It's been well over a decade now that I read that the US has lost 2/3rds of it's small business tax revenue. It's not the average citizen at fault as much as our own government. If you are not a citizen and come here to work with a green card if you work less than six months you are not taxed. That's how one of the guys who I use to cut his hair in my shop explained it to me. He worked half a block from my shop at the local liquor store. He has a wife and kids in India but he comes here to work for family for less than six months than he goes back home and another relative comes to work for less than six months. Until they close the loop hole they won't gain much in small business revenue.

Same with people who come here illegally. I couldn't find one single roofer last year to put a roof on my house after I asked if they used illegal immigrant labor. To get a roof I finally had to stop asking. Sure as can be they all were Mexicans supervised by white guys in fifty thousand dollar white trucks who'd show up once or twice a week. They were hard workers, high up as my roof was they ran around on it like it was nothing. Thing is though he wouldn't give me a sign off paper which I am entitled to by law that says anyone who touched my roof name on it and social security number with a declaration they had all been paid. The law requires them to do it for homeowners in case the person doesn't pay them they can't come back on you for it. So what are these companies going to do bicker with the IRS that whom ever they hired said they were legal self contractors or is the person who hired them supposed to obtain proof.

Just like the landlord next to me he had this one guy, a white guy, for at least five years coming there to mow the lawn. Compared to the Mexicans who showed up this year he actually did a lousy job. It started out with a Mexican guy and his what appeared to be about a twelve year old son, some clippers, hedgers and a lawn mower. They clipped all the bushes back where the other guy didn't care if the entire sidewalk was covered in the bush. With a four, five weeks that Mexican crew grew to all adults in an unbranded truck trailer with a ride on mower. I actually took pictures because I was going to do a blog on it. Now how is the landlord going to explain that tax exemption, is it his job to make sure those who advertise their lawn services are licensed to do business in the state.

The whole thing is the government creates these problems, loopholes, or opportunities than cry when they lose tax revenue.