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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

...to report friend to hmrc

366 replies

HMRCorNot · 02/02/2018 16:02

I have name changed for this

Close friend has at least 3 rental properties in prime locations. She Has been receiving rental income for over 10 years. Amounting to 6 figures(incl any mortgage amounts) Never declared.

She is In highest tax bracket so will be selecting no in drop down box for rental income on tax return which starts blank and then has two options yes or no - so no excuse to “forget” or not know.

I am also landlord and high earner so no jealousy. I find it immoral and unfair let alone illegal. She is surprised I declare!

Would IBU to report?

Can this be traced to me?

Can’t get comfortable either way.

Scared of reporting but feel ill that she feels she should be exempt from paying.

Wwyd? Aibu?

OP posts:
theredjellybean · 04/02/2018 09:53

Cherrycoke... Really? Knowing what the law says and expecting everyone else to as well is simplistic???

So if my friend comes along to me and says she has just stolen 250k from our local council... That's OK is it?

theredjellybean · 04/02/2018 09:54

@pooryorik

I agree

PoorYorick · 04/02/2018 09:59

Or were you speaking to Thiscantreallybehappening? Because she's right.

Tax law is not about individualism and subjective lines. It's about paying what you owe to the public purse. If you think it's ok to "draw lines" where they suit you, then you can't argue with others doing the same and you can't complain when your library closes, your park turns into a jungle, your local disability bus stops and your road disappears in a sea of potholes.

It really is that simple.

Cherrycokewinning · 04/02/2018 10:01

I don’t end friendships for friends doing illegal things like speeding.

RidingWindhorses · 04/02/2018 10:01

There is no right or wrong answer, we’re all different

Legally there is a right answer and a wrong answer. The law is the law. What she is doing is a criminal offence. It turns out that many people on here think friendship is more important than the law, and would turn a blind eye to crime if they felt it was in their interest.

I have no interest in being friends with someone with such a poor moral compass who continues to break the law despite friendly warnings and advice. Are people really so desperate for friends here?

If the OP came across this in a professional capacity she would be obliged to report it.

counterpoint · 04/02/2018 10:23

@theredjellybean "If you have any income that is not paye you have to do a return."

Thanks, jellybean.

I do understand having to file a return for earning anything extra above paye (and do) but never knew the 100K rule (never having earned anywhere near that).

theredjellybean · 04/02/2018 10:33

Cherrycoke... If you cannot differentiate between a minor incursion of the law like the odd going at 80mph on the motorway and defrauding hmrc (and society as a whole) from what is at least six figure sum of money then I can see why you think friendship is more important than the law.

Cherrycokewinning · 04/02/2018 10:34

Ok.

IsThisADream · 04/02/2018 10:35

REPORT!

MyKingdomForBrie · 04/02/2018 11:17

@bishopbrennansarse you’re probably right but report just feels wrong, in any situation like that. It’s not my life, it’s not my place to turn it upside down. You just can’t predict what the consequences could be, long or short term.

Benefit fraud or tax fraud, they both already face the possibility of discovery and consequence, it feels wrong to be the one setting off that destructive train in their lives. You never know what else they may have going on either. It’s not justification, I can’t say you’re wrong, I just feel I couldn’t.

Motoko · 04/02/2018 11:31

I think if this relationship was 'just' a friendship, then OP might not feel so conflicted, but she's said there is another relationship, so OP's 'friend' is probably a relative.

If the 'friend' is OP's SIL for instance, the fall out could affect OP's marriage too.

Andyjb23 · 04/02/2018 12:06

OP you need to report this. This isn’t a little offence and has been gone on for years - serious tax evasion

Kursk · 04/02/2018 12:28

@Thinker03

Tax is theft

Tillybilly1 · 04/02/2018 16:17

If you report 'friend/relation' then she might figure out it's you unless you have discussed in public place. Would just report minimum so difficult to trace to you. Not sure if you could do it without your name but if you don't could be worse for her and family in end, know someone who ended up in prison if a friend had dubbed them in earlier would have avoided it, now has no job and few friends.

harshbuttrue1980 · 04/02/2018 17:11

Tilly, if the OP is prepared to do this, then she should be happy for other people to know it was her. If she is standing up for right and is doing this with no malice in her heart, then she should be proud to tell everyone what she has done. If she's going to sneakily ruin this person't life and then pretend to be friends, she's nothing but a malicious smiling assassin.

TalkinPeace · 04/02/2018 17:18

Tillybilly
THe form has been linked several times up thread
its anonymous
the only way the person would find out is if OP told them
HMRC do not let slip

PoorYorick · 04/02/2018 19:24

I don’t end friendships for friends doing illegal things like speeding.

That's your decision. The law does not tell you who you can be friends with. But it does tell you that you have to pay what you owe into the public purse. We all do, because we all use that money.

If it's ok for OP's friend to decide for herself which laws she wants to obey, then it's ok for everyone else to decide the same. Don't complain when your library closes down.

PoorYorick · 04/02/2018 19:28

If she is standing up for right and is doing this with no malice in her heart, then she should be proud to tell everyone what she has done. If she's going to sneakily ruin this person't life and then pretend to be friends, she's nothing but a malicious smiling assassin.

Utter bullshit. There is nothing wrong with reporting a crime anonymously. People who fear repercussions for doing the right thing deserve protection. There are lots of examples in law where people have a right to protect their identities when assisting with a criminal investigation. As well they should.

Tax evasion is stealing from schools, libraries and disability services. From you, me and everyone in the country. Your motives for reporting someone who performs this criminal act do not determine whether or not you are right to do it - you are.

And you're not ruining a criminal's life by reporting them. They've done that themselves.

PoorYorick · 04/02/2018 19:30

Tax is theft

Then go and live in seclusion on a mountain top somewhere. Grow your own food, heat your own home, school your own children, build your own roads, maintain your own parks, establish your own libraries and perform your own medical procedures.

Pikehau · 04/02/2018 19:51

**If she is standing up for right and is doing this with no malice in her heart, then she should be proud to tell everyone what she has done. If she's going to sneakily ruin this person't life and then pretend to be friends, she's nothing but a malicious smiling assassin.

Is this not why whistleblowers get protection? Because they should be allowed to report a suspicion (in good faith) to be investigated but be protected.

In this case I assume Protection from those who would choose to brand OP for being “cuntish” “a shit friend” a “snake” to name but a few names she has been called on this thread.

And for what? Reporting something illegal.

I think op you should report if you can come to terms with the other “complications” of it being a “friend”

PoorYorick · 04/02/2018 20:25

I'm really stunned that so many people think reporting an alleged crime is so terribly immoral (one person even likening it to being an assassin) and yet don't seem to have any issues with someone effectively stealing from libraries, schools and services for elderly or disabled people.

specialsubject · 04/02/2018 20:35

The mn playground brigade, sadly. ' waah! Dont sneak!'.

Worrying as many will be parents.

juliettaa · 04/02/2018 21:41

specialsubject - agree, it is worrying that many of the 'don't report' posters may be parents.

Who on earth would want to instil the belief that tax evasion is acceptable, especially if it's a friend who's benefiting from the fraud? Tax evasion is illegal; it can result in a prison sentence yet some appear to view it as a 'lesser crime' (???)

The 'don't sneak' and 'tell tale tit' posts are akin to being in the playground.

user132 · 04/02/2018 21:50

what a shit friend you are. And what exactly would you get out of getting your friend into trouble? There is absolutely no way I am willing to believe that somebody who would go out of their way to cause trouble for their own friend, isnt jealous. GET A LIFE! life is hard enough as it is.

BakedBeans47 · 04/02/2018 21:56

life is hard enough as it is.

I don’t disagree there. As a result of benefit cuts, depleted public services, stretched healthcare provision. Just a few things that the OP’s rightfully due taxes would be paying towards.

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