Cash Under the Table vs Future Benefits
Cash Under the Table Calculator — Future Benefits Cost
What this calculator does
Unreported income avoids income tax now but reduces Social Security credits and unemployment eligibility later.
The math, with a worked example
Tax saved = income × tax rate. Future benefit lost = income × 0.062 × 2 (employer and employee Social Security match). Net cost = benefit lost − tax saved. $10,000 under the table at a 15% tax rate saves $1,500 in taxes but costs about $1,240 in future Social Security value.
Why this matters
Cash under the table trades a visible tax saving for an invisible benefits cut: $10,000 unreported saves $1,500 in tax today and quietly forfeits about $1,240 of future Social Security credit — before counting disability coverage, unemployment eligibility, and loan-application income history.
Methodology and transparency
Tax saved = income × your tax rate; benefit lost = income × 6.2% × 2, both halves of the Social Security wage credit that unreported income never earns. The model understates the true cost by design: it prices only the Social Security wage record, not disability insurance eligibility, unemployment benefits, workers' comp, or the mortgage you can't document income for. Everything runs in your browser; no data is sent or stored.
Last reviewed: 2026-08-08
Common questions
Is this illegal?
Yes, failing to report income is tax evasion. This calculator is for educational purposes.
Does this count unemployment?
It estimates Social Security loss. Unemployment and workers compensation can also be affected.