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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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:
bittertwisted · 04/05/2026 14:41

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

I am stunned by the patronising level of madness this suggestion is
why don’t you just pay her in gruel

Thechaseison71 · 04/05/2026 14:40

Nearly50omg · 04/05/2026 00:01

It’s also not that hard to pay tax and be honest!!!

Show quote history

And nobody has any bloody proof the cleaner isn't paying any tax she's liable to. Well maybe if she had been paid

Feduptryingusernames · 04/05/2026 11:42

It's a paltry sum to what they "earn" & designed to pay lip service to those on minimum wage.

Kokonimater · 04/05/2026 10:38

You don’t have to go to a cash point every week. Can you manage once a month? Then pay her each week
just pay the poor woman. You have no idea what her life is like. Have some compassion.

CeeCee702 · 04/05/2026 10:31

I think you’ve answered your own Q within the thread and replies that it’s not something you’re comfortable doing. You’ve got a few options.

  1. reach out to her, say you’ve thought about it but feel uncomfortable paying cash, then leave the ball in her court
  2. if you really are happy with her service then you could, as a compromise, offer to pay a little extra so she nets more (or could “tip” £20 a month outside of her pay via cash or giftcard)
  3. find a new cleaner
busymomtoone · 04/05/2026 09:55

Tricky one - I avoid paying big bills ( builders, plumbers etc) in cash for exactly that reason ( and it usually works out more expensive!) and if you always do that as well then I understand your reservations. However I’ve always paid cleaners ( when and if I have one ) in cash because it’s a smaller amount and I suspect they don’t want to wait until ( and if!) money hits their account. It also adds another level of hassle for someone who may be great at cleaning but not necessarily at accounting. She may be overdrawn ( esp as the one breadworker in the family) or simply have cash flow issues. If you like the cleaner, how much effort is it really to just go to a cash point and keep some money in ? This means she’s paid instantly for a service - if you feel she’s a good cleaner you are shooting yourself in the foot if you refuse.

HisNotHes · 04/05/2026 09:14

BillieWiper · 04/05/2026 08:40

That's not true. The person is clearly prejudiced against this person because they think of them as lowly and her husband is foreign.

Would the same amount of scrutiny be given to a male white British plumber or handyman?

Show quote history

Yes I would absolutely think the same about a white British (same as me) plumber. In fact, that’s exactly the sort of person who comes to mind when I think of people who want cash in hand.

HisNotHes · 04/05/2026 09:06

Blondeshavemorefun · 03/05/2026 23:58

Guess you have to decide what is more stressful - to go and get out cash weekly v a wad of cash once a month v finding a new cleaner who actually cleans well

V being concerned about enabling tax evasion - you forgot about that bit.

butternut123 · 04/05/2026 09:05

If she’s great I’d just pay her cash. Our cleaner did the same and for ease I pay her once in cash at the beginning of the month for the whole month. Makes it easier to remember

Imdunfer · 04/05/2026 08:58

Snakebite61 · 04/05/2026 08:31

Politicians and the elite don't pay their fair share of tax. Why should anyone? I hope she sees through you before you decide to ruin her life.

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I'll repeat what I wrote above.

Tax avoidance is legal and enabled by laws passed or not created by an elected goverment.

Tax evasion is a criminal offence.

VillageFete · 04/05/2026 08:46

MMAS · 03/05/2026 19:30

Quite prepared to be slaughtered for this. Why not go to your local Police station and ask what is best to do. No doubt they will say pay via DD but you never know what they may have on their radar. She may be controlled and six months is enough to make you feel comfortable hence the request. If the Police cannot offer anything then it's up to you whether you want to give cash or not. I would not, in any circumstances give a key to the house nor the alarm code in any event.

The police? I don’t think they’ll give a shit, and have far more pressing matters to attend to. I
imagine she’d be laughed out of the station, and quite rightly!!

BillieWiper · 04/05/2026 08:40

Valeriekat · 04/05/2026 03:08

Tax evasion is a crime and is everyone's business. There is no other reason to ask to be paid in cash.

Show quote history

That's not true. The person is clearly prejudiced against this person because they think of them as lowly and her husband is foreign.

Would the same amount of scrutiny be given to a male white British plumber or handyman?

Snakebite61 · 04/05/2026 08:31

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

Politicians and the elite don't pay their fair share of tax. Why should anyone? I hope she sees through you before you decide to ruin her life.

Imdunfer · 04/05/2026 08:12

Booshtooshloose · 04/05/2026 07:34

My child’s music teacher suddenly decided she wanted to be paid in cash, and when I asked why she was surprisingly open about that fact that it was to avoid paying tax. I refused, because I work for the NHS and my children go to state schools and I am very anti tax-evasion. And also the massive faff factor. She accepted my position and I continue to pay by bank transfer.

I find the results of your poll a bit dispiriting ie that more than half of people are comfortable with a bit of cheating.

I'm also amazed at the number of people on the thread who don't seem to realise that if other people don't pay their taxes then they will be paying more to make up the difference.

A million "little people" who cheat the system of £20 tax a week is another £billion the rest of us have to pay.

Imdunfer · 04/05/2026 08:09

Feduptryingusernames · 03/05/2026 20:23

The RF don't pay income tax so get off your high horse and don't judge. It's not your business whether or not she pays tax - give her a break.

They do.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cewp2wl7lg5o

Newspaper headlines: '£7m tax bill for William' and 'Traitors take their places'

Newspaper headlines: '£7m tax bill for William' and 'Traitors take their places'

The Prince of Wales's income tax bill revealed and Celebrity Traitors returns leads Sunday's papers.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cewp2wl7lg5o

Booshtooshloose · 04/05/2026 07:34

My child’s music teacher suddenly decided she wanted to be paid in cash, and when I asked why she was surprisingly open about that fact that it was to avoid paying tax. I refused, because I work for the NHS and my children go to state schools and I am very anti tax-evasion. And also the massive faff factor. She accepted my position and I continue to pay by bank transfer.

I find the results of your poll a bit dispiriting ie that more than half of people are comfortable with a bit of cheating.

Rhaenys · 04/05/2026 05:00

Honestly, the potential fraud wouldn’t bother me, but I would find it a pain in the arse getting cash out every week as I virtually never use it now and it’d just become another job to do.

Valeriekat · 04/05/2026 03:08

BillieWiper · 02/05/2026 13:59

I would always pay them in cash no questions asked. Why are you concerning yourself with her partner and what he does or where he's from? She's your cleaner and her personal circumstances are not for you to cast judgement upon.

You can tell her no and find a new cleaner I guess. But for what actual reason? You suspect she's a fraudster because her husband is a foreign manual worker? That's just prejudiced speculation really.

Tax evasion is a crime and is everyone's business. There is no other reason to ask to be paid in cash.

PinkTonic · 04/05/2026 00:07

VillageFete · 02/05/2026 19:11

I’m genuinely shocked at the amount of people who don’t carry any cash, or have some at home.

Last week at a coffee shop in a retail park that I was at, it was cash only, as all of their servers had gone down - same for a branch of Next nearby to it. I was able to get what I needed from both as I always carry cash, but the amount of people who had to leave empty handed was obscene.

We are literally sleepwalking into a cashless society, and it’s terrifying.

Having some cash available for emergency use is not the same as having to have the right amount of cash available to pay the cleaner or dog walker or whatever on a weekly basis, especially given you’ve probably outsourced the task due to being time poor. No way have I got time to make sure I’ve got cash for the cleaner when it takes less than a minute to transfer the money.

Lavender14 · 04/05/2026 00:07

Harmonypus · 03/05/2026 23:51

I've been employing personal assistants and cleaners for a few years now and when advertising, I've made it clear that I want references, a P45 or P46 and bank details, as all financial dealings go through HMRC.
Many people have applied and said they wanted to be paid 'cash in hand', but I've told them that I won't employ anyone on that basis, and found someone else that hasn't had a problem with their earnings being declared to HMRC.

I know people have said on this thread that it's not your concern whether your employee is paying their tax properly, but if they were ever investigated and it was discovered that you were paying them 'under the table', then you could get into a lot of trouble too, so it's just not worth paying 'cash in hand', do things properly to protect yourself.

"if they were ever investigated and it was discovered that you were paying them 'under the table', then you could get into a lot of trouble too"

Only if there was clear evidence that op knew she was going to avoid paying her taxes. Which op does not know. So many businesses work in cash. Do you think everyone who goes to the local Chinese or cash only nail salon is held liable for whether or not the owner does their taxes correctly? That's a nonsense.

What op would need to do is get a written receipt for all payments made so there can be no come back later.

It is the responsibility of the cleaner to pay her tax correctly.

SlumChum · 04/05/2026 00:03

YANBU to not want to bother with drawing cash out, but YABU to think you have any responsibility over her tax affairs. But, for thr faff of drawing out money alone I'd be thinking of switching.

Nearly50omg · 04/05/2026 00:01

Emeraldforest · 03/05/2026 18:34

As a cleaner myself ( not working in a house but an office) and with a partner who does both freelance and agency private cleaning ( we are both seniors) I would say...its not that hard to get some cash out, if you can afford a cleaner you likely don't appreciate how tight their finances probably are.
If you want to keep them, help them out a little, keeping a good cleaners loyalty is priceless.

It’s also not that hard to pay tax and be honest!!!

Blondeshavemorefun · 03/05/2026 23:58

Guess you have to decide what is more stressful - to go and get out cash weekly v a wad of cash once a month v finding a new cleaner who actually cleans well

Lavender14 · 03/05/2026 23:56

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

What the actual fuck?

What would you say if your employer decided they weren't sure how you'd use your salary and maybe they'll just give you tesco vouchers instead.

On what actual planet. How is this woman meant to pay her rent with tesco vouchers?

Op it is precisely ZERO of your business how this woman chooses to spend the money she's earned. What she does in her own time outside of your employment is precisely ZERO of your business.

If she's now saying she takes cash only (as MANY self employed business owners do) then you either pay her in cash or you find a new cleaner who may not be as good.

The only thing you need to concern yourself with is whether she does her job or not. That is it.

Harmonypus · 03/05/2026 23:51

I've been employing personal assistants and cleaners for a few years now and when advertising, I've made it clear that I want references, a P45 or P46 and bank details, as all financial dealings go through HMRC.
Many people have applied and said they wanted to be paid 'cash in hand', but I've told them that I won't employ anyone on that basis, and found someone else that hasn't had a problem with their earnings being declared to HMRC.

I know people have said on this thread that it's not your concern whether your employee is paying their tax properly, but if they were ever investigated and it was discovered that you were paying them 'under the table', then you could get into a lot of trouble too, so it's just not worth paying 'cash in hand', do things properly to protect yourself.