NWR - employer wants my tax returns?

I don't know where you are, but up here, that's illegal. You need to check without your local labour board and find out if what they are doing is legal or not.

I've never heard of that before. Maybe get a letter from the previous employers typed on a letterhead.

I wouldn't report them to try to get them in trouble... I just wouldn't take the job. If your FH works there that would cause problems/ drama for him.

@jessie I'm in Nebraska, and apparently it is legal here but there are fine lines drawn on it because obviously it shows what you claimed and could give insight on kids etc, or show sick time paid out which people could use to discriminate.

I'm not sure where you are located, but it's illegal in most states to ask for that information. People that have to undergo high security clearance for thier jobs do not even have to provide tax documents. I think something is fishy about that request. I would decline and I would also speak with the union rep for that position in regards to the request. You may not be part of the union because you are not currently employed in the feild, but they could definitely shine some light on the request and even assist in the hiring process because of it. It seems to me that it's more of a way to gain more personal information about you. Your tax return usually has your ssn, your spouses ssn, your children's ssn, birthdays and a lot of information that a company does not need to know in order to hire you. Be very careful. And in the end if they keep pushing for that info and the union can't help you get past that I would decline. References should be more then enough. And legally all they can ask for.

@jennbell, I mentioned it in an earlier comment but my FH works there and had the same job situation I did while he was in school, and they never asked him for this info, so it feels like something else is going on because apparently it's not a union thing, if it were my FH would have had to do the same thing. Of course I would block out any identifiable info such as my SSN because they don't need that.

@carrina, my FH is on board with me reporting it as he thinks that this is ridiculous too. He is very confused because he was never asked to do this at any point, and it points to something fishy going on.

Sounds illegal

That sounds very suspicious to me. I wouldn't do it

Yeah, you can't do that up here. You cannot discriminate against anyone for any of those reasons. Up here, a Huma Rights complaint would be filed so fast, they wouldn't know what hit them. Good luck.

@jessie yeah it's legal to ask for it but definitely illegal to discriminate because of it, I feel like it's already somewhat of a discriminatory issue because FH and co-workers of his were in similar situations and were never asked to provide tax returns. It's weird. Depending on how it goes I may or may not try to fight it. What it really comes down to is that they are wanting proof that I did odd jobs during school that are in no way relevant to this position, so it's already dumb. If it were verification for a similar job, totally understandable, but it doesn't even relate so I don't see why it is such a cause of concern for them.

FutureMrsAF, I would bow out! My FH never had to provide his tax return and he works for Amazon as a machine learning scientist and holds a PhD! I found out that when employers ask for this info, it is usually for a sales, quota carrying position. But whatever, it's still rude AF and totally inappropriate

In most* states they cannot ask you: if you are married, if you are divorced, if you are living with anyone, your sexual preference, if you have children, if you plan to have children, your religion, your political preference, etc.

A tax return can reveal a LOT of that info, and in your situation would provide them none of the additional information they are seeking. Hard no.

I would send them an email or certified letter (key: written) and explain why providing the tax returns will not provide them with the information they seek. I'd offer in writing to provide references. I would send this letter to the person you've been in contact and their supervisor. Unions have pretty strict rules so this may prevent them from being able to say you didn't get the job bc you refused to provide the requested information.

This is a strange request from them. I think I'd give them the tax returns with everything blacked out about your income. As far as your SSN being on it they probably already know that. That's always on new hire paperwork for background checks and everything.

If it's just for proof of previous employment why can't they just call the company/people you freelanced for?

I'm a lawyer in California and I specialize in employment law. This would be illegal here. I read your other posts where you say you're in Nebraska and that it is legal there, but many others, such as Vicki, mentioned very relevant reasons why you would never give an employer your tax return. You mentioned that your employer's goal was to verify your employment, but that specific information is not on your tax return. But, as Vicki mentioned, all the other items that could be used against you are. This smells like discrimination to me - like they are going on a "fishing" expedition to get around asking you those illegal questions.

Very, very fishy to me. If you were interviewing for a position as a partner at a major law firm or accounting firm, they might ask you to sign a release so they could check and see if you had filed back years tax returns. Anything more than that? Fishy.

This doesn't seem right. My previous employer asked for a w2 to verify income but not tax returns etc. If I didn't have w2's they would have settled for a letter from previous employers listing my salary, which in my case they did. I wouldn't feel comfortable submitting my tax returns to a potential employer. There's no reason for it.

I know you were technically self employed for these jobs, but there has to be someone they can contact to verify that you did these jobs. Who paid you? Give the employed the contact info for a couple of those people. If it is truly about verifying your past employment, that should be sufficient.

I work in HR and was a labor rep for a union shop in my last job. I would never consider tax returns for employment verification. They wouldn't give me a single bit of useful information.

That being said, she could rescind the offer for any reason as long as it's not an illegal one. So, if she's trying to do that, she should just do it.

Does she know your FH works there? Do they have a nepotism clause in their handbook?

Also, why didn't she verify employment prior to the offer? That's typically standard practice. Makes no sense.