Job Discussion Forums

[merlin]

Back tot he original issue - Will the IRS or whatever governmental or nongovernmental agency based in the US find out if you work abroad?

99.99% that they won't, even if legal employment paid "over-the-table" unless, of course you're paid through a US-based company.

Here's the paper trail:
1) Your foreign employer files taxes in the country you're working in.
2) Countries DO NOT sned that information on to the US or any other agency.
3)You file your taxes but since you don't have any W-2s it's pretty much "scouts honor" as to how much you make. I go ahead and send them photocopies of my income papers but when you start talking exchange rates and foreign langauges I don't think anyone really bothers to audit it.
Of course the tricky part would be if you need to produce a paper that shows you made some kind of income. For example, if you get married to a foreign person and later want to bring that person to the US you have to prove a certain minimum income, so be careful because you could end up shooting yourself in the foot for the long term if you find a partner and want to prove you can support her. If you want to bring someone you're not married to you can imagne how much more difficult it would be.

[Sheep-Goats]