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:
catipuss · 02/05/2026 14:31

The cleaners tax affairs may not be the op's business, but if the cleaner is caught fiddling her tax the op will be under suspicion of collusion in the tax fraud and may find herself under investigation, which can be very invasive even if you are absolutely innocent. These sort of payments are often considered potential money laundering as well as fraud.

We had a neighbour who ran a shop, he paid everything he could in cash because it came straight out of the till and he wasn't declaring the income, it's all part of the black economy.

Daisymail · 02/05/2026 14:30

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

WTF!

youalright · 02/05/2026 14:30

Fraughtmum · 02/05/2026 14:28

I couldnt be arsed to get cash out for her

You couldn't be arsed to go to a cash point every couple of months while your out and about to help someone out.

Manxexile · 02/05/2026 14:29

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

Tesco vouchers?!?!

Seriously?

Wouldn't that be more inconvenient than paying in cash and doesn't answer the OP's question about evading income tax?

Pay her in cash. It's her responsibility to declare it to HMRC, not the OP's.

Confuserr · 02/05/2026 14:28

sunflowersandsunsets · 02/05/2026 14:25

Lots of business accounts charge for transactions @Confuserr so it can be cheaper to take cash and just spend it directly.

I'm self-employed and I use a personal bank account for my business income. Fine to do as long as you keep clear records of what is business expense and what's personal, which I do.

waowwwwww · 02/05/2026 14:28

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

Hilarious

Fraughtmum · 02/05/2026 14:28

I couldnt be arsed to get cash out for her

LeticiaMorales · 02/05/2026 14:27

newornotnew · 02/05/2026 14:26

You've assumed non-declaration, but that's not a clear statement.

I have no idea what other people do with their money, but I do know cash is legal tender and the cleaner is innocent until proven guilty.

Mmm...sounds like she's guilty of being working class and foreign...

sunflowersandsunsets · 02/05/2026 14:27

Chinkirk · 02/05/2026 14:26

But the cleaner muttered something about costs. What cost can you save by using cash other than tax?

Bank charges.

Chinkirk · 02/05/2026 14:26

LeticiaMorales · 02/05/2026 14:23

Nowhere does the cleaner say that she's not planning on declaring her income.

But the cleaner muttered something about costs. What cost can you save by using cash other than tax?

LeticiaMorales · 02/05/2026 14:26

watchingthishtread · 02/05/2026 14:18

Out of interest, how would one declare tax on Tesco vouchers? Would Revenue accept a buy one get one free offer as payment?

😂😂
"Dear HMRC, I am sending Kellogg's Coco Pops, 2lbs of minced beef, Ariel Automatic and some mild cheddar cheese for this month's tax bill.
Kind regards"

newornotnew · 02/05/2026 14:26

Confuserr · 02/05/2026 14:21

I agree that all your hypotheticals could be reasons to get paid in cash. However she gave a reason which is only consistent with cash = increases the profit. So how do you square that?

"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.”."

You've assumed non-declaration, but that's not a clear statement.

I have no idea what other people do with their money, but I do know cash is legal tender and the cleaner is innocent until proven guilty.

luckylavender · 02/05/2026 14:25

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

That’s degrading actually.

I pay my butcher in cash. I just have to remember. And the chiropodist I use only takes cash or cheques. Cleaner & window cleaner fine with bank transfers.

If you don’t like it then find someone else.

Chinkirk · 02/05/2026 14:25

TheFarmatLittletown · 02/05/2026 14:08

I would just pay her in cash, but give her the caveat that you may forget to withdraw it sometimes as it isn't something you normally do.

If it was me and I forgot one week I would just get the cash out when convenient for me so when I was at a supermarket or whatever, and then message her that you've got it. Tell her it is inconvenient so this is the price she pays for wanting cash.

I wouldn't concern myself with her paying tax or not. That's up to her. But then I don't blame someone who is struggling to want to pay less tax. The taxman gets enough. Huge corporations are tax avoiders, if you feel strongly, do something to expose or stop or raise awareness about those, rather than making things more difficult for a lone woman making a bit of money to keep her and her family afloat.

Chartered Tax Advsior. The ‘tax man’ doesn’t get enough, hence shite public services and having yo look at slashing welfare. And yes big corporations (inc Amazon - I know! Who’d have thought it?) do very much pay their way.

Goodness. Your post reads like you’ve just swallowed a book called ‘tax myths for the gullible’ and are keen to embarrass yourself.

CountryQueen · 02/05/2026 14:25

Tesco vouchers 🤣🤣🤣 fuck me

sunflowersandsunsets · 02/05/2026 14:25

Confuserr · 02/05/2026 14:21

I agree that all your hypotheticals could be reasons to get paid in cash. However she gave a reason which is only consistent with cash = increases the profit. So how do you square that?

"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.”."

Lots of business accounts charge for transactions @Confuserr so it can be cheaper to take cash and just spend it directly.

LeticiaMorales · 02/05/2026 14:23

Mulledjuice · 02/05/2026 14:22

Except the wording of the cleaner's request make it veey likely that she is planning not to declare her income.

"It is your responsibility to pay her.
it is her responsibility to pay her tax."
is true but OP is under no obligation to enable the arrangement.

Nowhere does the cleaner say that she's not planning on declaring her income.

sunflowersandsunsets · 02/05/2026 14:23

Mulledjuice · 02/05/2026 14:22

Except the wording of the cleaner's request make it veey likely that she is planning not to declare her income.

"It is your responsibility to pay her.
it is her responsibility to pay her tax."
is true but OP is under no obligation to enable the arrangement.

Whether she declares her income or not is nothing to do with OP.

So she can either pay cash or find a new cleaner.

Tablesandchairs23 · 02/05/2026 14:23

Pay her cash and stop judging. Cash is legal tender.

LeticiaMorales · 02/05/2026 14:22

gamerchick · 02/05/2026 14:21

Lol, you want benefit claiments paid in vouchers as well,.don't you?

Please don't pay your cleaner in Tesco vouchers. It's weird.

Yeah and it certainly doesn't help when you're trying to pay Eon or shopping in Primark.

Mulledjuice · 02/05/2026 14:22

sunflowersandsunsets · 02/05/2026 14:04

Whether she pays her tax or not has nothing to do with how she's paid.

Except the wording of the cleaner's request make it veey likely that she is planning not to declare her income.

"It is your responsibility to pay her.
it is her responsibility to pay her tax."
is true but OP is under no obligation to enable the arrangement.

Confuserr · 02/05/2026 14:21

newornotnew · 02/05/2026 14:19

It might be because she has debt problems and wants to have cash available due to being unable to use her debit card.

It might be because she is building up an escape fund.

It might be to hide the income from someone abusive.

It might be because it is easier to budget with cash.

Don't judge everyone by your own standards!

I agree that all your hypotheticals could be reasons to get paid in cash. However she gave a reason which is only consistent with cash = increases the profit. So how do you square that?

"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.”."

LeticiaMorales · 02/05/2026 14:21

Near me, there is a small, independent, family run restaurant. They have a notice asking for customers to pay in cash, if convenient, because it cuts costs for them.
I'm pretty sure they're not tax evaders.

sunflowersandsunsets · 02/05/2026 14:21

MakeMineStrong · 02/05/2026 14:19

I only do bank transfers. Cash is inconvenient and it shouldn’t make any difference to her how she gets paid unless she’s planning something criminal

That's not true in the slightest, though - it's just something you've made up Hmm

Maybe her DH is abusive and controls the money.
Maybe she owes someone and doesn't want her DH knowing.
Maybe she can save money by not using a business account.
Maybe she just prefers to budget that way.

Either way, it's nobody else's business.

gamerchick · 02/05/2026 14:21

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

Lol, you want benefit claiments paid in vouchers as well,.don't you?

Please don't pay your cleaner in Tesco vouchers. It's weird.