Amnesty and Taxes

[peteram]

When a person apply for the Late amnesty CSS/LULAC settlement. The INS asking for the person employment history since 1982.
when I got my work authorization back in 1990, I start to file for taxes because I was authorize to work by INS, before 1990 I was not authorize to work and I was working illegally and living illegal therefor I never file for taxes. I was getting paid in cash so the government will not find where I was working.
Do you think this is a problem or not? Do think the amnesty the government gave us include the illegal presence and work without authorization therefor it include not filling for taxes.?
I don't have any criminal history, I'm a good person, the only violation I had I was living and working illegally.
what the law say about working illegally and not paying taxes.

 

[TheRealCanadian]

You may have a problem

I don't have any criminal history, I'm a good person, the only violation I had I was living and working illegally. what the law say about working illegally and not paying taxes.

US Tax law states that even if your income is illegally obtained, you still must declare it and pay tax on it. The most famous case is that of Al Capone, who was never convicted of any illegal activities - just on a failure to pay tax on the income those activities engendered.

I would suggest you contact both an immigration attorney and a competent accountant. A tax liability dating back 20 years is outside the scope of expertise you would get on an internet discussion forum. There may be a problem here, and you need professional assistance to determine this, and if any back taxes and/or penalties are owing to the IRS.

I suspect yes, but I am neither a lawyer nor a tax accountant - and you need both right now.