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Chapter 22: All for Work
After Vera agreed to the hiring request, she swiftly started packing up her things to leave with Lynch. In reality, there wasn't much—just some office supplies like rulers, erasers, various pens, and tools needed for bookkeeping.
Before Lynch hired her, Vera had been working here as a casual laborer. It sounded cheap, and indeed it was. Whenever there was a need for administrative work, she'd be notified to come over and start working. The amount she earned each month wasn't much.
Most firms followed the practice of "nurturing newcomers" to save costs. Accountants like Vera, who had worked here for some time, usually handled only the final audits, which wouldn't take too long.
The actual long-term work was assigned to these newcomers. Hence, the firm didn't need to pay high salaries, saving them a considerable amount of money.
When Lynch brought Vera back to the warehouse, Richard and two other guys had been waiting there for a while. Each of them carried a huge backpack, looking visibly strained.
"You're finally here, boss..." Richard sighed. Carrying over a thousand bucks on oneself wasn’t an easy task, but leaving it on the ground... wasn’t that safe either.
The security in Sabin City was limited to the downtown area. Beyond that, there weren’t as many patrols or cops. If something happened, it would be hard for the police to arrive promptly.
The warehouse district was exactly such a place. If it weren't for the three of them standing together, if someone had been alone, they might have left already.
Lynch nodded, opening the side door of the warehouse and turning on all the lights. As he walked toward the office, he introduced Vera to everyone.
Having an accountant like her eased the anxieties of Richard and the other two guys to some extent. At least, a shell company wouldn’t think of hiring a full-time accountant.
Simultaneously, Lynch explained their primary business to Vera: a coin exchange service.
"My salesmen collect loose change from outside and bring it here. Then, other companies or individuals exchange it from here at a certain rate. I make a profit from the difference. This is currently our main business..."
Vera listened attentively because this would be her primary job for the upcoming period. Lynch continued, "You don't need to worry about my tax issues, you know..." He glanced around the rather shabby office, half-smiling. "The city hall encourages micro-enterprises like us and exempts us from taxes. We just need to file complete reports. No need for tax evasion."
In reality, there's no such thing as legal or illegal tax evasion. Ultimately, it's all tax evasion. However, some cases face repercussions while others don't.
The difference lies in the sophistication of methods used. If the accountants hired were not professional enough, coupled with the normal functioning of the federal tax system, they were likely to fall into trouble.
For those who evaded successfully, no one knew how much money they spent or connections they utilized to evade taxes. Some even influence changes in local laws to evade successfully.
The cost of "legally" evading taxes was too high, something Lynch couldn't afford at the moment. Plus, with the tax exemptions for micro-enterprises, he didn't need to worry about these issues before gaining attention from the federal tax bureau.
"By the way, before registering my company, I did some similar business. I have some money from that. Can this money be included in the upcoming accounts?"
Vera was slightly distracted. It was the first time she heard someone actively wanting to report taxes. In her past experiences, people tried everything to pay as little tax as possible, even if it meant saving a buck.
This sudden shift in stance made her feel oddly intrigued. Her professional standards quickly brought her back to reality. She adjusted her glasses slightly to conceal her brief lapse of attention. "Of course, it can..."
She paused for a moment, then added, "I think you should get a set of receipts. The tax system will require us to provide relevant evidence. With a legitimate and comprehensive receipt system, everything will be simplified!"
Through Vera's subsequent explanation, Lynch learned that in this world, there were no invoices; instead, there was a judicially recognized system of registered receipts.
Any registered company could apply for its own registered receipt from the tax bureau by providing a designed sample. It seemed bureaucratic and complex, but it wasn't.
Once the bureau approved and adopted the template, it could be used. The printing of these receipts needed to be done at semi-official printing establishments affiliated with local and federal tax bureaus to ensure their legality.
As for how these receipts were filled out, it depended entirely on everyone's conscientiousness.
At times, Lynch couldn't help but appreciate this world. Not only did he have high quality and upbringing, but he was also highly conscientious!
"Great, you've solved a lot of my troubles!" Lynch suddenly reached out and shook Vera's hand, quickly letting go before she showed any emotion.
He seemed to have made a gesture that could be misunderstood due to his momentary excitement. Even Vera felt it might not have been intentional on Lynch's part. Overthinking this might make her appear too concerned.
She suppressed her unfounded speculation, smiling at Lynch.
"You're really my angel. May I take you out for dinner tonight?" He pulled a chair next to Vera and sat down.
A faint, high-end scent of perfume emanated from Lynch. It wasn't strong but consistently reminded those influenced by it of its presence.
He had bought it specifically yesterday. For the middle class, style could maximize one's sensory appeal to another person. After a brief observation of Vera, he purchased this light type of men's cologne.
Hints of classical woody scents blended with a lively fruity note, a peculiar combination that highlighted a special charisma in Lynch—a contradictory charm that was fascinating.
Before she could react, Lynch added, "For our work, on your first day. Shouldn't we celebrate?"
It was a reason Vera found hard to argue against. She hesitated for a moment and, after much contemplation, didn’t give Lynch a definite answer. Instead, she said, "I need to inform my family first. You know, I'm married and have my own child..."
Lynch didn't show any disappointment or dismay. He simply nodded, looking at her. "No problem, I'll wait for you!" He paused for a moment. "And I have some other work-related matters to discuss with you."
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