Can a tradesperson insist on being paid in cash?

[LegoTherapy]

They have been found via Checkatrade but I can't find anything about this on their website. The job is around £500 and they have asked to be paid in cash. I'm reluctant not to have a proveable payment history after being burnt with the previous tradespeople. I am using checkatrade to try and avoid cowboys. Do I have to pay cash? TIA.

They’re not paying tax if just avoid.

Did they give you a cash price?

I'm self employed and I don't.

No. As far as the records go, there are none.

How could you prove you paid that tradesman to do that particular job?

Gentlemans agreement. You'd be fked if you had an insurance claim based on it.

Are you in an industry where you could though? Also that's perfectly fine, it's completely up to you, I just don't like the comments here about "scroungers" & scummy people

You’ve just admitted up thread that your husband is a criminal who repeatedly and deliberately evades tax by not keeping proper books and taking jobs cash in hand, and you think that’s a “perk of the job”. But you talk of other people having a brass neck?

@LegoTherapy
If he’s actually used the term ‘above board’ and raised the price then obviously he was intending to commit tax fraud
Report him.
This is one of the reasons we have so little money!

@Greenbike that's a massive leap, I said he is a co owner of a business who occcsasionally does a nixer for cash, like many who have trades or are academics teaching grinds after hours, he's not Jimmy Carr or Gary Barlow, I think you need to calm down a bit

Right!

People’s outrage about benefits isn’t even confined to fraud.

And you’d never hear someone go – my DH dishonestly claims UC to top up his income (lol sorry taxman!)

Yet there are people on here actually proudly stating their DH dodges tax. I suppose using the same roads, schools and NHS as everyone else.

IEA research estimates that the black economy amounts to between 9 and 12 percent of GDP, or roughly £200bn

I've never met a self-employed person who didn't do under the counter side deals for cash!

My DH doesn't. His clients are all companies though so they're not going to be handing envelopes of cash over.

Im sure some tradespeople will ask cash for the materials up front, then pay for the labour however you want.

well you wouldn't, would you!

Literally any self-employed person could choose to under-declare their income in order to pay less tax than everyone else.

that's true @Bleurfghjj they could but let's be honest they don't, especially if they have their own businesses as is the case with my OH or if you were a hairdresser who works in a salon but has a few clients they do at home or in their home, I don't think in all seriousness I nor others are saying "not paying tax is fine"

Yes. And unless he declares that income and pays tax and NI on it (judging by your “sorry tax man” comment it sounds like he doesn’t) then that’s tax evasion, which is a criminal offence. The fact that some celebrities have been pilloried for trying to do similar doesn’t make it ok.

In fairness @Greenbike that was a flippant remark, the fact I mentioned he has own law abiding business which pays through the roof in taxes & insurance etc for which they have an accountant I might add so you don't jump on me saying "bet he's cooking the books" like he's Al Capone

Also that's perfectly fine

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

Of course that’s perfectly fine 🤣🤣🤣🤣 PP was saying she is self-employed and pays her tax, and you think she needs reassuring that that’s perfectly fine 😅🤣🤣

What are you on about ‘that’s completely up to you’. It’s not optional, it’s 100% illegal, and if you get reported (I hope you do) you will wish you hadn't bothered.

In the meantime you are leeching off the system while using the same NHS, schools and infrastructure as everybody else.

Honestly, this says all you need to know about the circles you mix in, clearly all upholding each others’ shared delusion that what you’re doing is the norm 🤦🏻

It is scummy, and people that do this are scroungers.

I feel more repulsed by people that choose to do this, because it is from greed not desperation.

And the best bit is they don't even think they are doing anything wrong and try to justify themselves by saying everyone does it.

Well everyone doesn't do it and people that do are scummy fraudulent thiefs.

That is literally what you’re saying.

You're obviously entilted to your opinion but I don't think any of my teacher friends who give grinds are "scummy" or "scroungers nor is my OH or the lovely hairdresser who comes to my aunties house to cut her hair after hours @MrsRobinsonsHandprints

They might he charming, but you’re kind of making them sound like thieves

I think there'a a massive difference between someone who works in the black market & hasn't ever paid a screed of tax in their life & others who pay their taxes from their day jobs & then takes on a small job or two on the side but look you're obviously very passionate about this & that's okay

You've lost me now...

Just get an invoice

Also just because its on check a trade don't mean legit. My ndn started a business was qualified but only worked for someone. He signed up with CaT. Sent loads of people links to leave reviews. Within a week he had over a 100 5* reviews . He'd only done a few jobs that week as self employed