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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think it's an outrage employer isn't financially responsible?

160 replies

ToeSucker · 29/09/2025 13:08

Working for start up.
There are a million issues with dirty politics, toxicity etc.
My big problem is they started paying staff via revolut and are not paying HMRC, NI or student loan contributions. Instead they're just paying the net pay amount via revolut and the rest of the money is going missing.
They've stopped paying contractors too. They're ghosting them.

We just got a 50k investment and loads of people who were meant to be paid have not been. CEO insists they have been.

I have just found out CEO told other founders my ex-colleague and friend phoned him asking for equity instead of expenses money they're owed. This never happened according to my friend.

I have my resignation letter sent. I am going to escalate to HMRC etc but everyone seems very casual about this when it seems quite serious. AIBU?

OP posts:
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5
topcat2014 · 30/09/2025 19:05

Sadly hmrc will treat the net pay you have received as gross, and come after you for more tax if you don't have payslips

GiveDogBone · 30/09/2025 19:01

You certainly want to be explicit with the Board, in particular get on record they have legal responsibilities and can be disqualified as directors for knowingly trading insolvently (which this company must be).

Second, you must contact HMRC, not just to report the company but also for your own sake. I’m afraid it’s quite likely they may come after you for the unpaid employee income tax. You’ve effectively been paid “cash in hand” outside of PAYE. Even if it’s not your fault, it’s your problem (for the rather obvious reason nobody would ever pay/owe tax on cash payments if it wasn’t).

Toooldtopretend · 30/09/2025 18:40

Tiredofwhataboutery · 29/09/2025 16:35

This happened to me once 20 years ago. The company went under owing NI, tax other payroll deductions and a shitload of VAT. It was written off, so I didn’t get the tax refund I should have etc.

You can ask for redundancy if they don’t pay but nothing else.

If you can show the deductions have been made then it shouldn’t go against you at all. Same for any other deductions.

You can only claim for redundancy from the government fund if the company enters into a formal insolvency process.

Toooldtopretend · 30/09/2025 18:38

SerendipityJane · 29/09/2025 16:33

OP needs to make sure their NI and income tax have been paid by their employer. Because if not, the employee is liable.

If it’s a limited company the PAYE and employee’s NI are a liability of the company and it does not go against the employee. They are withholding taxes that would form part of HMRC’s preferential claim in an insolvency.

Original poster
ToeSucker · 30/09/2025 17:44

Comefromaway · 29/09/2025 16:29

Are you employed or self-employed? It is not your responsibility unless you are the one running payroll.

Show quote history

Employed on permanent contract. HMRC say my responsibility regardless.

OP posts:
Tiredofwhataboutery · 29/09/2025 16:35

This happened to me once 20 years ago. The company went under owing NI, tax other payroll deductions and a shitload of VAT. It was written off, so I didn’t get the tax refund I should have etc.

You can ask for redundancy if they don’t pay but nothing else.

SerendipityJane · 29/09/2025 16:33

OP needs to make sure their NI and income tax have been paid by their employer. Because if not, the employee is liable.

Coconutter24 · 29/09/2025 16:32

ToeSucker · 29/09/2025 13:51

No they stopped running payroll in April at the end of the tax year so no one has received a payslip since p60s

Show quote history

A company has to legally give employees a payslip

Comefromaway · 29/09/2025 16:29

ToeSucker · 29/09/2025 16:24

I have phoned HMRC and they say it's my responsibility

Are you employed or self-employed? It is not your responsibility unless you are the one running payroll.

Original poster
ToeSucker · 29/09/2025 16:27

Police have said it's not technically theft if they never gave me the money

OP posts:
Swiftie1878 · 29/09/2025 16:26

ToeSucker · 29/09/2025 16:24

I have phoned HMRC and they say it's my responsibility

Phone the police. It’s fraud AND theft.

Original poster
ToeSucker · 29/09/2025 16:24

I have phoned HMRC and they say it's my responsibility

OP posts:
Comefromaway · 29/09/2025 16:12

HMRC will not come after the employee. It is 100% the employer's responsibility to pay NI contributions etc.

Contact them ASAP. Under RTI we have to report payroll to HMRC on or before the date of payment. You can also report the lack of payslips etc. I'd suggest you contact ACAS for advice.

BrieAndChilli · 29/09/2025 15:57

if the company is unable to pay all the tax/NI due and twqist it to say that the net amount they paid everyone is acutally gross amount and you are all self employed it may be that HMRC will ask you all to pay tax/NI on the amounts you recieved. I would get this sorted sooner rather than later.

YesImaman1100 · 29/09/2025 15:56

Jeregrettetous · 29/09/2025 15:35

Ring HMRC, you need to figure out your own position. They are really helpful and not scary. While your employer has a responsibility to pay tax on your behalf, it’s your accountability to make sure it’s done, and done correctly. You’ve a problem with your employer, but HMRC will come to you to get the tax paid ultimately

^^ This 100% - HMRC will be after the employee to pay. (Rightly or wrongly)

Jeregrettetous · 29/09/2025 15:35

Ring HMRC, you need to figure out your own position. They are really helpful and not scary. While your employer has a responsibility to pay tax on your behalf, it’s your accountability to make sure it’s done, and done correctly. You’ve a problem with your employer, but HMRC will come to you to get the tax paid ultimately

kiwiane · 29/09/2025 15:29

If you were in a Trade Union you could seek support in taking them to an Employment Tribunal; otherwise get legal advice. Maybe your house insurance will cover you.

Original poster
ToeSucker · 29/09/2025 15:26

PhuckTrump · 29/09/2025 15:07

OP, you won’t have received 6 months of NI contributions, which means that the 2025-2026 tax year will not count as a year toward your state pension. You cannot get a partial year—it is either 100% and counts as a year, or if it is below, it doesn’t count at all.

And I'm assuming there's nothing I can do?

OP posts:
PhuckTrump · 29/09/2025 15:07

OP, you won’t have received 6 months of NI contributions, which means that the 2025-2026 tax year will not count as a year toward your state pension. You cannot get a partial year—it is either 100% and counts as a year, or if it is below, it doesn’t count at all.

AgDulAmach · 29/09/2025 14:49

Unfortunately in my experience of working with startups this isn't that unusual. You're right to get out of there, fast. You can report to HMRC but they'll be very very slow to do anything. Is there any way you can contact the investor without it being too much hassle for you? If not, don't bother. Just get out of there and warn anyone that you can to stay well away.

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 29/09/2025 14:02

(This is from AI )
An employer is legally required to provide you with a payslip on or before each payday if you are an employee or a "worker," such as someone on a zero-hours contract or an agency worker.
Your payslip must be provided as a paper form or an electronic document and must show details of your pay and any deductions, including hours worked if your pay varies by time.

HRchatter · 29/09/2025 13:57

HMRC don’t care. I have one client that owes me 25 grand but they owe HMRC £915,000 since 2020.
How is anybody able to accrue that level of Debt?

warmapplepies · 29/09/2025 13:57

You need to report them to HMRC.

HRchatter · 29/09/2025 13:56

Absolutely one of the worst experiences I’ve ever had of my life was working for a start-up company
They wanted to pay less because it’s all about the opportunity to get in on the ground floor, whereas actually like most of them failed, It now looks crap on my CV because they’ve cleared out all evidence they ever existed due to HMRC chasing their arses
I would’ve been better off being unemployed for two years

Swiftie1878 · 29/09/2025 13:55

Report to the police. This isn’t just an HMRC issue - they are stealing money from their staff (NI contributions, loan repayments etc, possibly even Child Support deductions).

Well done for clocking what was happening and getting your arse out of there.

typo