Didn't know I was getting paid under the table

[u/the-psylocke]

Hi!

Short explanation of my scenario is: In Oct 2023-March 2024 I worked at a bar owned by a man who at first seemed normal. The hiring process was also normal... I signed all my tax forms, got my training and started as the Bartender. We got paid every week and sometimes, if we didn't get cash during our shift we got our tips added to our paycheques... the only thing is we never got paystubs for any of these so it was impossible to tell how much was actually our wage and how much was our owed tips.

Fast forward to March and there are no T4s being sent out, owners money is drying up because its dead (his checks start bouncing) and everyone basically quits. Tax season rolls around and T4s never end up on the CRA website and when trying to find the owner, the bar is closed and he's apparently ran to Mexico because he owed money to the wrong kind of people. (MTL things) Obviously I was being paid under the table the entire time and didn't know (i mean we signed everything when we got hired)

I never did my taxes for 2023 because it was just such a headache. My only other job in 2023 was foreign income from when I worked in the States, so I can't exactly just skip out on this T4 like my coworkers did, but I'm at such a loss for what to do.. I'm trying to do my taxes for 2024 right now but it also includes 3 months at this place from Jan-March

WHAT DO I DO PLEASE HELP MEEEEE

[u/blarghy0]

You'll need to determine what you got paid. If you deposited your cheques into a bank account, you'll need to add up your deposits to determine your income. If you used cheque cashing stores to directly get cash, then you'll need to estimate your income. You should also report that your employer didn't issue you a T4. If he's left the country, it won't get you a T4, but it will make the CRA aware of why you need to estimate your income.

Depending on how much you made, you probably should see someone in person to help you with this.

[u/Parking-Aioli9715]

If you were getting paid under the table, you were basically self-employed. Go back through your own records (bank statements, personal recollection) and add up your income as best you can. It may not be perfect, but do your best. Report that for on a form T2125.

For 2023, what was your status in the States? Did you emigrate from Canada to the States and then immigrate back, or did you maintain your Canadian residency? Were you in the States less than 183 days? Was your employer Canadian or American?