letter of employment

[kenyatta]

just wondering i work for cash as a house cleaner but i pay taxes at the end of the year is it accepted by cic and can i get a letter from my employer if she put her number will cic call to verify pls help

 

[computergeek]

This would constitute self-employment; the person (or people) for whom you are working are "customers" and not "employers". Your tax return documents should reflect this, so if you get an Option C printout from CRA, that plus a cover letter explaining that you are self-employed, should be sufficient for CIC.

 

[kenyatta]

thanks 4 ur reply but its domestic help ina home she pay me in cash so i have to pay my taxes as wat she told me i do work like laundry ironing cleaning etc i do intend to pay my taxes

 

[computergeek]

You are being treated as an independent contractor. As such, you are responsible for paying your own taxes (income and CPP) and collecting GST/HST (if you collect more than $30,000 per year) as well as filing the appropriate returns. You have the ability to "write off" reasonable expenses involved in your business. If you collect GST/HST, you have the ability to claim back any GST/HST that you in turn pay out for business expenses.

But for the purposes of explaining this to CIC, you would provide them with a copy of your tax information. That's all they should require, they should not need to speak with your customer (she is NOT your "employer" because you do not have an employee/employer relationship.)

Here is a nice post for the rules regarding domestic workers (which includes "house cleaner") in Ontario: http://www.labour.gov.on.ca/english/es/pubs/factsheets/fs_domestics.php. I don't know where you are located, but odds are that there will be similar rules.

Note: if you really are an employee, then your employer has made a serious error because she is now liable for paying your CPP and EI obligations as well as her own, plus penalties. See http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/E/pub/tg/rc4110/rc4110-e.html#employee_selfemployed for a description of the distinction. From your wording and the description you've provided, I suspect you really are acting as an employee and your employer is trying to "get away" without obeying the law - and this is being done at your expense.

If you are an independent contractor, then all CIC will need is your financial information - your tax filings with a cover letter from your CGA would be more than sufficient.

Now that I think about it, I am curious: why do you need to report this information to CIC at all?

 

[kenyatta]

thanks 4 all ur reply but i am doing a other eligible relative sponsorship and need to show my income

 

[computergeek]

I think the issue is that if this woman knows what she is doing is unlawful, she may not want to sign anything (like a letter).

I assume that you have financial records (bank records and a tax return). I would send the Option C printout from CRA (which will require that you have filed your tax return) and send that to CIC. Alternatively, you will need to have a third party (like an accountant) sign off on your business information. Of course, if you can get an employment letter from this woman it would work as well, but I suspect she won't write such a letter precisely because it would expose her to financial liability.

Good luck!

 

[kenyatta]

thanks 4 all ur help but i do not have a business i work 1-2 times a week cleaning and doing laundry i have a regular job working 40 hr a week but i know i have to declare it to cra i dont want to get in trouble do u have any sample contract letter i just want to prove to cic thats it sustainable she did say she will give me a letter

 

[computergeek]

Then get a letter from here, stating how much you work and how much you are paid. Add to that the money you make from employment and provide all that information to CIC. Of course, this will show up on an Option 'C' printout from CRA once you have filed your taxes.

 

[kenyatta]

thank u computergeel 4 taking the time to answer me thats wat i plan to do but i was wondering if there is a sample letter u can give me can so i can show her wat to write

 

[computergeek]

I don't have any specific example, but the letter should state:

Who she is, what you do for her, how often, how long you have been working for her, and how much you are paid.

"I am Ms. Jane Do, and I have been using the cleaning services of keyatta since January 1, 1970. She cleans my home two times per week for a total of 6 hours per week for which I pay her at a rate of $20 per hour. Her services to me are ongoing at this time."

It doesn't need to be very long, it just needs to capture those essential facts.

 

[kenyatta]

thank u so much 4 ur help i will show her this sample u have helped me alot in deciding wat im doing im not an employee but she is my customer