The term "not on the books" is an idiomatic expression that refers to something that is unofficial, undocumented, or not recorded in official records or accounts. This phrase is commonly used to describe activities, transactions, or income that are not reported or registered for legal, financial, or tax purposes.
For instance, in a business context, if a company receives payments in cash without recording them in their financial records or not reporting them to tax authorities, those earnings are considered "not on the books." Similarly, when speaking about employment, it can describe the situation when an individual is paid in cash without legal documentation or proper registration, evading taxes and labor regulations.
Additionally, this expression can also be applied to describe unofficial or unrecorded practices, policies, or arrangements within an organization, government, or any regulated system. For instance, if a company has certain policies that exist informally, without being officially documented or recognized by management, those policies can be referred to as "not on the books."
Overall, "not on the books" is an expression used to indicate that something is not officially recognized, documented, or recorded in established records or accounts. It often implies an element of non-compliance with legal or regulatory requirements.
