I started a new production job in June of 2020 after not working for over a year due to personal issues/covid lockdown. Needed a job so I took it (and arguably in many ways settling just for a paycheck).
Boss and I agreed I’d start out under the table and eventually get put on the books, so I (naively) filled out tax info at the start. I pressed multiple times throughout working there about being put on the books but nothing ever changed/kept getting pushed off. I was paid every week for a year+ with normal business checks written to me personally.
April 2021 I found another job with better pay & benefits so I took that offer & left the first shop on good, (or at least not bad) terms. Fast forward to 2021 tax filing deadline I got a 1099-NEC form; (for reporting nonemployee compensation, or income earned as an independent contractor, freelancer, or self-employed individual) in the mail saying I owed $750+ in taxes on the income I made at the 1st shop.
Definitely pissed off and now having to pay this, my first instinct is that he or his business was being audited/preventing an audit. But I also suspect it could be for a tax write-off, but not sure if it would make sense for him to report it for that reason?
To me it’s either a massive dick move or he was trying to cut shady corners and is now dealing with the IRS… Curious of any opinions!