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AIBU?

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Original poster

AIBU to be so sick of tradespeople/ cleaners asking for cash in hand?

539 replies

Endlesspasswords · 03/09/2026 06:21

So my cleaner charges £21/hour cash, but just said she wants more if I pay by bank transfer, because bank transfer means she can’t dodge declaring it. As if paying by transfer (i.e. traceably) is some kind of favour/ privilege I should pay extra for.

Same with some work I got a quote for- it’s the attitude that if I don’t want to pay in cash, I’m the one ‘hurting’ their bank balance or being awkward.

I’m freelance B2B myself. No sick pay, no employer pension contributions, no paid holiday, I know exactly what it’s like to carry your own tax and NI. But I still pay tax on every invoice, because that’s the deal.

I’m so sick with the fact that self-employed people in one sector get to treat tax as optional while others pay for their healthcare, schools etc.

and yes, I’m getting a new cleaner.

OP posts:
C152 · 03/09/2026 17:21

Flickitspinittwistitbopit · 03/09/2026 07:14

Is this based on experience and if so of which bank, as mine charged for neither on my business account?

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I wanted a new business bank account about a year ago. Every high street bank charged at least £8 per month (HSBC did drop that charge for their lowest level of business banking), plus additional charges if you wanted to deposit cash, charges if you went above or below a certain amount, charges for any sort of banking service frankly. There is always the option of 'challenger' organisations, but that's not suitable for everyone.

In terms of the OP, I don't assume people who ask for cash are not paying tax. I find it bizarre the sheer number of people admitting to the OP they're avoiding paying tax.

Vulturesoverhead · 03/09/2026 17:14

Tryingtokeepgoing · 03/09/2026 17:13

Whilst not excusing the attempt to circumvent the VAT registration threshold, the threshold is a turnover one not an income one. So it's certain that even if he turned over £90k by the time you knock of the cost of running a van, the materials needed and the other costs asociatied with running a business the income of the 'man and van' will be a lot less than £90k!

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Yes and STILL should be paying VAT. It’s tax fraud and it boils my blood.

Vulturesoverhead · 03/09/2026 17:13

BermudaRhombus · 03/09/2026 09:24

That is so bizarre. Cash is a completely normal form of payment for goods and services. How on earth have we ended up like this?! There are numerous legitimate reasons why some businesses prefer cash payment - just read some of the posts on this thread.

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Well HMRC agrees with me as my friend is a lawyer there. Some is legit, but I can tell you it’s most certainly the black economy - it has a name, because it’s real. Just like money laundering, just like organised crime.

Tryingtokeepgoing · 03/09/2026 17:13

Endlesspasswords · 03/09/2026 06:47

Didn’t expect such a unanimous agreement- although the poll shows a few ‘cashiers’ have voted!

I had one guy say ‘do you mind paying it in cash as I’m on the VAT threshold and don’t want to have to register’ which means he had an income of £90k per year for a man and van business.

Whilst not excusing the attempt to circumvent the VAT registration threshold, the threshold is a turnover one not an income one. So it's certain that even if he turned over £90k by the time you knock of the cost of running a van, the materials needed and the other costs asociatied with running a business the income of the 'man and van' will be a lot less than £90k!

NeededANameChangeAnyway · 03/09/2026 17:12

When tax law is so open to being fiddled and dodged by everyone and anyone I can see why people try their hand at it. Tax should be the same no matter what you earn, whether you pay PAYE or are a business then their is no incentive to try to dodge it everyone pays 10%, 20% or whatever and that's the rule! Letting wealthy people hide money offshore, offset tax by donating money to 'charity' or someone getting cash in hand it's all the same IMO.....

PuppyMonkey · 03/09/2026 17:09

MajorProcrastination · 03/09/2026 17:03

Who's got time for that?! I'm not reading 15 pages of it!

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You do know it’s not compulsory for you to contribute - especially when you haven’t got much time. Grin

Pluto46 · 03/09/2026 17:07

Iheartpasta · 03/09/2026 07:26

Registering for vat is a whole world of complication for the business owner, so I can see why people try to avoid that. Having said that, we had workmen do our extension and wanted us to pay cash. £45k in cash?!?! First of all, no. I work for the nhs and that’s just wrong in so many ways. Second, how the hell am I going to take £45k out of the bank without triggering some sort of investigation. Dodgy AF. We still went with them though as they gave the best price and even the building inspector admired their work when he checked it all off.

What has working for the NHS got to to with it ? - hardly to be held in esteem as a well managed and resourceful use of the taxes we all pay. Have to agree with @Meadowfinch that if tax payers saw their taxes well spent then less people would feel justified in avoiding it

MajorProcrastination · 03/09/2026 17:03

HorseandHeron · 03/09/2026 16:37

It means Read The Thread.

Some posters read the entire thread and get annoyed by people who make comments that they wouldn't have made if they had read the whole thread.

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Who's got time for that?! I'm not reading 15 pages of it!

Toodarktooearly · 03/09/2026 16:55

If they only work for cash I don't employ them but I give my cleaner holiday pay and sick pay

BermudaRhombus · 03/09/2026 16:44

HorseandHeron · 03/09/2026 16:37

It means Read The Thread.

Some posters read the entire thread and get annoyed by people who make comments that they wouldn't have made if they had read the whole thread.

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It’s a feature of the Mumsnet threads I guess. Someone comes along, doesn’t read any of the previous posts and chips in with a comment that’s already been debated in depth 😆

BermudaRhombus · 03/09/2026 16:41

MajorProcrastination · 03/09/2026 16:30

I don't know what RTT means? I've googled it and none of the suggestions make sense.

What are the legitimate reasons for someone prefering payment in cash?

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Read the thread

HorseandHeron · 03/09/2026 16:37

MajorProcrastination · 03/09/2026 16:30

I don't know what RTT means? I've googled it and none of the suggestions make sense.

What are the legitimate reasons for someone prefering payment in cash?

Show quote history

It means Read The Thread.

Some posters read the entire thread and get annoyed by people who make comments that they wouldn't have made if they had read the whole thread.

MajorProcrastination · 03/09/2026 16:30

BermudaRhombus · 03/09/2026 11:50

It is astonishing ignorant and, quite frankly, comes from a place of privilege, to accuse a cleaner of tax dodging just because they prefer cash. Please RTT for all of the legitimate reasons why some people prefer to be paid in cash (which is a completely lawful means of payment).

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I don't know what RTT means? I've googled it and none of the suggestions make sense.

What are the legitimate reasons for someone prefering payment in cash?

dreamingofgoodhair · 03/09/2026 16:28

C8H10N4O2 · 03/09/2026 16:12

Another poster who doesn’t understand the difference between hourly pay and hourly business service charges.

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I do yes my husband has always been self employed. If I earned £40k gross I’d expect to be taxed.

seahorsessky · 03/09/2026 16:20

Keeping cash going can be very helpful. Since banks are (nearly all) shut, a lot of people prefer to use cash to avoid scams, and there's a lot of people who find they budget better when they literally hold their cash. When you give your kids money to buy things, or pick up your take out, cash is better.
And when the shop had a problem and could only take cash, it was funny how my anti cash friends were so grateful I could help them out.

Two2TooAlsoToToward · 03/09/2026 16:14

CarrieOakie · 03/09/2026 07:06

I've heard people make the arguement that they don't use public services at all so don't see why they should pay tax

anyone would be hard pressed not to use pavements, street lights, roads, or rubbish collections

Edited

And did they not ever go to school? Or visit a GP?

Gibstub · 03/09/2026 16:13

Burred · 03/09/2026 12:18

As pp have mentioned, it's demonstrably unfair to assume that anyone asking for cash is trying to dodge tax/CMS/whatever.

When people do it to avoid paying, it's wrong, unlawful and should not be supported.

However, it's wrong to say that everyone who wants to be paid in cash is up to something nefarious. Both me and DH are self-employed. My work is always paid by bank transfer. Around 80% of DH's work is paid the same way. However, every, say, 1 in 5 jobs, he asks if cash is an option as we sometimes use it for paying farm services//other trades/tips/similar. It can still be handy to have a bit of cash!

Let's not tar all self-employed people with this.

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I'm not saying everyone self employed is tax dodging. Also, Bank Transfer is not cash in hand by any means. But any business such as hairdressing, podiatry in etc that takes cash only in this day and age is certainly behind the times.

C8H10N4O2 · 03/09/2026 16:12

dreamingofgoodhair · 03/09/2026 15:13

£21 an hour is not low paid. That’s over £40k gross a year full time. Why should she not pay tax ?

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Another poster who doesn’t understand the difference between hourly pay and hourly business service charges.

Two2TooAlsoToToward · 03/09/2026 16:03

Sartre · 03/09/2026 06:49

Let’s not also forget the many men who do it to dodge child maintenance… It’s dodgy, you’re right.

This.

Badbadbunny · 03/09/2026 15:52

Chrysanthemumsinpots · 03/09/2026 15:45

One of those few humour moments in all the ridiculousness that was Covid was the fact furlough was paid on taxed income…

But all the council grants and the bounce back loans weren't contingent on declared income. The whole support was an utter farce.

BermudaRhombus · 03/09/2026 15:51

Chrysanthemumsinpots · 03/09/2026 15:45

One of those few humour moments in all the ridiculousness that was Covid was the fact furlough was paid on taxed income…

And yet the government still managed to lose £10.9 billion of our money to fraudsters. All those damn cleaners….

Badbadbunny · 03/09/2026 15:50

KoiTetra · 03/09/2026 15:11

To be fair, that doesn't always mean a tax dodge.

The card fees can be a killer. My hair dressers will take card but prefer bank transfer or cash. This is 100% to save the card fees.

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Card fees can be very cheap if people shop around.

Chrysanthemumsinpots · 03/09/2026 15:45

One of those few humour moments in all the ridiculousness that was Covid was the fact furlough was paid on taxed income…

HorseandHeron · 03/09/2026 15:42

100% agree with you. I am freelance too. Everything goes through the books. Tax paid on everything. I bet these people still want roads fit to drive down, schools fit to educate their children and NHS free on tap from birth to death. Just want other workers to fund it.

Flickitspinittwistitbopit · 03/09/2026 15:40

Cosyblankets · 03/09/2026 08:45

Which account is this? My hsbc account charges for every transaction other than a bank transfer

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Monzo! Just double checked in case I've been paying all these years 😆 but nope - free!

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