off-the-books
Hidden from accountants
Off-the-books describes transactions or arrangements not recorded in official accounts, typically to avoid taxes or regulations.
An off-the-books employee is paid in cash with no tax withholding.
Off-the-books income goes unreported.
The phrase implies deliberate concealment: He made thousands off-the-books doing side jobs.
Sometimes used more loosely for anything unofficial or untracked.
Not officially documented
- untaxedExempt from government levies
- undeclaredNot officially acknowledged
- hiddenKept out of sight
- unrecordedNot written down
shadow economy · informal · unaccounted · tax evasion · black market · laundering · slush fund · cooked
Not officially recorded
- day laborTemporary unskilled employment
- no contractAbsence of binding agreement
- unregisteredNot formally recorded
- sweatshopExploitative manufacturing workplace
gig economy · handshake deal · side job · moonlighting · no benefits · exploitation · underground · uninsured
unreported
Not officially documented
- untaxedExempt from government levies
- undeclaredNot officially acknowledged
- hiddenKept out of sight
unrecorded · shadow economy · informal · unaccounted · tax evasion · black market · laundering · slush fund · cooked · falsified
undocumented
Not officially recorded
- day laborTemporary unskilled employment
- no contractAbsence of binding agreement
- unregisteredNot formally recorded
sweatshop · gig economy · handshake deal · side job · moonlighting · no benefits · exploitation · underground · uninsured · payroll fraud
- corruptioncorruption, graft, kickbacks, bribery, bribes
- unofficialunofficial, unauthorized, unapproved, unregistered, bootleg
- Forbiddenforbidden, prohibited, banned, not allowed, off-limits
- black marketblack market, illegal trade, smugglers, contraband, traffickers
off-the-booksdocumented
Preserved in official records
recorded · registered · logged · accounted for · filed
off-the-bookslegitimate
Conforming to accepted standards
legal · above-board · declared · lawful · on the level
off-the-booksdisclosed
Made previously hidden known
declared · above-board · transparent · overt · open