Potential employment question

[JohnAn2112]

Hey all,

I just interviewed for a position in a game company and the employer offered me the job. Anyways, they also asked me a copy of my 2005 tax return. I've never had an employer ask me for this information so it sounds sketch to me. Is this normal or has anyone heard of this? This is a super small start-up company so this is raising some serious flags for me.

 

[razor2025]

Definitely smelling scam. They shouldn't need anything like a tax return. The most you might give is the SSN, so they can file taxes. There's just too much info on a tax return that someone can use for identity theft.

 

[Drakkon]

sounds like a scam to me, call em up and ask them why they need it, what they will do with the info, what specific information they are looking for on it....
a game dev company shouldnt need info from a tax return, if they wont give you answers i'd run far far away

 

[spidey07]

no way in heck would I ever provide an employer such a thing.

RUN!

 

[FoBoT]

ask them in a nice way what they need off of it
they might be trying to use it for salary purposes. did you already negotiate a salary for the job?

 

[D1gger]

Its likely not a scam, they just want to confirm your previous years earnings to justify the wages they are offering you. We have often asked people for a copy of their statement of earnings before finalizing a new hire.

 

[lightweight]

Originally posted by: D1gger
Its likely not a scam, they just want to confirm your previous years earnings to justify the wages they are offering you. We have often asked people for a copy of their statement of earnings before finalizing a new hire.

Why is the salary of previous positions even relevant to what they are going to offer you. They should be making/negotiating their offer based on the candidates ability and performance in interview.

 

[fitzov]

Originally posted by: lightweight

Originally posted by: D1gger
Its likely not a scam, they just want to confirm your previous years earnings to justify the wages they are offering you. We have often asked people for a copy of their statement of earnings before finalizing a new hire.

Why is the salary of previous positions even relevant to what they are going to offer you. They should be making/negotiating their offer based on the candidates ability and performance in interview.

True but unfortunately it doesn't work that way. If your salary increases it can be seen as a promotion, and if your salary decreases they might wonder why you agreed to take the job.

 

[kranky]

I would not provide such documentation, and there's no justification for it.

Man, people need to stand up and say no to the invasion of privacy juggernaut. I guarantee if a company didn't get a new employee they wanted because of this policy, they would change their ways. Because when you come right down to it, there's no reason to ask for it.

 

[altonb1]

Originally posted by: kranky
I would not provide such documentation, and there's no justification for it.

Man, people need to stand up and say no to the invasion of privacy juggernaut. I guarantee if a company didn't get a new employee they wanted because of this policy, they would change their ways. Because when you come right down to it, there's no reason to ask for it.

I agree. I'd be very skeptical about providing this info to them.

 

[Aharami]

this seems like an odd request. ask them why they need it. if they say to verify your previous salary, ask them to call your previous employer for that info

 

[JS80]

"What are you making now?"
(hmm...if i give an inflated number, they'll have to offer more...) "$60k"
"OK you're hired, salary at $75k"
"Sweet"
"OK provide us with your 2005 tax return and you'll get your offer letter"
"Fvck!!"

 

[kranky]

Originally posted by: D1gger
Its likely not a scam, they just want to confirm your previous years earnings to justify the wages they are offering you. We have often asked people for a copy of their statement of earnings before finalizing a new hire.

Nothing good can come from this (from the employee's point of view).

No dependents on your tax form? Good, we can tell you to work tons of overtime and you won't be able to say you have to go pick up your kids.

A lot of dividend and/or interest income? Oh, you're rich. You don't need a good raise.

Hmm, business income? He's got a side job. Better not hire him, he won't work hard.

The mortgage deduction looks real high, a lot higher than someone might be able to afford on this salary. Might be living beyond his means, let's find someone else.

Look, this guy took a deduction for medical expenses. Could be in poor health and cost us a lot in higher medical premiums. Get someone else.

 

[jlbenedict]

Originally posted by: kranky

Originally posted by: D1gger
Its likely not a scam, they just want to confirm your previous years earnings to justify the wages they are offering you. We have often asked people for a copy of their statement of earnings before finalizing a new hire.

Nothing good can come from this (from the employee's point of view).

No dependents on your tax form? Good, we can tell you to work tons of overtime and you won't be able to say you have to go pick up your kids.

A lot of dividend and/or interest income? Oh, you're rich. You don't need a good raise.

Hmm, business income? He's got a side job. Better not hire him, he won't work hard.

The mortgage deduction looks real high, a lot higher than someone might be able to afford on this salary. Might be living beyond his means, let's find someone else.

Look, this guy took a deduction for medical expenses. Could be in poor health and cost us a lot in higher medical premiums. Get someone else.

:thumbsup:

 

[MrBond]

Originally posted by: kranky

Nothing good can come from this (from the employee's point of view).

They already offered him a position though, I supposed they could retract it later.

If the OP went to an actual location and interviewed with several people in what is obviously a place of business, then it's probably legit (although I'd still ask for why they needed it).

If the hiring process was handled without ever meeting another person (email/phone interview, etc), that'd throw up some more red flags and I'd be looking into the company a little more before I gave them that info.

 

[AreaCode707]

I'm in HR and I don't believe we ever ask for this data from candidates/employees.

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: D1gger
Its likely not a scam, they just want to confirm your previous years earnings to justify the wages they are offering you. We have often asked people for a copy of their statement of earnings before finalizing a new hire.

I would never, ever provide that information nor should anybody.

What one makes at their current/previous postion doesn't come into play in the offer. If it does I'd withdraw.

 

[QED]

Originally posted by: spidey07

Originally posted by: D1gger
Its likely not a scam, they just want to confirm your previous years earnings to justify the wages they are offering you. We have often asked people for a copy of their statement of earnings before finalizing a new hire.

I would never, ever provide that information nor should anybody.

What one makes at their current/previous postion doesn't come into play in the offer. If it does I'd withdraw.

I've heard a lot of the Fortune 100 companies do this (that is, use your prior salary as a basis for their offer).

I really don't think its fair, and it only encourages people with already inflated resumes to inflate their prior salaries.

 

[Drakkon]

Originally posted by: MathMan

Originally posted by: spidey07

Originally posted by: D1gger
Its likely not a scam, they just want to confirm your previous years earnings to justify the wages they are offering you. We have often asked people for a copy of their statement of earnings before finalizing a new hire.

I would never, ever provide that information nor should anybody.

What one makes at their current/previous postion doesn't come into play in the offer. If it does I'd withdraw.

I've heard a lot of the Fortune 100 companies do this (that is, use your prior salary as a basis for their offer).

I really don't think its fair, and it only encourages people with already inflated resumes to inflate their prior salaries.

They use your prior salary as a basis but they dont ask for your tax return. Soemone from HR calls up your previous employer, asks what you were paid, previous emplyer may or may not provide that information. They can ask for previous pay stubs but i have NEVER heard of a large company asking for entire tax returns. I think its a good practice actually...keeps some punks from walking in like they own the place with some figure in their head of 80K when they are applying for a job thats only worth half that and their previous job is only giving them 30K.

 

[robphelan]

keep us posted in what the prospective employer has to say about this.

i think it's totally wrong to ask for that type of info.

 

[zanieladie]

Proceed with caution.

 

[imported_KuJaX]

Let us know what they say and what you do. I personally wouldn't want to provide that information. There is too much information in there that they DONT need to know about.