Can I pay taxes getting paid cash while being an illegal immigrant?

Using a fake SSN in regard to an I-9 form which anybody who gets hired has to fill out is document fraud. That's a felony. If you use another person's identity knowingly, that's identity theft, a bigger felony. And if the SSN you made up happens to a US citizen, then that's; "false claim of US citizenship," and that's the worst non-violent crime a foreigner in the US can commit. It makes you ineligible for immigration for the rest of your life. That's why your attorney told you not to do that.

Now, it's a great idea to file taxes. The USCIS knows that you are working, so showing them your tax return is a perfect way to shut them up. It's not about the amount per se, it's about you doing what you are required to do: filing at all, as . . . you guessed it, tax evasion is another felony!

You simply declare your income as 1099 income. Basically you are a subcontractor, and even if you do not get any paperwork, it's perfectly okay to say: "here, I made $850 per month on average last year, and I have a wife and a child, so here is my tax return." You would only have to pay $15.4% self employment tax, and all of this goes into your own SSA account, so it's like saving for retirement! Know that you need to pay at least 40 quarters (10 years) into SS in order to be able to get "money back" in SSA benefits once you are ready to retire at age 62 (reduced benefits), age 66-1/2 (full benefits), or 70 (even more benefits).

If you do not have a work permit, you cannot work legally in the US. If you can find employment illegally and get paid in cash, you can till pay "taxes" by simply donating part of your cash earnings to the US Treasury.

Gifts to the United States

U.S. Department of the Treasury

Credit Accounting Branch

3700 East-West Highway, Room 622D

Hyattsville, MD 20782

http://www.fms.treas.gov/faq/moretopics_gifts.html

Do not work or look for work until you obtain deferral of deportation and employment authorization. How you are going to get approval for DACA when you have already committed fraud (using false SSN, using ITIN as SSN to obtain employment is likewise fraud) is a mystery - commission of any crime makes you ineligible for DACA.

Yes, any employer who hires anyone without legal authorization to work in the US is subject to $10,000 fine. And if you use your fake SSN or ITIN to falsely claim US citizenship or authorization to work, you are guilty of fraud. Again!

Withdraw your DACA application and get out of US urgently. Return to your country of citizenship at your expense, or else you are going in chains & handcuffs under armed guard. Anyone who applies for DACA who has committed a crime is deported immediately, no deferral of deportation for them.

If you hide information in which they later find out

you will be deported in a snap ... never lie

You need to talk to your lawyer and do what they tell you.

And, your writing is excellent,