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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:
hcee19 · 03/05/2026 22:31

I know it's can be a nuisance to get cash, but l would pay her ,in cash but ask her to sign a receipt. Receipt books can be bought from amazon, B & M's, anywhere really, they are easy to get hold of. If there is any problems that you could find yourself embroiled in, you have proof.

SemiRetiredLoveGoddeess · 03/05/2026 21:58

I would just get another cleaner who you can pay in cash and you don't have doubts about and avoid all this hassle.

Too much trouble. Not worth it.

Bokeitup · 03/05/2026 21:23

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

You're kidding me right.

Tryagain26 · 03/05/2026 21:02

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 ridiculous. She is doing a job and should be paid in money to spend how she wants.would you he willing to be paid in vouchers?

PeachyPeachTrees · 03/05/2026 20:58

She said she will be better off with cash, this implies she will pretend she is earning less than she is to then claim benefits. So I would carry on paying by bank transfer as she is someone who you are paying on a regular long term basis.

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.

Confuserr · 03/05/2026 20:01

millymollymoomoo · 03/05/2026 19:02

It is people’s problem. If self employed businesses had to declare all money earned and could t hide cash then paye for employees might not be as high

... and income tax/NI for SE people who do stuff by the book! We're not all being naughty

AMumWithWiFi · 03/05/2026 19:51

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.

I’m not sure why this narrative of the ‘poor cleaner’ is being peddled. In my area it’s common for cleaners to charge £25/h. If they work 6 hours Monday-Friday they can easily earn £3k after expenses. And this is for independent cleaners, not agencies. I wouldn’t be very impressed if they demanded cash without an invoice or receipt.

Jack80 · 03/05/2026 19:32

You could say I can bank transfer to her, its up to her when to pay tax.

riceuten · 03/05/2026 19:32

Underpaying/not paying tax is her concern. I’d be worried if she started to request payment upfront - or for weeks in advance. All the rest is curtain twitching

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.

SteveHill · 03/05/2026 19:30

There is some legal and practical risk to you if you knowingly pay in cash to help someone avoid tax. Paying in cash itself is fine - it’s the intent to evade tax that creates problems.

The key issue is “knowingly facilitating tax evasion”.

Under the Criminal Finances Act 2017, it’s an offence to knowingly help or enable someone to evade tax.

  • If you simply pay cash as a normal method → not illegal
  • If you know the purpose is to conceal income from HMRC → you could be seen as facilitating evasion

In practice, prosecutions of householders are uncommon, but the risk isn’t zero.

If a tradesman says he will "knock the VAT off if you pay cash", you are effectively committing an offence.

millymollymoomoo · 03/05/2026 19:02

It is people’s problem. If self employed businesses had to declare all money earned and could t hide cash then paye for employees might not be as high

SonyaLoosemore · 03/05/2026 18:57

Easy enough to draw out a month's fees at a time and keep the money in a drawer.
If you are worried about possibly supporting tax evasion, you'll have to say no to cash.

Sometimessmiling · 03/05/2026 18:48

ItsStillWork · 02/05/2026 14:06

Her not paying tax is not your concern.

she does a great job, you like her and want to keep her so I would pay her cash.

i hate messing with cash too so I would draw out a few hundred pound at a time to save regularly going to the cash machine

But it's our moral duty to pay tax and not to facilitate tax dodgers. NHS and education rely on tax payers

FaceIt · 03/05/2026 18:37

The power and control all over a good cleaner.
You need to get a life.
She’ll get the measure of you soon enough and will be off.

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.

Isntiticonic · 03/05/2026 18:21

Cash is King, use it or lose it!

DJSteves · 03/05/2026 18:15

Has someone seriously suggested paying in Tesco vouchers?

Moii · 03/05/2026 18:02

Tax evasion and benefit fraud id say when everyone else's taxes are going up.

waowwwwww · 03/05/2026 10:43

Imdunfer · 03/05/2026 08:36

Edit, only just realised they meant they'd buy aTesco gift voucher!

I'm also wondering who gets enough in Tesco vouchers ever week to pay their cleaner!

Do Tesco do a "pay your cleaner with them and we'll double it" like they do with Alton Towers 🤣 ?

Edited
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Pizza express is triple! Even better

TheRealMrsBloomfield · 03/05/2026 10:29

StormInaDcup99 · 02/05/2026 23:27

Do you have to be so incredibly rude?

The reason why I mentioned it was simply because the OP says it was a hassle to get cash out each time. You're not likely to dip into tesco vouchers like you might with cash and they're easy to pick up when you get groceries.

Fine to disagree with me. But it was simply a suggestion and your response was so rude.

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But it’s not money! You can’t just pay for things in vouchers, that’s why people are so boggled 🥴

HisNotHes · 03/05/2026 08:39

TheDivergentEnigma · 03/05/2026 08:05

You can deal in cash and still pay all your taxes, but by dealing in cash, you can avoid banking costs arising from card transactions; these costs may be hammering her and may no longer be financially viable to her. Cash transactions will save her money, and then she only uses the bank when necessary, keeping costs down.

There are plenty of free bank accounts where you won’t be charged as a sole trader. The cleaner is not taking credit card payments!

Imdunfer · 03/05/2026 08:36

BillieWiper · 03/05/2026 07:51

Tesco vouchers?! To make sure she only spends her money on groceries and not anything fun?!

Yeah she'd laugh and never come back.

What the actual fuck?!

Show quote history

Edit, only just realised they meant they'd buy aTesco gift voucher!

I'm also wondering who gets enough in Tesco vouchers ever week to pay their cleaner!

Do Tesco do a "pay your cleaner with them and we'll double it" like they do with Alton Towers 🤣 ?

sunflowersandsunsets · 03/05/2026 08:26

StormInaDcup99 · 02/05/2026 23:27

Do you have to be so incredibly rude?

The reason why I mentioned it was simply because the OP says it was a hassle to get cash out each time. You're not likely to dip into tesco vouchers like you might with cash and they're easy to pick up when you get groceries.

Fine to disagree with me. But it was simply a suggestion and your response was so rude.

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No, your suggestion was what was rude and bloody condescending. How would you like it if your employer decided bank transfer was inconvenient and they’d pay YOU in Tesco vouchers? 🙄