will take out years of taxes, Am I correct?

Yes, working as a stylist, her services are paid with Cash only.

Answer 1

She should be filling out the forms to determine whether tax is due, and in any case Social Security taxes will be due. She must keep records, showing all receipts and expenses (chair rental, materials, and anything else that has to be bought to do the job), and fill out Schedule C to see what the taxable income is. My guess is that it will probably not be enough to incur an income tax liability, but a tax return must nevertheless be filed in order to correctly pay the Social Security taxes (use Schedule SE).

Answer 2

If a person works for another person ,company or corporation ,they will most probally get paid with some kind of paper voucher (check,Money order,or cashiers check)there is a stub or receipt.Any form of a receipt is proof that someone worked.Where there is proof of working,the government can tax every dollar you make If there is no proof there is no way to track anyone down and you can get away with not paying taxes.The government says you have to pay taxes.The only way i can see being a safe way around paying taxes is to be paid for your services,labor,or skills is to be paid with cash and cash only.Never sign anything saying someone paid you cash

Answer 3

If the people who she pays to rent the chair report the income from the chair, and who they get it from then she could get caught. She should talk to other people in her position and decide what to do. Some people would report enough income to cover the rent plus just a little bit. Then, she would at least seem to be legal. Other people go their whole lives living in the cash economy. She'll be hurting for social security when she's old.

Answer 4

She is definitely supposed to pay taxes. When she is caught, she will owe not only the taxes not paid but large penalty. Any money earned is subject to being taxes.

Answer 5

Yes , I think the minimum is less than 9,000 a year.
But you still by law have to file a tax return

Answer 6

...are you in the united states?

If so...

If she's not making any money at all, then I don't think there are any penalties for not filing income returns.

However, you're right in that she should do so anyway. It can't hurt, and it might even help.

Answer 7

tell her to file her taxes. since she is unemployed she can claim any amount.