They want 5 years of tax returns before I can start working for them !?!?!?!

That's because there are plenty of stupid people to take them.

 

You can't even get a job as a commercial driver in the U S WITHOUT giving all that information.

 

I'll never understand why people think money is come national secret, who cares how much you made. Money is NOT a private matter...



American Trucker

 

Personally I don't see what the big deal is. Haven't you ever applied for a loan or a mortgage?

 

And a SMART Company will run a credit check on EVERY prospective employees.
Persons with bad credit ratings or who are in financial trouble are more likely to steal fuel, tires, money or freight, believe-it-or-not.
If your boss isn't running a credit-report before he hires you, he is an irresponsible employer and is probably a credit risk himself.

 

With all the back and forth on here, I think I would still hesitate to provide my tax records. At least any more than the absolute minimum required to verify my past employment.

My deductions and added income from other sources is really none of their business. Neither is my wife's information. If they want that info bad enough to dig for it, and they can find it, fine. But I'm not going to provide it to them.

It is a job, not a marriage.

 

There is never a need to furnish a tax return. I know some think they have to, but all they need to provide is the Schedule C.

It is all I ever give them.

 

You give them your SSN and (usually) give them express permission to run a background check (which they could do anyway) and they already HAVE all those records. They have your credit score, your income records, criminal records even education (School) records.