Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To not want to pay cleaner in cash?

444 replies

brokenteddychair · 02/05/2026 13:56

We have had a cleaner for about the last six months. She generally does a solid job and is reliable. I like her very much, she works hard and is trustworthy. She is currently the sole earner in her household as her husband doesn’t work (manual job). This is allegedly due to an injury but he is currently in his home country helping a family member with a renovation project so I’m a bit skeptical.

She has asked if we can start paying in cash “because the costs are burdening me and I need to ask clients to start paying in cash.”. This indicates to me that she is planning to under declare her income and therefore either not pay tax, claim benefits she isn’t actually entitled to, or both.

This is really conflicting me. I feel strongly that everyone should be paying their fair share of tax. I also don’t want the inconvenience of having to remember to get cash out every week. I have enough to do, that’s why I need to outsource help!

Would you suck it up or let her go?
YABU = cleaners are worth their weight in gold, just pay tax
YANBU = don’t be complicit in her fraud, find someone who will take bank transfer

OP posts:
sunflowersandsunsets · 02/05/2026 15:56

brokenteddychair · 02/05/2026 15:54

Yes I did?! Read it again FFS

There is nothing in your OP about her using a personal account 🙄

NoWordForFluffy · 02/05/2026 15:56

holachicatita · 02/05/2026 13:59

To be honest the faff of having to get out cash for her every week would outweigh any thoughts of tax evasion.

This would be my take. It's not for me to police other people's declarations to HMRC.

SixtySomething · 02/05/2026 15:56

sunflowersandsunsets · 02/05/2026 15:53

Well, you didn't say that in your OP 🙄

Yes, she did!

SixtySomething · 02/05/2026 15:54

LeticiaMorales · 02/05/2026 14:56

The husband "working abroad", with the OP suggesting this is somehow untoward? The suggestions of fraud with zero evidence whatsoever??
If the cleaner was a style advisor with John Lewis, I don't think there would be the same attitude.

Sorry, but I think you're making a lot of (negative) assumptions about this post. I'm speaking here as a 'foreigner' myself.

brokenteddychair · 02/05/2026 15:54

sunflowersandsunsets · 02/05/2026 15:53

Well, you didn't say that in your OP 🙄

Yes I did?! Read it again FFS

OP posts:
brokenteddychair · 02/05/2026 15:54

Also, nowhere have I said my cleaner is not British. I stated that her husband is not originally from the UK.

OP posts:
sunflowersandsunsets · 02/05/2026 15:54

nutsfornuts · 02/05/2026 15:52

I always find these threads weird. I’m unsure why people seem to be so resistant to the idea that some (not all) people who ask to be paid in cash do so to pay less tax. HMRC estimates there is a tax gap of around £6–10 billion attributable to the shadow economy, which includes cash-in-hand traders, undeclared labour, and businesses with informal arrangements.

I have no idea if the OP’s cleaner is contributing to this but it’s a real issue.

It's not that people are resistant to the idea - more that they don't think it's any of their business.

You either trust the person you're hiring or you don't.

sunflowersandsunsets · 02/05/2026 15:53

brokenteddychair · 02/05/2026 15:51

Lots of people have given me reasons she could want cash. Not one person has given me a valid reason as to how to would be better off financially by taking cash, which was what she SAID TO ME, other than by avoiding business account fees. It’s not that as she is paid to a personal account.

The lack of reading comprehension here is staggering 😂

Well, you didn't say that in your OP 🙄

nutsfornuts · 02/05/2026 15:52

I always find these threads weird. I’m unsure why people seem to be so resistant to the idea that some (not all) people who ask to be paid in cash do so to pay less tax. HMRC estimates there is a tax gap of around £6–10 billion attributable to the shadow economy, which includes cash-in-hand traders, undeclared labour, and businesses with informal arrangements.

I have no idea if the OP’s cleaner is contributing to this but it’s a real issue.

Dimpledaisies · 02/05/2026 15:52

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ.

sunflowersandsunsets · 02/05/2026 15:52

HisNotHes · 02/05/2026 15:45

It’s by far the most likely reason.

Maybe so, but it's the cleaners' business, not OP's.

And unless she has full access to their taxes and bank accounts, she has no idea whether anyone she deals with is committing fraud. Paying by bank transfer doesn't mean someone is legit.

brokenteddychair · 02/05/2026 15:51

sunflowersandsunsets · 02/05/2026 15:36

No, you're assuming it's to "defraud the public purse".

Lots of people have given you reasons why she could want cash and be better off without fiddling the tax man.

Lots of people have given me reasons she could want cash. Not one person has given me a valid reason as to how to would be better off financially by taking cash, which was what she SAID TO ME, other than by avoiding business account fees. It’s not that as she is paid to a personal account.

The lack of reading comprehension here is staggering 😂

OP posts:
HisNotHes · 02/05/2026 15:51

sunflowersandsunsets · 02/05/2026 15:32

Some accounts do charge for bank transfers. If she's not from the UK, maybe she has a foreign account that costs her money?

If that’s the case, she can easily open an account here that won’t charge her. Problem solved.

sunflowersandsunsets · 02/05/2026 15:51

Confuserr · 02/05/2026 15:41

That's a whole different kettle of illegal fish then! OP didn't say anything to suggest she's not a legal resident. Bank accounts, including small business accounts, are free. Absent any actual reason why cash would be more profitable than bank I (like OP) would assume she's planning to tax dodge by not declaring at least some of her income. And to the person who worked out it might "only" be about £2.5k a year she would be dodging - that's something like 30 pairs of free NHS kids glasses a year. Or a week's respite care for a severely disabled child.

Edited

You can be here legally without being a resident.

HisNotHes · 02/05/2026 15:49

Coconutter24 · 02/05/2026 15:27

I would just pay her in cash tbh, this government makes it so hard for self employed. However if you’re not comfortable with that then say no you’d prefer to keep paying bank transfer and understand if she needs to drop you as a client because of it. Chances are she won’t drop you and you’ll be able to carry on with bank transfer.

“this government makes it so hard for self employed” - how, exactly?

bugalugs45 · 02/05/2026 15:48

I pay my cleaner in cash , as previous posters have said what she does with it is her business . I also pay my dog walker in cash .
I draw out so much per month and that covers both .
I’d also pay a tradesman cash if the price was considerably
less , 20% if memory serves me correctly from my kitchen 10 years ago lol , most people would and whilst it’s great that you’re so concerned with everyone paying tax , savings thousands on a job within your home , most people would do the same in my experience 🤷‍♀️

MrFluffyDogIsMyBestFriend · 02/05/2026 15:47

Confuserr · 02/05/2026 14:19

Indeed. It's tax evasion whoever is doing it. If she'd just said cash works better for her that's one thing, but she's essentially told OP she is going to end up with more money if she gets paid in cash - i.e. she's not going to declare it. I wouldn't be comfortable being part of that either and it would piss me off every Jan and July when I pay my own massive tax bill 😂

You have a massive tax bill because you earn a massive amount of money. You also have the stability that comes with that.

HisNotHes · 02/05/2026 15:45

sunflowersandsunsets · 02/05/2026 15:36

No, you're assuming it's to "defraud the public purse".

Lots of people have given you reasons why she could want cash and be better off without fiddling the tax man.

It’s by far the most likely reason.

nutsfornuts · 02/05/2026 15:45

sunflowersandsunsets · 02/05/2026 15:37

She can only get one if she has legal residency. Maybe she doesn't yet.

😂

Shes been here at least 6 months so unless she’s an illegal immigrant, or has no fixed address, she can get a U.K. bank account.

DreamyScroller · 02/05/2026 15:45

StormInaDcup99 · 02/05/2026 14:02

I'd possibly consider offering to pay her in say tesco vouchers and keep them somewhere safe in the house so they are there for when you need to pay her

As if.

HisNotHes · 02/05/2026 15:44

sunflowersandsunsets · 02/05/2026 15:31

There are lots of reasons that don't involve tax fraud.

Maybe she gets charged for bank transfers.
Maybe her DH takes a percentage of her earnings, and she can keep cash a secret from him.
Maybe she finds it easier to budget with cash.
Maybe she pays for something else in cash herself.

Regardless, OP has no evidence of anything untoward happening. But of course because the cleaner is foreign and wants cash, she must be some tax-dodging criminal according to MN Wink

I think any person of any nationality who wants to be paid cash in hand is fairly likely to be tax dodging. I think the same of British people.

Mulledjuice · 02/05/2026 15:42

sunflowersandsunsets · 02/05/2026 15:10

OP has no evidence that the cleaner isn't paying her taxes so what would she be turning a blind eye to, exactly? Confused

The cleaner's words heavily imply this.

sunshinestar1986 · 02/05/2026 15:42

catipuss · 02/05/2026 14:38

Try it and see, my FIL got investigated having paid someone a small amount in cash, the person was investigated and so were everyone they had dealt with.

That must've been shady dealings.
Not something as simple as legitimately paying for a service 🙄

Confuserr · 02/05/2026 15:41

sunflowersandsunsets · 02/05/2026 15:37

She can only get one if she has legal residency. Maybe she doesn't yet.

That's a whole different kettle of illegal fish then! OP didn't say anything to suggest she's not a legal resident. Bank accounts, including small business accounts, are free. Absent any actual reason why cash would be more profitable than bank I (like OP) would assume she's planning to tax dodge by not declaring at least some of her income. And to the person who worked out it might "only" be about £2.5k a year she would be dodging - that's something like 30 pairs of free NHS kids glasses a year. Or a week's respite care for a severely disabled child.

sunflowersandsunsets · 02/05/2026 15:37

nutsfornuts · 02/05/2026 15:35

It’s easy and free to get a uk bank account. She lives here so her costs will be in £ and she needs money here, in the uk. It would be a ridiculous for her not to have a FREE uk bank account.

She can only get one if she has legal residency. Maybe she doesn't yet.

Swipe left for the next trending thread