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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
DiscoDiva70 · 22/08/2017 07:35

Hoovering

Are you going to update us as to what you've decided to do, if anything?

mounyaandyiolanda · 22/08/2017 07:44

w0nder

😂😂😂😂😂😂

Get rid of the personal allowance for everyone?
You realise your plans to treat everyone the same is backfiring massively by effectively taking a blowtorch to the earnings of those in the lower income brackets by taxing their whole income.

do you think before you type?

diamond49 · 22/08/2017 07:48

Op if your motives are honourable then why don't you raise the matter with her directly. Or are you too much of a coward?

itseasybeingcheesy · 22/08/2017 07:50

I actually think that all tax evasion should be reported. I hate all of this "it's not for business" stuff. There isn't a victimless crime out there. Everyone feels the pressure from this whether they realise it or not.

As part of my job I've sometimes got to report tax evasion (more often than I would have expected) and there has been a couple of occasions when I've had personal opinions about the person in question but I would have done the same actions regardless because it's the law and tax avoidance is as bad as theft. People giving the OP a hard time are essentially enabling tax evasion as the more they get away with it the more people will do it.

diamond49 · 22/08/2017 07:52

1984
.family and neighbours spying and reporting on one another.I think a few pounds in tax revenue does not justify an Orwellian society

ax revenue

Neutrogena · 22/08/2017 07:52

Report her NOW.

Schools for blind children are closing
Old people are left to rot in their own urine
Homeless people are freezing to death
Cancer wards are being shut down in hospitals

Why? Because people and firms don't pay what they should.

diamond49 · 22/08/2017 07:53

No because government priorities are wrong!

W0nder · 22/08/2017 08:06

Get rid of the personal allowance for everyone?
You realise your plans to treat everyone the same is backfiring massively by effectively taking a blowtorch to the earnings of those in the lower income brackets by taxing their whole income.

do you think before you type?

Yes I think before I type. Taking a certain percentage of all of everybody's income is fair. I don't think people should be pandered to simply because they don't make much and I say this as someone who is on a low wage. If you're not earning much, I don't think that should give you the right to not contribute.

mounyaandyiolanda · 22/08/2017 08:17

w0nder

You sound ridiculous. Absolutely ridiculous. Tax some one their full wage when they only earn minimum wage? You do understand the Implications of imposing such harsh taxation? You'll have more people claiming benefits which impacts on public sector spending.

LongingforNeptune · 22/08/2017 08:51

I am surprised at all these people saying mind your own business.

Tax evasion is a crime. Not pulling your weight to fund this country is disgusting.

Report her.

It's not like they'll take your word for it. They'll do an investigation. If she's found to be legit then nothing happens.

Ijustwantaquietlife · 22/08/2017 08:52

Report. It's very much our business if she is stealing public money!

shoesarefab · 22/08/2017 09:25

The fact that she's doing cash in hand work and isn't paying tax wouldn't bother me, but the fact she's actually claiming tax credits as well?! That would piss me right off. What about housing benefit top up?

Not sure I could bring myself to actually call HMRC though 😕

Mittens1969 · 22/08/2017 10:09

The tax credits aspect is very suspicious, I grant you that. Do you know someone who is an accountant, or s self/employed has a real understanding about what the rules are? Because what she's doing may be within the rules, although morally suspect.

Mittens1969 · 22/08/2017 10:10

I meant to put self-employed, of course lol!!

manicmij · 22/08/2017 10:13

Definitely report. Why should someone be earning that amount and not contribute a share to society. Does she use NHS, education etc services? And to have the nerve to claim a benefit. Shop her!

mydogisthebest · 22/08/2017 10:33

The form for reporting that has been linked to on here does ask for the details of the person doing the reporting. If you leave it blank do HMRC still look into it?

38cody · 22/08/2017 10:58

I'm sure that most people who get paid in cash don't declare every penny.
I'm salaried so have no personal experience but I do t think I would declare every penny - especially if I were struggling.
Has she got a mortgage? Children?
I'm not saying what she is alledgedly doing is right but please think about what you will do to her family - her children before you take. action. I think your motives are not for the greater good of society but a mixture of jealousy and spite - walk away with dignity imo.

DeeplyDippy76 · 22/08/2017 11:16

To paraphrase Albert Einstein;

The world is a dangerous place to live,
Not because of the people who are bad/evil,
But because of the people who do nothing about it.

DeeplyDippy76 · 22/08/2017 11:19

This woman is effectively stealing from society by not declaring her earnings and also claiming tax credits.
Report her.

Just because it's a "white collar" crime, it doesn't make it any unlawful than stealing from someone's house!

DeeplyDippy76 · 22/08/2017 11:20
  • less unlawful
katronfon · 22/08/2017 11:51

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Batteriesallgone · 22/08/2017 12:15

I've just remembered how long it took for DH's tax to become due when he started his first business.

Because of start up losses and the amount of time to takes to finish a year, pay dividends, declare and then tax become due it was AGES.

I remember panicking and wanting to just pay it now and get it done because we knew how much it would be but we physically couldn't we had to wait to file and get a reference.

So belatedly I'm echoing the others saying make sure she's actually dodging tax OP, not just paying it later than someone who pays PAYE might expect.

AmIthatbloodycold · 22/08/2017 12:44

And I see we have the good old "you're just jealous" response

The argument of the hard of thinking. Hmm

impossible · 22/08/2017 12:52

How about taking a different approach and sending her an anonymous warning. There's obviously a lot of sour grapes involved but you may not be delighted if she ends up in prison or homeless.

You could send her an anonymous letter saying you are aware of the situation and if she doesnt start declaring her income you will report her to the tax office in, say, six months. That gives her time to get things in order. This would deal with the problem while removing a bit of the malice.

1dayatatime · 22/08/2017 13:15

You would be unreasonable NOT to report her. Even ignoring the fraudulent benefit claims, £52k pa would give £15k of tax. That is £15k that could go towards giving nurses a higher wage, fund free breakfasts for primary school children, mental healthcare etc. Please don't argue she is being unreasonable and at the same time complain about Government cuts.

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