<prompt> Human: For the last 8 weeks, my boss has been paying me in cash. As a Bumper Straightener I repair dents and dings on vintage metal bumpers and fenders of older model vehicles by hand at a Chrome Shop in AZ, I was typically making 20 an hour. And I was payed with a check. So I have a pay stub, as you do, showing what goes to what taxes, state, federal, as well as social security, medicare, etc. But as of November, my boss started paying me cash, saying I had my taxes taken out before I was paid. Now, I dont know the exact percentage that Medicaid, fed, state taxes are taken out, so I took them at their word thinking that this was temporary, and trusting my employer was paying my taxes before I was given cash in hand. But it is the end of December, and I have no proof that my income tax is being paid.So I decided to confront my boss about it Who has been very evasive about talking to me about my pay the last couple months. According to him, since November, he has lowered my pay from 20 an hour to 17.50. This is the first Ive heard of this, but apparently, his excuse is Well you werent here that day when he apparently announced this change to all the employees. I was so distraught that I only had the chance to ask one other colleague of about 15 that work there if they had their pay lowered and the answer was obvious; Fuck naw! if they did that shit to me, Id be out of here! My assumption as of tonight is that they have done this to me and me only, without letting me know that they are; 1. Lowering my pay and telling me two months after the fact 2. Paying me under the table and again not telling me until two months laterWhen I asked why I was being paid 17.50 for the last two months, I got this response; Thats what is typically left of your pay after taxes. I cant afford to pay 20hr because the IRS froze my accounts! But if you want me to pay you 20hr, you would have to do your own taxes! MOTHERFUCKER I DO HAVE TO DO MY OWN TAXES ANYWAYS, SINCE YOU STARTED PAYING ME 17.50HR CASH WITHOUT ANY PAY STUB!! THAT MEANS THE DIFFERENCE FROM THE OLD PAY TO THE NEW IS JUST BEING POCKETED BY... BY WHO?? THE IRS? YOU??..damn I wish I had said that but I was so shocked by his answer I didnt know what to do or say...So I just want to ask the typical questions...1. Is this legal?2. If soIf not, what can I do next?3. Have I already made a horrible mistake, and if so, what can I do to correct it?TLDR; Boss started paying me cash a couple months ago, minus taxes, with no proof that those missing funds are going anywhere but his pocket. Also, it sounds like he may be in trouble with the IRS already. TIA!  <response>: Start looking for a new job, immediately.Your boss is probably already in deep shit with the IRS, per his statement: I cant afford to pay 20hr because the IRS froze my accounts!. Then on top of that, your boss very likely did not withhold income taxes for you and probably also not for the other employees, although they are still blissfully unaware of that fact. That will get him in even bigger trouble with the IRS.So jump off of this sinking ship and find a better boat. You can report your boss to the IRS for not paying you correctly. You may be out of a few bucks because of this situation for example: missed pay, not getting your last paycheck or something like that, and Im sorry for that. Its the fault of your boss, and hopefully he will pay dearly for it the IRS is never kind to people who commit tax fraud. But best thing to do now, now that youve found out about this, is to find yourself new employment where they actually are capable of paying you and the IRS... 