Letter: Cash-only work's the tax evasion

This is in response to "Time to go after the real tax evaders out there" [Opinion, Oct. 10]. When I read the headline, I was anticipating statistics exposing the tax revenue lost when people work a cash-only business to avoid paying taxes. But to my disappointment, the columnist missed a great opportunity.

How many of us know these cash-only individuals and businesses? How much more are taxpayers paying because of all the people who are not paying taxes -- and I'm not talking about the poor? These are not just those people who are in the country illegally. How many of us have been asked by a service provider to pay cash?

This is what our government should be fixing. There should be a toll-free number to report suspected tax evaders, just like the page on the IRS website, that alerts investigators. Will we all pay a bit more for the service? Maybe. But in the long run, maybe our country and local governments won't be in the mess they are in. All working people should pay taxes for the money they earn and we need to make sure they do.

Karen Ferguson, Glen Cove

Real tax evaders? Has columnist Daniel Akst ever considered the underground, or cash, economy? Why would someone let himself or herself get into an income bracket where they have to start paying tax? Sure, $25,400 isn't much to get by, but what about the second off-the-books job, or the spouse's off-the-books job? People are no dummies when it's to their advantage to game the system.

Then there are more than 10 million illegal immigrants here who pay no income tax on their cash wages. I would say that the present system is unworkable and unenforceable. Why not issue every illegal immigrant a one-year work permit that can be renewed annually, on the conditions that they didn't commit any crimes and have at least a rudimentary command of English? The work permit should be in badge form that must be worn on the job.

I retired from an airline, and we had to wear our badges all the time. So, there is nothing discriminatory about this. Then you would add more than 10 million taxpayers in one stroke, or at least a portion of them.

Hans van Ophemert, Kings Park