You're absolutely right to be concerned about this situation - what you're describing is textbook worker misclassification. The fact that they're controlling your schedule, requiring you to work set hours without breaks, and paying a "daily rate" specifically to avoid labor law compliance are all major red flags. For anonymous reporting, Form 3949-A is your best option with the IRS. You can file it online or by mail without providing your personal information. Focus on documenting the control factors: do they set your schedule, tell you how to do the work, provide equipment, require you to be there during specific hours? These are the key tests the IRS uses. The timing actually works in your favor - three weeks is enough to observe their patterns, and the fact they haven't collected your SSN or had you complete proper contractor paperwork actually supports your case. Legitimate contractor relationships require upfront tax documentation. Don't forget about your state labor department too. They often move faster than the IRS on wage/hour violations, and the "no breaks" issue is a clear labor law violation in most states. Both agencies protect reporter anonymity. Keep documenting what you can observe naturally - schedules, supervision methods, equipment use - but don't put yourself at risk. Your safety and anonymity are more important than gathering perfect evidence. Even your testimony about the working conditions is valuable to investigators. You're protecting yourself and future workers by reporting this. These schemes hurt everyone except the business owners who are breaking the law.

Having been through a similar situation myself, I can tell you that your instincts are absolutely correct - this is classic worker misclassification. The combination of controlled schedules, daily rates to circumvent break requirements, and the lack of proper tax documentation creates a very strong case for the IRS. Here's what I'd recommend for your anonymous report: **IRS Reporting:** File Form 3949-A online or by mail. Focus on the control factors: they set your schedule, supervise how you work, provide equipment, and require specific hours. The fact they haven't collected your SSN after 3 weeks actually strengthens your case - legitimate contractor relationships require upfront tax documentation. **State Labor Department:** Don't overlook this! The "no breaks during 9-10 hour shifts" is a clear labor law violation in most states. State agencies often move faster than the IRS and take wage theft seriously. Most have anonymous tip lines. **Documentation:** Keep notes at home about schedules, supervision, equipment use, and any conversations about the payment arrangement. Even 3 weeks of observations show the pattern investigators need. **Timing:** Report sooner rather than later. Waiting longer risks them becoming suspicious, and you've already observed enough to establish their practices. Both agencies legally protect whistleblower identities, so your anonymity should be secure. You're not just protecting yourself - you're helping future workers and ensuring tax law compliance. The family atmosphere doesn't excuse illegal business practices.

Double check it's not an advance payment on your 2025 tax refund. With two jobs, you might be having too much tax withheld if you didn't adjust your TD1 forms properly. The CRA sometimes makes adjustments mid-year if they detect significant overwithholding. Happened to a friend of mine last year!

I'd recommend checking your CRA My Account first - that's your best bet for getting a definitive answer without waiting on hold. Look under "Benefits and Credits" to see if there are any recent payments listed with explanations. The timing of starting your second job is likely relevant. When employers submit your employment information to CRA, it can trigger automatic benefit calculations. Since you mentioned it's labeled "fed-prov/terr Canada," it's almost certainly a legitimate government benefit - either GST/HST credit, Canada Workers Benefit, or a provincial supplement you qualify for. Keep the money separate until you confirm what it is, but don't stress too much. These surprise deposits are usually benefits you're actually entitled to receive based on your tax filing and current income situation.

Anyone know if the tax prep software like TurboTax or H&R Block can handle this situation properly? I have a similar issue but already started my return in TurboTax.

This is a really helpful thread! I'm dealing with a similar situation where my employer issued replacement W-2s but didn't mark them as corrections. Reading through all the responses, it sounds like the key points are: 1. Employers should issue W-2c forms, not just new W-2s 2. Keep documentation of both original and corrected forms 3. For amended returns, use Form 1040-X with explanation 4. Follow up with employer to ensure they file proper W-2c with SSA I'm curious though - if our employers don't cooperate and won't issue proper W-2c forms, can we still file our returns with the corrected information? Or do we need to wait for them to fix their process first? I don't want to delay my filing but also don't want to create problems with the IRS matching system. Also wondering if anyone knows how long employers have to correct their filing with the SSA once they realize they made an error?

I went through this same situation two years ago and can confirm what others have said - your current tax refund is completely safe! Unemployment benefits you receive in 2024 won't affect your 2023 tax return at all. Just want to emphasize what several people mentioned about having taxes withheld from your unemployment payments. I made the mistake of not doing this thinking I'd find work quickly, but ended up on unemployment for 8 months. Come tax time, I owed about $1,200 in federal taxes plus penalties. It was a real shock since I was used to getting refunds. Most states let you elect tax withholding right when you apply, or you can change it later through their online portal. The 10% federal withholding might seem like a lot when you're already getting reduced income, but trust me, it's way better than dealing with a massive tax bill later when you're hopefully back on your feet. Also, keep all your job search records - travel expenses, interview costs, resume services, etc. Some of these might be deductible depending on your situation. Good luck with the job hunt!

I'm currently on unemployment and can add some perspective here. Your 2023 tax refund is completely separate from any unemployment benefits you'll receive in 2024 - they won't interact at all. The IRS processes your tax return based solely on what happened in 2023, so go ahead and file with confidence. However, I want to echo what others have said about tax withholding on unemployment benefits. When you apply, you'll likely see an option to have federal taxes withheld (usually 10%). I strongly recommend choosing this option. Unemployment benefits are fully taxable income, and if you don't have taxes withheld, you could end up owing a significant amount next April. One more tip - if your state has an online unemployment portal, you can usually change your tax withholding election even after you've started receiving benefits. So if you forget to elect it initially, you can still add it later. Better to have slightly smaller weekly payments now than a nasty surprise on your 2024 tax return!

Quick question - does anyone know if the tenants themselves could get in trouble for paying rent to someone they know isn't reporting the income? My sister is in a similar situation with her landlord who openly says he doesn't report rental income.

As someone who works in tax compliance, I want to emphasize that reporting suspected tax fraud is actually a civic duty that helps ensure everyone pays their fair share. The fact that this landlord openly admits to not reporting income and keeping things "off the books" makes this a pretty clear-cut case. One thing I'd add to the excellent advice already given - when you file Form 3949-A, be as specific as possible about dates, amounts (if known), and include copies of any evidence like those money order photos the tenants have. The more documented evidence you can provide, the stronger the case will be. Also worth noting that rental income tax evasion often involves other violations too - like not paying proper business taxes, employment taxes if they have maintenance staff, or even local occupancy taxes. The IRS investigation may uncover additional issues beyond just the unreported rental income. Don't feel bad about reporting this - tax evasion hurts everyone by shifting the burden to honest taxpayers and reducing funding for public services we all depend on.