DeVry University Tax Fraud Fresno California

I am a former employee of DeVry University and have some serious issues with the way the University conducts business.  First let me credit my claim by saying I am not angry because I was terminated. I was offered to teach more classes but I declined the offer so please do not mistake this as a bitter former employee who is looking for revenge.  I simply want to expose the unethical business practices of this Company.

I taught at the University 1 year ago.  In the process of doing my taxes this year my CPA brought some things to my attention.  When completing the hiring process at DeVry I was asked to fill out a 10-99 tax form instead of a W-2.  I, thinking they knew what they were doing, filled out the form and never questioned it.  I am not a tax person so I didn't know the difference between the 2 forms.  Well, for those of you who are like me, a 10-99 is for people who are independent contractors/ self employed.  A W-2 is for employees.  If you are self employed YOU are responsible for setting money aside to pay your taxes at the end of the year.  Nothing should be taken out of your paycheck.  If you are an employee, your EMPLOYER is responsible for taking the necessary taxes out of your paychecks. 

I found all this out last month when my CPA informed me that I owed $1274 in federal taxes!  The interesting thing about my situation is that DeVry took State taxes out of my paychecks.  By taking state taxes out they were treating me as an employee but by not taking out federal taxes they were treating me as an independent contractor.  You can't be both at the same time!!! You are either one or the other!  I am not now and have NEVER been self employed.  I do not have a business license.  All I have is my Masters Degree.  I have taught part-time at 4 different schools including DeVry and they are the ONLY one to classify me this way.  I am a part-time/ adjunct faculty member.

Because DeVry classified me this way I got charged $848 in self-employment taxes.  I have filed a complaint with the IRS and am waiting for them to determine if I was wrongfully classified.  If you are reading this and something similar has happened to you know this...

Even if you signed the 10-99 as I did and a contract with the University you are still safe.  The IRS, NOT DeVry determines what constitutes an independent contractor or an employee.  They have a set of criteria they use to determine which is which.  I encourage you to research it on the IRS website as I did.  I am still waiting for them to reach a decision which could take up to 6 months.

Last thing.... after my CPA brought all this to my attention I tried contacting DeVry and speaking to them about it.  I drove there and personally asked to speak to someone in human resources about some questions I had regarding my takes.  The girl at the front went to go see who I should talk to. She came back and gave me the number of a woman (Monica) at the Fremont campus and said i need to call her.  Why? I filled out all my paperwork at the Fresno campus so why do I have to talk to someone in Fremont about it?  They were obviously avoiding me.  I still called the lady none the less and it went to her voice mail so I left a message.  On the machine it said that for immediate assistance I should call Lisa at some other campus.  I called her and she said I need to call the "payroll hotline".  Nothing.  So I called Monica again and left a second message a few days later when I still hadn't heard back from her.  I went to the campus in person one last time and this time the person I needed to talk to had "just left".  I have made 7 attempts to contact DeVry about my concerns.  ALL of them have been unsuccessful.  The University is obviously trying to avoid the issue. While they may be able to avoid me, once the IRS looks into this I am praying thing will be exposed.