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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:
Imdunfer · 02/05/2026 17:35

sunflowersandsunsets · 02/05/2026 17:34

How is that making things up? I’m using them as examples 🙄

They're unlikely examples, other people as well as me have pointed that out. And you believe in tooth fairies.

sunflowersandsunsets · 02/05/2026 17:34

Imdunfer · 02/05/2026 17:32

How do you think being paid in cash gives her more money to spend then?

Please don't make things up about clearing an overdraft or paying back a loan because both of those could be dealt with by a new account with another bank. Besides being far less likely than tax evasion!

How is that making things up? I’m using them as examples 🙄

SixtySomething · 02/05/2026 17:33

Coconutter24 · 02/05/2026 17:22

There is zero mention of using a personal account in what you quoted.

I don’t know what you’re talking about re personal account. I don’t know what bearing that has on anything.

Imdunfer · 02/05/2026 17:32

sunflowersandsunsets · 02/05/2026 17:25

No, I am reading them. She says she wants to be paid in cash so she has less costs burdening her. Nowhere does it say she’s fiddling her taxes 🙄

Of course she could be but nobody on here can say that for certain.

How do you think being paid in cash gives her more money to spend then?

Please don't make things up about clearing an overdraft or paying back a loan because both of those could be dealt with by a new account with another bank. Besides being far less likely than tax evasion!

nearlylovemyusername · 02/05/2026 17:28

godmum56 · 02/05/2026 16:52

sorry my mistake, I was responding to @ChristmasCwtch
"ChristmasCwtch · Today 14:44
For every hour I employ her, I have to earn £24 to pay my cleaner £16.50.
Why should she then be exempt from paying tax!
Also, getting cash out every week is a pain in the ass, so it would be a hard no from me.
I also refuse to pay my nail guy in cash. He asks every time I go and I say no every time. Pretty sure they launder money too as they’ve got another salon they had fitted out years ago and keep empty of people!! So weird 😂
Edited

it's not just tax evasion. They are very likely to claim UC. Her poor husband has health issues whilst working on renovation project abroad.

The same people who support it here will demand protecting benefits and increasing taxes to fund welfare bill

chocolateaddictions · 02/05/2026 17:27

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? This is batshit sorry no one does this

oviraptor21 · 02/05/2026 17:27

If overdraft fees then even more reason to het money going through the account to reduce the overdraft for longer periods of time.

oviraptor21 · 02/05/2026 17:26

Yep - it's clear she's intending to fiddle taxes, benefits or both. No, I couldn't be complicit in this.

sunflowersandsunsets · 02/05/2026 17:26

thestudio · 02/05/2026 17:24

Because the cleaner is saying she needs cash because she needs to make more money?

If she's planning on paying tax... she won't be making more money.

Or it could be one of the many other reasons people have mentioned? Overdraft fees, loans, bank charges, debts…

sunflowersandsunsets · 02/05/2026 17:25

Imdunfer · 02/05/2026 17:23

You aren't reading the words the woman used. You have just made up other scenarios for yourself than the overwhelmingly most likely one.

No, I am reading them. She says she wants to be paid in cash so she has less costs burdening her. Nowhere does it say she’s fiddling her taxes 🙄

Of course she could be but nobody on here can say that for certain.

shhblackbag · 02/05/2026 17:24

Pay her in cash or find a new cleaner. It's pretty simple.

thestudio · 02/05/2026 17:24

BillieWiper · 02/05/2026 16:46

But why is she assuming her nice, trustworthy efficient cleaner is a tax dodger or criminal? There's nothing wrong with cash.

Because the cleaner is saying she needs cash because she needs to make more money?

If she's planning on paying tax... she won't be making more money.

Confuserr · 02/05/2026 17:23

sunflowersandsunsets · 02/05/2026 17:17

Yes. Unless you’ve seen this woman’s bank accounts and taxes you have absolutely no idea whether she’s fiddling anything.

Or do you always just assume the worst?

I think most people tend to assume that the most likely thing is most likely?

Imdunfer · 02/05/2026 17:23

sunflowersandsunsets · 02/05/2026 17:17

Yes. Unless you’ve seen this woman’s bank accounts and taxes you have absolutely no idea whether she’s fiddling anything.

Or do you always just assume the worst?

You aren't reading the words the woman used. You have just made up other scenarios for yourself than the overwhelmingly most likely one.

Coconutter24 · 02/05/2026 17:22

SixtySomething · 02/05/2026 17:08

“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.“

The matter under discussion is whether the cleaner wants to be paid in cash because she’s planning to stop declaring some/ all of it.

That’s the bit that the OP thinks COULD indicate this and is inviting other opinions to help her make her mind up.

There is zero mention of using a personal account in what you quoted.

Thanksforyourlackofthought · 02/05/2026 17:21

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

Todays winner.

sunflowersandsunsets · 02/05/2026 17:17

Imdunfer · 02/05/2026 17:15

Me make things up? Did you read what you wrote? She stated that she wants to increase her ability to afford the bills by being paid in cash.

But she's going to declare it?

Yes, I still believe in the tooth fairy as well.

Yes. Unless you’ve seen this woman’s bank accounts and taxes you have absolutely no idea whether she’s fiddling anything.

Or do you always just assume the worst?

Confuserr · 02/05/2026 17:16

busyd4y · 02/05/2026 16:49

Your post wasn't clear, you said you pay for cash withdrawals not that you use ATMs that charge, that's not the same thing

Im slightly surprised that you never visit a supermarket or petrol station or high street with a bank, it's nothing to do with being middle class 😁

Not "my post". Someone else said they have to pay to withdraw cash. I was explaining.

Also I (obviously) didn't say I "never visit a supermarket or petrol station or high street with a bank" (by "bank" I presume you meant to say "cash machine"?).

I pointed out that lots of areas of the country have no free ATMs. This is particularly so in poorer areas. It's something I have personally experienced and also it's well known & reported on and has been for ages

BBC News - Deprived areas 'becoming cash deserts', Bristol study shows - BBC News
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-48284018?app-referrer=deep-link

https://www.bigissue.com/news/pay-to-use-cash-machines-rocket-in-poor-areas-as-campaigners-call-for-action/

https://www.which.co.uk/news/article/which-calls-for-urgent-government-action-to-protect-access-to-cash-aZSKS0y3jyw6

ATMs in Clifton, Bristol

Deprived areas 'becoming cash deserts', Bristol study shows

Deprived areas in Bristol have less access to free ATMs compared to affluent ones, a study shows.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-48284018?app-referrer=deep-lin

Imdunfer · 02/05/2026 17:15

sunflowersandsunsets · 02/05/2026 17:08

You don’t know anything more than the OP does, you’re just making assumptions.

Me make things up? Did you read what you wrote? She stated that she wants to increase her ability to afford the bills by being paid in cash.

But she's going to declare it?

Yes, I still believe in the tooth fairy as well.

Supertayto · 02/05/2026 17:12

Make the kind, human choice, OP. HMRC doesn’t need or deserve to have ordinary people policing this shit for them. Her income, her tax, her business.

sunflowersandsunsets · 02/05/2026 17:08

Imdunfer · 02/05/2026 17:05

It could, but we all know it doesn't.

You don’t know anything more than the OP does, you’re just making assumptions.

SixtySomething · 02/05/2026 17:08

Coconutter24 · 02/05/2026 16:04

Can you quote where OP says in her original post about the cleaner using a personal account? I can’t see that anywhere on the original post

“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.“

The matter under discussion is whether the cleaner wants to be paid in cash because she’s planning to stop declaring some/ all of it.

That’s the bit that the OP thinks COULD indicate this and is inviting other opinions to help her make her mind up.

Feis123 · 02/05/2026 17:07

Obviously it is done not to pay tax. Let us not pretend otherwise.
Obviously it is not your job to police her tax-paying behaviour. I am not saying it will turn into Blue Jasmin (showing my age), but a new cleaner may be not so good as this one.

Imdunfer · 02/05/2026 17:05

sunflowersandsunsets · 02/05/2026 17:02

No, she hasn’t. She says the costs are burdening her.

Which could mean tax evasion but could also mean she’s living out of her overdraft, or has a financially abusive partner, or owes money to someone and they can’t reclaim if it’s in cash etc.

It could, but we all know it doesn't.

Monty36 · 02/05/2026 17:03

In terms of tax evasion the numbers on the published list of those who have not paid and owe is staggering. And the amounts are not small. Totally antisocial.