h4ckintosh said:
the computer is the only thing...I'm not getting paid (instead of them paying for a guy that works for $50/hour) ...
I sure hope this will be work done from home, instead of "at the office"
If it WERE at their office, it would probably be against the labor law in the state they are trying to do this.
Working a year with no pay, for the "hope" of a year-end bonus that they are depreciating on the books for the entire year.
Most states require minimum payment of "minimum wage" for any peon employee unless they are top management. Plus you'd need the cash to offset the tax impact of the machine (ie, increased withholdings.)
If the company goes under or has creditor problems during the year, you won't get paid.
Unless the company legally transfers the computer to you at the beginning of the job -- via written contract (without anything transferring complete and total ownership in writing, it belongs company to any smart creditor.)
Or worse yet they can fire you and keep the machine for any number of reasons.
If the computer is the only payment, it shouldn't be, for labor law and tax purposes, you should be negotiating the equipment you want and only the equipment you want -- if you don't get it, don't do the job.
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The tax situation is, there are no withholdings on this type of payment. And the IRS is quite picky about both parties paying tax on this expensive of a gift/bonus/payement.
Heck they don't like $5 gift certificates to employees being handed out without taxes due.
Of course they wouldn't likely tax a $5 USB mouse, since it is of nominal value and not cash equivalent.
