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Original poster

To report her for tax evasion?

537 replies

hooveringhamabeads · 20/08/2017 12:32

I know of someone who is making around £1k a week, but hardly declares any of her income (she doesn't pay any tax at all so declaring less that £10k of it). She also claims tax credits.

I don't particularly like this person and am tempted to report her. Problem is, pretty much all the money she receives is in cash, so is there any way that the HMRC would actually be able to prove or disprove what she's earning?

OP posts:
PoorYorick · 21/08/2017 21:33

Theft from the public purse is everybody's business. Unless you don't and never will use the NHS, public libraries, roads and parks, or a state school or pension.

W0nder · 21/08/2017 21:39

I don't believe the OP can know how much another person is earning, how much they declare and how much tax they pay. In that sense, it's none of their business.

PoorYorick · 21/08/2017 21:46

I'm sure you know OP's situation better than she does, that no report ever made to HMRC could have led to a rightful conviction since nobody could ever have that kind of information, and that HMRC provide the anonymous reporting service purely to waste everyone's time and give themselves something to laugh at during the Christmas party.

But that being the case, OP believes she has evidence that someone is stealing from the fund that we all draw from (hence, everyone's business). If she's wrong, let HMRC quietly dismiss the report or investigate it and find nothing amiss. If she's right, a few more thousand quid can rightfully go to schools, hospitals and other things with which you apparently (and to be fair, a handful of others too) have no business.

Justanotherlurker · 21/08/2017 21:46

I don't believe the OP can know how much another person is earning, how much they declare and how much tax they pay. In that sense, it's none of their business.

Well, I hope you never make the comment that "the rich" should pay more as you personally never now how much they are earning or declare.

Why is it on MN that personal anecdotes only count if its positive gushing praise/virtue signalling bollocks, the people here posting under the name changes about not reporting are usually gushing with pride over being "so left wing" and everyone else is "i'm all right jack"...

lottieandmia · 21/08/2017 21:51

I get far more annoyed with businesses who rip off HMRC even though of course both are wrong. I had a relationship with someone whose tax returns always stated that he was paid about one third of what he really was and the wrong number of hours. In this case I think HMRC has finally caught up with the business and it caused one of the owners to jump ship when he realised what had been going on.

Ta1kinPeece · 21/08/2017 21:52

wonder
I don't believe the OP can know how much another person is earning, how much they declare and how much tax they pay. In that sense, it's none of their business.
You are entirely and wilfully missing the point.

The OP has suspicions about somebody.
The correct thing for them to do is to report those suspicions to the appropriate authority

and leave it to them to check the whole situation and act accordingly.

Nothing that the OP says in that form will jeopardise anybody if her hunch is wrong and the person is actually legit.
And if the other person is indeed evading tax, chances are HMRC will have several reports about them
but not from MN posters who seem to approve of tax evasion

lottieandmia · 21/08/2017 21:52

Sorry not tax returns - paye slips clearly ( tired)

BoysofMelody · 21/08/2017 21:55

The OP has suspicions about somebody.

No, the *op stated she knows the alleged fraudster's income and knows she doesn't pay tax on it and claims tax credit.

lottieandmia · 21/08/2017 22:02

Just because she gets working tax credit doesn't mean she's not declaring income.

I think to report someone you should have actual proof. The stalking and investigations that result turn people's lives upside down.

W0nder · 21/08/2017 22:02

Well, I hope you never make the comment that "the rich" should pay more as you personally never now how much they are earning or declare

I personally think everybody should pay the same percentage of tax as I believe that would be fair. I don't think people should put their noses in and report people if they don't know how much others are earning, declaring and paying in tax (and I don't believe the OP's claims to have this information).

Permanentlyexhausted · 21/08/2017 22:03

advice for the originator to contemplate (a) her motivations and (b) the robustness of her suspicions before proceeding.

What utter twaddle! The OP does not need to contemplate the robustness of her suspicions. You do know that she's not going to be bringing a private prosecution, don't you?

Ta1kinPeece · 21/08/2017 22:06

lottie
I think to report someone you should have actual proof.
But the form is quite clear that it is HMRCs job to get the proof based on whatever evidence you are able to provide.
The stalking and investigations that result turn people's lives upside down.
Um no. In one of the cases I reported he got what he deserved because my form clearly tallied with several others and allowed HMRC to claim assets.

wonder
I personally think everybody should pay the same percentage of tax as I believe that would be fair.
VAT is the same rate for everybody.
What are you worrying about?

OlennasWimple · 21/08/2017 22:11

I can't believe that there are so many people on this thread who think that it's OK morally, legally and socially to turn a blind eye to a criminal offence

PoorYorick · 21/08/2017 22:15

I can't believe that there are so many people on this thread who think that it's OK morally, legally and socially to turn a blind eye to a criminal offence

The reasons given so far are:

  1. It's 'middle class' to be concerned about it (apparently the working classes use public services even less)
  2. People won't like you
  3. Stealing from public funds isn't the public's business
  4. Crime is acceptable as long as someone somewhere is making more from it than you are
  5. Err...
  6. That's it.
Huppopapa · 21/08/2017 22:23

E. J. Thribb is in the house! Grin

PoorYorick · 21/08/2017 22:25
Wink
VeryCunningStunt · 21/08/2017 22:27

I can't believe that there are so many people on this thread who think that it's OK morally, legally and socially to turn a blind eye to a criminal offence

It's gobsmacking!

"I get taxed thousands on my wages per annum, and Sue up the road does a cash-in-hand job for a handsome income and fiddles it so she only pays two quid tax a year, but that's ok cos it's NONE OF MY BUSINESS"

Hmm
Justanotherlurker · 21/08/2017 22:29

I personally think everybody should pay the same percentage of tax as I believe that would be fair.

Well, we can all see what your inferring so we will skip over that before we get into some Venezuela type conversation.

I don't think people should put their noses in and report people if they don't know how much others are earning, declaring and paying in tax (and I don't believe the OP's claims to have this information)

That has not negated my initial post, so as i say, you cannot say anything about the rich paying more as you don't know how much others are earning or declaring.... so... kind of stalemate ...

see you soon under your name change on another political bashing thread

mounyaandyiolanda · 21/08/2017 22:30

I wish people would listen to ta1kin

HMRC has every right to investigate alleged tax evasion. Familiarise yourselves with Section 9a of The Taxes Management Act. This is for those who actually file a return.

Then familiarise yourself with failure to notify and failure to file, for those who don't file.

maxrayeseth123 · 21/08/2017 22:33

REPORT HER! REPORT HER! REPORT HER! - only joking...sorry couldn't resist

Ta1kinPeece · 21/08/2017 22:34

mounyaan
Tee hee that an HMRC inspector is backing me up!
My institute would chuckle if they knew Grin

I've sat through enough tax investigations over the decades to know what HMRC can and cannot do

I also know how shit the infrastructure is in countries like Italy where tax evasion is habitual.

38cody · 21/08/2017 22:35

What goes around comes around - don't be spiteful.

W0nder · 21/08/2017 22:36

That has not negated my initial post, so as i say, you cannot say anything about the rich paying more as you don't know how much others are earning or declaring.... so... kind of stalemate

I'm not trying to negate any point. I have no desire to claim anybody should pay more tax. As I said, I think everyone should pay the same percentage.

mounyaandyiolanda · 21/08/2017 22:38

ta1kin

Hahaha I did think the same as I was typing that!

It's madness to allow someone to pay little or no tax and get away with it while the rest of us are taxed accordingly.

I'm glad folk know that accountants will not allow it to happen under their watch either!

mounyaandyiolanda · 21/08/2017 22:39

w0nder

Can you explain to me what public services would look like if we all paid the same rate of tax?