Weird work situation - advice?

[Alwaysbehopeful]

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So I am working part-time at this acupuncture clinic as a medical assistant. But it's really really slow and a very small clinic so the Dr is paying me under the table. Well I didn't even want the money but she is so nice and felt bad that I couldn't find a job. I had been volunteering there for some time now.

Anyways I put this down as an employment on my applications. But now I realized since it's under the table it's not officially employment. What should I do? Should I even mention that it's under the table during an interview? Should I notify the schools and let them know that?

Or should I keep my mouth shut and not say anything? I know they do back ground checks at some schools and would hate for this to come up in the future.

Anyways, weird situation!

 

[bigal40]

Don't mention it is under the table, that is non of the AdCom's bussiness and will be something they won't be able to find out.

 

[Janieve]

Huh, that's a tough one. I think it might be a good idea to call up the schools and inform them you accidentally placed a volunteer position (because it looks like that's exactly what it was, even if she started paying you) under the 'employment' section. If they think it's a big deal, they'll change it for you. If not, hey, you've just come off as responsible.

If it comes up in the interview, state that at times, you received compensation for your work (again, it sounds like that's what's going on here), but it wasn't a paid position. If he asks what you mean, tell the truth: you'd been volunteering there for a long time and your supervisor felt it would be appropriate to compensate. Also include that you didn't want to take the money, if you think it'll help.

Good luck sorting this all out!

 

[TheMightySmiter]

Yeah, if it's mentioned in an interview I would call it an internship or something like that. A lot of internships aren't paid and a lot of them are paid only a stipend, so there probably wouldn't be much inquiry into it. The definition of "internship" is pretty broad so it wouldn't be a lie.

 

[Alwaysbehopeful]

Thanks guys! Great suggestions.

I know I read somewhere else that they do background checks at some schools. Will this not show up when they check it? I just don't want them to think I lied or something you know? I am a very honest person and sometimes painfully honest.

If they can't find it via background screening I'll probably say it's an internship.

 

[TheMightySmiter]

If you got paid under the table and were never officially an employee, I don't think there's any way it would show up on a background check. Background checks tend to be focused on criminal history, anyway. They aren't really that in-depth. Their purpose is mostly just to make sure that you haven't lied about any criminal charges and that you lived where you said you lived and such.

 

[Bernoull]

Thanks guys! Great suggestions.

I know I read somewhere else that they do background checks at some schools. Will this not show up when they check it? I just don't want them to think I lied or something you know? I am a very honest person and sometimes painfully honest.

If they can't find it via background screening I'll probably say it's an internship.

Employment DOES NOT show up on the AAMC background check. That check is for criminal histories. However schools may check up on ur extracurriculars with the references you provided. This is not routine, and they tend to do it if they good cause to do so.

Your case is pretty simple. You can have the Doc say ur an employee, but that is an unneccessary risk. Your application is not enhanced by this position being employee VS volunteer. So just say that you chose the wrong category in AMCAS app. Did you say its employment in ur 2nd apps? If so call and rectify that. Doing this will save you potential heartburn when you file FAFSA and the school sees you're unemployed...

Trust me its worse to say your being paid under the table BECAUSE THAT'S CRIMINAL UNDER FEDERAL LAW. You must report you earning to the IRS and pay applicable state and federal taxes. You don't want to incriminate yourself at an interview...

But like i said, ur case is simple if you handle it smart. Ur a volunteer, end of story.

 

[bunnity]

You don't have to file for taxes if it's under a certain amount ($4000?). So it may not be illegal.

 

[Alwaysbehopeful]

Thanks guys for your great input and help. See this Doctor does acupuncture for my family and is really nice. She felt bad for me for coming so much she wanted to pay me a little bit for my time. I don't want to break any laws or anything.

What I'll do is tell them it was supposed to be paid but it didn't work out and now I just volunteer there. I'll probably call a couple schools tomorrow to see what they say. It's not like the highlight of my activities section so I don't think it should be a big deal. I just don't want to be rejected because they think I'm lying or something.

 

[Bernoull]

You don't have to file for taxes if it's under a certain amount ($4000?). So it may not be illegal.

Ur right there's a threhold for tax liability. However u must report all earnings to IRS under federal law, and based on ur financial/family variables, they determine ur level of tax liability?

Either this case is really a non-issue, say its unpaid volunteer position and u inadvertently categorized it as an employment..

 

[vickpick]

they don't do background checks to verify your employment history.. they dont care abt that..

 

[Disinence2]

No one will care either way. Just forget about it. I would not recommend contacting schools over this.

 

[futureboy]

Ur right there's a threshold for tax liability. However u must report all earnings to IRS under federal law, and based on ur financial/family variables, they determine ur level of tax liability?

I don't believe this is true. You are required to state your income accurately IF you file. You basically report your income ONLY by filing a return, not by some other method. If you made less than the filing threshold, you don't have to file, and thus don't report the income.

OP, I suggest that you contact a tax advisor (H & R Block, etc.). It may be to your benefit to file a tax return even if you are not required to do so because your income is less than the threshold. With the earned income tax credit, you may even get money back even if you didn't pay anything in. If you didn't file returns in the past, or if you filed but didn't report the income from the "under the table" job, you can file returns or amended returns for previous years (amended returns can be filed for the 3 previous years). This way (1) you can continue to accurately report the position as employment for medical school admission purposes (on your returns it will probably be Schedule C independent contractor income), and (2) you will have your "ducks in a row" with the IRS/state/local taxing authorities.

 

[Alwaysbehopeful]

I don't believe this is true. You are required to state your income accurately IF you file. You basically report your income ONLY by filing a return, not by some other method. If you made less than the filing threshold, you don't have to file, and thus don't report the income.

OP, I suggest that you contact a tax advisor (H & R Block, etc.). It may be to your benefit to file a tax return even if you are not required to do so because your income is less than the threshold. With the earned income tax credit, you may even get money back even if you didn't pay anything in. If you didn't file returns in the past, or if you filed but didn't report the income from the "under the table" job, you can file returns or amended returns for previous years (amended returns can be filed for the 3 previous years). This way (1) you can continue to accurately report the position as employment for medical school admission purposes (on your returns it will probably be Schedule C independent contractor income), and (2) you will have your "ducks in a row" with the IRS/state/local taxing authorities.

Wow that sounds really complicated...I have only been doing this "job" for like 4 months. Haven't really made all that much money 🙁 But I have stopped the under the table deal and is just purely volunteering now.

I don't think I'm going to bother the schools with this. It's not like the main position on my application, just something small..

Sigh...this whole application/cycle business is freakin' confusing/stressful/tiring but I guess it's what we are all in for

 

[TheMightySmiter]

Only report this as income on your taxes if you know that your employer is going to report it on her taxes. Otherwise, if she's audited and this is discovered, she could get in big trouble!