AIBU to refuse to pay cash in hand?

Well ,we have a regular customer who - if they didn't pay cash on the day of the work I would spend days chasing them for payment via the bank! Stop being so suspicious. Not everyone is a tax dodging benefit cheat 🤣

It's always tax evasion. There is literally no other reason for it. It's not up to the customer to make them pay their tax so I don't see a problem paying tradespeople in cash if you want to.

The idea that cash in hand jobs are a little "fuck you to the government" is funny though. It makes a mockery of the people who do pay their tax and takes money from schools, hospitals etc. Its a fuck you to the rest of us, not the government.

For me it depends on the trade and amounts involved, and the person (if I've already been using their services for a while). Best to do what you feel comfortable with.

Agree. Unless someone actively says they want cash, they will find this irritating, especially if you also imply you think they'll keep more money that way.

I had a decorator I used for a massive job, always insisted on cash and then on Facebook he's the first posting about the boats and migrants ruining our country etc but fine for him to tax Dodge and the rest of us pay for his healthcare and kids education etc. Sick of the same constant narrative. I'm happy to pay my taxes but my kids barely get science experiments and school trips, the NHS is a disaster zone and our country is turning to rat shit, why am I paying and making up for the thousands that don't pay, including the multi million pound turnover tax dodgers. I'm with you OP they are stealing from the rest of us, you can't know that's the reason but ask for an invoice or receipt I guess if you are using someone who wants cash. Greece changed their culture on this and it's totally changed their economy

Yes, 'how much can I pay if I pay cash' really annoys me too.

I want to be that person who has a chimney sweep and a mole catcher.

I think there are more issues with money laundering with Vape shops, Turkish barbers and such than the gardener/ window cleaner getting paid in cash.

i think these are all issues that need to be addressed by HMRC if we are to tackle evasion in a meaningful way.

You're actually inconveniencing her. She has to bank that cash. Its considerably easier for businesses to trade cash-free, (which is why we are increasingly seeing businesses refusing cash). It's a myth that it's more expensive for businesses to take cards.

I have a small business one employee (me) Ltd company so accounts and taxes paid as they should be, i've been trading for 18 yrs.

I have always sent invoices and used to get cheques, transfers and sometimes cash payments, I also have a card reader which cost 2% for each transaction it rarely used but I have it in my bag in case I don't trust that the client will pay by transfer.

Some people ask how much if I pay by cash? same amount as I don't discount rates. some clients pay by cash and to be honest its a ball ache to go to the bank to pay it in so I prefer no cash.

Most predominantly cash businesses, such taxis now, all take cards although a couple recently have said they want cash due to the rate on the card machine another ball ache as they then have to take me to the atm so I can get cash.

I think there are more issues with money laundering with Vape shops, Turkish barbers and such than the gardener/ window cleaner getting paid in cash.

I’ve always found it dodgy too but noticed it’s pretty common with tradespeople. The hairdressers I take DS to for his £5 a month haircut is cash only too. It’s an old guy who runs it so I don’t know if that plays a part.

I almost never have cash so if somewhere is cash only and I didn’t know about it they can forget my business.

Putting money in an ISA, for example, is tax avoidance. It's not 'using the tax system in ways... it wasn't designed for' though.

There is an H M Revenue & Customs line to report such people…

People keep going on about card payment charges when the OP was talking about cash versus bank transfer. Taking bank transfer payments costs nothing.

I'm self employed and find it irritating when people pay in cash as then I have to queue up at the post office and pay it in. On the rare ocassion people can't or won't do a bank transfer I'd rather have a cheque which I can pay straight into my account using my banking app.

I would agree with OP, I'd assume a tradesman requesting cash was probably not declaring all their income.

I run a business but never ask for cash payments. Some customers choose to pay cash and that’s fine, but I’d never insist.

No is suggested that it is always for the purpose of tax evasion. But it mostly is.

I think it depends: my Mils cleaning lady only works for cash but she's sending money home to her family in a developing country so I find it hard to judge her. Also a baby-sitter who does occasional baby-sitting is usually paid in cash.
What I'm angry about is one of our local bakeries that doesn't accept cards. Their bread and cakes are delicious but when you pay 50 £ for a cake It's annoying to have to get cash first. I could understand having a 5£ limit on cards but to completely refuse it- to le It's clear they are cheating the system.

Cheques have been phased out here.

I rarely ever use cash, only if it is absolutely necessary.

Yes, so his business is large enough to be registered for TAX. IE VAT. of course he should register. Hope to fuck you didn't pay him cash.

My local chip shop prefers cash because they have to pay for the card machine with a percentage of each transaction. So many people here seem to be missing the point.

Cash can be used without any illegal or tax dodging behaviour.

Everybody’s car could be used to commit various crimes, but nobody wants someone taking their keys away. How odd…

@purpleflowersfordays
I wasn’t trying to be facetious, I was balancing one big problem (the cash economy costing us billions), with one small one (banks freezing an account they believe to have been de-frauded or compromised leading to short term cash flow issues).
Ironically, the cash in hand economy savings would pay for those extra policing costs you seem to want.
You’re right about me being a good government target though. I happily and willingly pay hefty taxes and won’t pay anyone in cash.

I just paid a youngster cash in hand for a garden clearance job. Very unlikely to be going through the books but I think youngsters need all the help they can get these days. Not my business what happens to the money after I pay it. It covered this persons fuel, insurance, waste disposal charges along with paying a wage. There would have been processing time/costs once it left me.Some people prefer cash still for innocent reasons and that is a legitimate request.

Well you’re just being facetious now aren’t you. We don’t have different priorities at all because I also want those things tackled but not at the expense of civil liberties. You’re clearly the government target ‘customer’.

There’s more than one way to skin a cat and making cash seem illegal isn’t it in my book. Proper policing is, but oh wait the government won’t soend the money on that, it would rather convince its citizens that paper money is evil and that all crimes will be solved by everyone using digital currency.

I’ll see you on the other side and ask you how far your £100 in your spare account got you.

There is no charge for businesses to receive payment via BACS. Collecting money via DD is a different matter. Also sole traders frequently use digital payment machines — it’s a very small percentage in fees & they are passed on to the customer.

VAT is the biggest cost for a consumer — I tend to privilege non VAT registered sole traders for maintenance jobs as their prices are more competitive for that reason.

I’ve also found those wanting cash in hand are not necessarily cheaper and it definitely feels less professional—my experience is those that suggest it are not necessarily on the poverty line eg when they’ve shown up in a spanking bmw to quote for a job.

Our window cleaners ask to be paid via BACS—I haven’t paid in cash for 20 years.

I also believe we have people who work but are not earning enough to cover essential outgoings and beat inflation—and I wouldn’t begrudge them being paid cash in hand. If I genuinely thought someone was in that position I would pay them cash if they asked.

I think people agree to pay cash on the premise that they get almost 20% discount.