To report her for tax evasion?

[hooveringhamabeads]

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?

[Gingernaut]

It is possible to do the right rhing for the wrong reasons.

Tax avoidance should be reported.

The why for is up to the informant.

[WyfOfBathe]

YANBU. I imagine a lot more people would be telling you to report a benefits cheat, and this is effectively the same thing.

Taxes aren't something you can decide whether or not to pay.

[Mountainviewloo]

I trust you'd say the same about a single mum earning a few pounds on the QT.

Yes I certainly would. As said upthread.

The rich don't get touched by HMRC.

[Lifechallenges]

Its a lot of money to spend in cash - not sure how you pay council tax and utilities in cash unless she's on a meter for gas etc but groceries, clothes, petrol etc yet. Rent maybe if some places still take cash. Mortgage wouldn't be cash. Can't imagine car finance would be either.
However benefit fraud is fraud. Everyone should pair fair taxes as I have to. I suspect loads of cash in hand workers don't declare it all .... cleaners, gardeners, dog walkers etc
If you are totally sure of the facts, I'd report

[hooveringhamabeads]

I'm sure she has to pay for some things directly out of her account but she's got her tax credits and CB money to cover that.

[Batteriesallgone]

Report her.

Unless she has an additional income stream sufficient to pay her living expenses, she'll be banking enough to cover her bills and direct debits. Which should open the door enough for HMRC to start asking questions.

If she lives a very low cost lifestyle with regards to basics (rent and direct debits) then HMRC may find it hard to prove she's making a load of cash.

Depending on how she's making the money, HMRC can ask her to declare all suppliers / customers. They can then write to them asking them to declare their dealings with her. This is often how people are caught out - they have said they only bought £2k of materials in a year from X supplier. X supplier responds honestly to HMRC and says they bought £20k worth. The disparity can be accounted for with physical stock, ergo, proof of work and sales that have gone undeclared. The majority of businesses are honest and will answer honestly.

They are unlikely to have the resources to investigate 'on the ground' but it's amazing how easy it can be to uncover fraud just by sending out a few official letters.

Report her OP.

[ThrowthatCamera]

What is she doing

[CastIronCookware]

I gave up a business I invested my redundancy in and built up from scratch, because a woman down the road set up in competition, and undercut me hugely. I began to lose trade to her at a point when I was just about to start making a profit - It turned out, she was charging a lot less for the same service and products because she didn't comply with relevant legislations, including HMRC tax payments.

Yes, she was eventually caught and prosecuted (and no, I didn't report her; I didn't know until it was reported in the local paper) but it's a good example of how this kind of tax evasion can impact on other people. She got caught because she was breaking a range of laws, not just tax, and that had put customers at risk.

I have no problem with competition in business if it is an equal playing field, but when someone breaks the law, and others are put out of business as a result, then why shouldn't the law be applied? It's easy
to think this isn't hurting anyone - but how many people has this woman put out of business because she can undercut them, all because she's cheating the system? Is it only tax she's evading? She could be just as blasé about other business regulations that are in place to protect the public and someone could get hurt/injured.

[Happytobefree17]

She is a criminal. No two ways about it. Claiming tax credits and evading tax are prisonable offenses.

[Batteriesallgone]

Sorry disparity cannot be accounted for by spare stock...

[Allthewaves]

i'd have no hesitation reporting her.

All these people who say not to report her, so are you the same people who wouldn't stand witness if someone was mugged or your granny's carer stole money from her. This is no different, she's breaking the law

[stevie69]

If she reports and nothing is dogey there is no harm

You seriously believe that?

[AmIthatbloodycold]

I'm really shocked at some of these responses

Who cares if you're being spiteful, or "mean" (what a primary school playground word)

She's cheating all of us, and the fact that she's claiming tax credits is the icing on the cake

Do the MYOB posters decide which crimes they think we should keep quiet about and which we should report? You're the ones that need to be looking at yourselves, not the OP

OP, I would report with no hesitation, and I wouldn't lose any sleep over whether some people think I'm a "meanie"

[hooveringhamabeads]

Trust me, if anyone is a 'meanie' it's her!

[Logans]

this woman is bringing in a hefty income, not paying her fair share of tax

^ you can do that perfectly legally!

[dadshere]

The Only Thing Necessary for the Triumph of Evil is that Good Men Do Nothing.
Tax evasion is not a victimless crime, it means fewer services available, poorer NHS, less money to spend on education, (books etc). Also, tax evasion is often linked to and supported by other crimes, such as drugs. Do your civic duty, and be proud of it!

[ibbleobbleblackbubble]

I say she's an escort

[BackieJerkhart]

I really need to know what she does for a grand a week!

[LoyaltyAndLobster]

Who cares if you're being spiteful, or "mean" (what a primary school playground word)

None of us know the full story, so until then I do think OP is being spiteful & mean.

[ibbleobbleblackbubble]

Does she have a website or does she advertise anywhere?

[hooveringhamabeads]

She doesn't have a website no.

[hooveringhamabeads]

She's honestly not on the game!

[IvorHughJarrs]

You should report her. Leaving aside any personal issues, she is defrauding the taxpayer and stealing from public services that need every prnny

[stevie69]

Trust me, if anyone is a 'meanie' it's her!

Why should we trust you? We don't know you. And we don't know enough about the situation to be handing out advice.

I'm not advising you one way or the other re reporting her as (a) you weren't seeking that advice when you posted and (b) I don't think it's my place to so do. I will stick by my previous post, however, which stated that you may not feel as satisfied as you may imagine if you do go ahead and report. There again, you might; like I said, I don't know you .....

[mrsmuddlepies]

The posters who say don't report someone for not paying tax are often the same people who are full of indignation for cuts to the NHS and education.