Tax Fraud
North Central Regional Council of Carpenters’ members and signatory contractors set the standard for the construction industry in the Upper Midwest; setting a high-bar for training, productivity, on-the-job safety, safe working conditions, apprenticeships, and wages and benefits.
We have worked hard to build these standards and will work even hard to defend what we have built. There are always developers and contractors who are willing to cheat the system, taking advantage of workers, paying crews as little as possible or not paying them at all, and even bending or breaking the law through the shadow economy.
Billions of dollars in tax revenue and a failure to pay promised wages, mandatory payroll taxes and workers compensation insurance puts a large burden on carpenters as well as federal, state and local governments.
Tax fraud not only costs taxpayers billions, payroll fraud hurts honest businesses and exploits workers. Honest contractors are losing business opportunities. Hard working carpenters are losing work. Holding dishonest contractors accountable creates a level, competitive playing field for those who build our community and bolster our local economy. STAND UP TO TAX FRAUD.
If you suspect or know of labor exploitation taking place, report it below. Please include any relevant details available, such as the contractor or business name, number of workers affected, project location, contacts and more. Your report can remain anonymous.
Resources
United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners (UBC) Tax Fraud Initiative
Centro de Trabajadores Unidos en Lucha (CTUL)
2511 E. Franklin Ave.
Minneapolis, MN 55406
(inside of Bethany Lutheran Church)
612-332-0663
Heartland Workers Center
www.heartlandworkerscenter.org
4923 South 24th Street, Suite 3A
Omaha, NE 68107
402-933-6095
Workers’ Rights Center/Centro de Derechos Laborales
2300 S. Park Street, Suite 115
Madison, WI 53713
608-255-0376
Center for Worker Justice of Eastern Iowa
920 S. Gilbert Court
Iowa City, IA 52240
319-594-7593
Tax Fraud Days of Action 2022
What is Tax Fraud?
Tax fraud can mean any number of methods dishonest contractors use to cheat the system, and their workers. Dishonest contractors use tax fraud to evade workers comp, unemployment insurance, and basic payroll taxes by knowingly misclassifying workers as “independent contractors,” paying those "contractors" cash off the books, and running other scams that impact carpenters and their families, along with the broader community and construction industry. Tax fraud practices cost taxpayers billions, hurt honest businesses and exploit workers, depriving them of living the American Dream.
What does Tax Fraud look like?
- Dishonest contractors misclassify their employees as independent contractors in order to avoid paying taxes.
- They do not contribute to workers’ compensation or social security.
- They escape paying overtime or contributing to health insurance.
- They pay workers in cash, “off the books” or don’t pay them at all.
How does Tax Fraud affect you?
- You may be unknowingly paying a dishonest contractor who is cheating workers by not paying them what they are owed or working in safe conditions.
- Dishonest contractors are not paying the taxes that they owe to the government. This increases the burden of taxes on honest contractors who do right by their workers, and may impact the cost of doing business in the construction industry.
report worker exploitation
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