off the books
Paid in cash
Off the books describes transactions or employment not recorded in official accounts, typically to avoid taxes or regulations.
A worker paid off the books receives cash with no tax withholding.
A business might keep certain income off the books to hide it from auditors.
The phrase implies something between informal and illegal.
- unrecordedNot written down
- illegalForbidden by statute
- questionableOf uncertain validity
- gray areaAmbiguous, ill-defined situation
- hush moneyPayment to ensure secrecy
moonlighting · side hustle · untaxed · tax dodge · cash-in-hand · under-the-table · shady · covert · off the radar · flying under the radar · unregulated · noncompliant · undocumented · hidden · dubious · unethical · clandestine · unregistered
- criminal schemesconspiracy, collusion, racketeering, kickback scheme, assassination plot
- informal financecash only, under the table, handshake deal, verbal agreement, IOU
- hidden incomeunreported income, undeclared, hidden income, under the table, cash in hand
- underground economyblack market, shadow economy, cash in hand, under the table, unreported income
- Forbiddenforbidden, prohibited, banned, not allowed, off-limits
- informal agreementsverbal agreement, oral agreement, handshake deal, gentleman's agreement, verbal contract
off the bookson the books
Legally enacted or recorded
legitimate · above board · legal · declared · official
off the bookson the books
Legally enacted or recorded
documented · recorded · on the record · registered · logged
off the booksofficial
Authority-sanctioned person or status
contracted · salaried · formal · full-time employment · union job