AIBU to refuse to pay cash in hand?

Do you actually believe that the government would reduce the tax rates if nobody fiddled it? Highly unlikely lol

Wow. I'm shocked. Thanks.

Yes I do mean cheques are no longer an option provided by banks, and haven't been for around five years. Somehow people seem to manage. I hardly ever have any cash on me - and my over-spending is no worse than it ever was!

I've got clients very close to the threshold who do just that. It's why a lot of small businesses open "short" hours, or take a few weeks' off each year, etc., i.e. so that they avoid the VAT trap without breaking the law.

One client is a guest house who simply closed the top floor to reduce the number of letting rooms from 9 down to 6 to stay under the threshold. It means overheads are less, i.e. less utilites, fewer staff hours for cleaning, smaller laundry bills, etc. We crunched the numbers and he's better off doing that that breaching the threshold, incurring additional costs and losing the VAT on ALL his turnover, not just the excess over the threshold.

Another is a small bakery/pie/sandwich shop. By only opening 3 days per week they can stay under the VAT threshold legally. Again, it means smaller utility bills, lower staff wages bills, and less wastage. Again, we did the number crunching and it makes perfect sense as again, they'd lose the VAT on ALL turnover not just the excess.

A final example is a fish and chip shop who close down for two months per year to "break" the 12 month rolling turnover threshold for VAT.

All three "could" break the law and not declare cash takings, but have chosen to find other ways to avoid VAT registration.

If tradesmen want to break the law, then fair enough, but let's not pretend otherwise - it's illegal and if they're happy to break the tax laws, I'd put money on them not being too bothered about other laws either! I wouldn't want such people anywhere near my house nor car.

Do you really think though that the SE tradesmen are the enemy and if they were honest the NHS, councils, schools etc, would no longer lack proper funding?! People selling clothes on Vinted are apparently supposed to do self assessments, ‘spose they’re the reason no one’s fixing the potholes 😂

Bit of a tangent, but stamp duty was a temporary measure to fund military efforts. But it proved such a good way of squeezing money out of us they decided to leave it. They would tax the air we breathe if they could.

I’m only jealous I can’t find a way to pay less tax because I’m employed.

She's still illegally evading tax.

This is a very specific example, so I’m wondering if you or someone you love has been stung by something like this.

My nail lady prefers cash but she is married with 2 kids so no child maintenance dodging. Maybe we can both be right?

Or there’s also the option to not take the job if it’s not financially worth it and stay under the VAT threshold.

In some countries, dodging tax is practically a national sport. I know because I’ve lived in one, and I still have family in places like that. The dog-eat-dog society it creates is not something I want for the UK. If that’s your ideal, maybe move there.

And no, the fact that the rich pull dodgy stunts, or that MPs get subsidised food (which I don’t agree with either), doesn’t make it acceptable for Joe Bloggs to take cash in hand and then dodge child maintenance leaving his kids dependent on benefits.

What if the gardener were chinese ?

🤔

Yes. They would either reduce tax rates or increase spending on services that people want. They are just trying to balance the books (or at least not borrow excessively). They are not a business trying to make a profit!

Isn’t the main reason self-employed tradesmen charge crazy rates that they don’t get sick leave, paid holidays, and other benefits?

Dodging taxes isn’t a fuck you to the government, it’s a fuck you to the taxpayers, who end up paying more to cover the gap while getting worse services.

Yes. They would either reduce tax rates or increase spending on services that people want. They are just trying to balance the books (or at least not borrow excessively). They are not a business trying to make a profit!

My husband gets both, cash and transfers. He declares everything and pays his tax. Not everyone is on the fiddle. I think maybe it's your judgemental stance that may be the problem.

Except the NHS , schools, social care etc that rely on taxes to fund them . Think about that next time you moan about waiting lists .

I agree with your friend.

It’s your choice of course but I think the underlying assumption that anyone who requests to be paid in cash is a tax dodger or benefit cheat is wrong.

Since the vote is so close, could someone explain why I’m being unreasonable? I genuinely want to understand people’s reasoning.

If you mean that checks are rarely used - yes, in America, as well.

If you mean that checks are not longer an option provided by banks - then I'm surprised.

Cash is great, although naturally corporations and governments don't want you to use it, because they can't track it. But it's fast, convenient, and keeps you from over-spending.

I pay anyone cash who wants it. Hairdresser, builders, plumbers, dog kennels, nail salon, beautician, cleaner, dog walker Happy for anyone to avoid paying as much tax as possible.

Great deal for both sides.

Last year a roofing firm
offerd to disxount the VAT if I paid them
in cash

£8 fucking grand .

That would have been a huge saving for me but how do i get £6k + in cash?

unscrupulous bastards