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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:
Justoneme · 02/02/2018 20:10

Sorry but you are no friend .... have the hard conversation with her about it .... I think you are being sneaky and two faced!

RidingWindhorses · 02/02/2018 20:10

Say that she really should start declaring. Explain the consequences. Be a friend but at the same time be a good citizen

She already has! RTFT

The OP has taken time to warn her that what she is doing is dangerous. That the HMRC could find out. This woman is an adult, she knows the law.

It's not the OP job to act as this woman's moral compass and make her behave.

MermaidHead · 02/02/2018 20:12

RindingWindhores. Nope. The Op hasn’t told her that she thinks she is immoral and dishonest. She hasn’t told her that she is angry about how she is behaving, she hasn’t told her that she thinks it’s unfair that she’s paying her taxes and her friend is not.

Canyouguess · 02/02/2018 20:12

RidingWindhorses

I have the thread and did not come across that.

Could you please point out where to me (page)

MermaidHead · 02/02/2018 20:14

Sorry!! RidingWindHorses ...genuine typo with your name..profuse apologies! 🙏

gert1e · 02/02/2018 20:14

Yes, of course you should report. You can report anonymously so it cannot be traced back to you.

swimster01 · 02/02/2018 20:15

That's not my understanding of how the Connect system works - I understand it flags anomalies to investigators.

BabooshkaBabooshka · 02/02/2018 20:15

Glitter would you report someone who you knew who robbed an old lady? What's the difference? These people are robbing everyone else.

Thiscantreallybehappening · 02/02/2018 20:16

Sorry but you are no friend .... have the hard conversation with her about it .... I think you are being sneaky and two faced

And the "friend" avoiding tax is a lovely person, a pillar of the community, someone we should all look up to and respect. OP has pointed out to her what she is doing but let us not forget she knows full well what she is doing. Why is it okay for her to behave in this way, it is illegal. This isn't a mistake she is making, she knows exactly what she is doing. It is greedy, selfish, entitled and wrong.

Ghostontoast · 02/02/2018 20:16

...and gloated about it!

emmcan · 02/02/2018 20:17

you know what happens to grasses, don't you?

Cherrycokewinning · 02/02/2018 20:22

“Today 20:15 swimster01

That's not my understanding of how the Connect system works - I understand it flags anomalies to investigators.“

Why do you think that? What sort of anomalies could you mean?

TalkinPeace · 02/02/2018 20:23

I totally understand why its wrong and unfair etc etc but I personally just couldnt bring myself to do it.
COWARD

DO not moan about public sector issues if you are a chicken

RidingWindhorses · 02/02/2018 20:26

Nope. The Op hasn’t told her that she thinks she is immoral and dishonest. She hasn’t told her that she is angry about how she is behaving, she hasn’t told her that she thinks it’s unfair that she’s paying her taxes and her friend is not.

No. This woman is an adult she knows full well she is being immoral and dishonest and what she is doing is unfair. She does not need it spelling out, and the OP is under no obligation to do so.

None of us are obliged to act as guides and mentors to others in life, or impose our personal judgement and opinions - it's unwelcome and would not be heeded anyway.

You are responsible for your own choices - no-one else has the duty to keep you on the straight and narrow.

MermaidHead · 02/02/2018 20:27

Swimster..the system is only as good as the programmers allow it to be and the parameters for “anomalies” can be changed depending on the budget and the number of people who are available to investigate. We have all of the tools we need in this country to abolish child cruelty, tax avoidance and all manner of crime. It’s all about the money...I often wonder where it all goes 😂

Cherrycokewinning · 02/02/2018 20:27

I think the public sector argument is a load of crap tbh. People have always avoided tax in this way, probably more so before sophisticated systems and electronic PAYE and banking.

Public services have never been crapper than now though. Amazingly, it might have more to do with the Tory bastards than the public

RidingWindhorses · 02/02/2018 20:28

It's in the early pages, canyouguess

RidingWindhorses · 02/02/2018 20:31

I think the public sector argument is a load of crap tbh. People have always avoided tax in this way, probably more so before sophisticated systems and electronic PAYE and banking

Really? People have always broken the law so they should just continue.

Have you considered the economies of Italy and Spain? - prolific tax dodging culture causes profound economic problems.

Cherrycokewinning · 02/02/2018 20:36

Yep I’ve considered them. Still stand by my post

Canyouguess · 02/02/2018 20:39

RidingWindhorses

No, it isn’t.

So my advice stands.

Talk to your friend OP. Lay it out clearly, that you are pretty sickened by this. If she doesn’t stay declaring, then you report.

Koala72 · 02/02/2018 20:39

She is your friend, right?

So I think you should talk to her about it and the risks, etc. You should get her to declare it herself. That is far better than you going behind her back. I'm not sure you would then be able to count yourself as her friend any more. But if you made a real effort to get her to declare - that would be doing the right thing.

BabooshkaBabooshka · 02/02/2018 20:43

OP, how will you know if your friend promises to report her rental income that she really will? She is more likely to tell you what you want to hear and then do nothing rather than risk HMRC getting involved. Also, she would know you dobbed her in. Why not just report her anonymously so you know she will have to declare and if she is doing everything above board she won't have anything to worry about.

Thiscantreallybehappening · 02/02/2018 20:48

Cherrycokewinning - but the "friend" knows what she is doing is illegal she is deliberately lying on a tax form.

MermaidHead · 02/02/2018 20:48

RidingWindHorses. I agree with some of what you’re saying but is the OPs friend aware that the OP is so upset by her behaviour? I genuinely don’t think so. What I disagree with is that a true friend should act as a guide. A real friend will firmly point you in the right direction and tell you the truth, however painful. If a real friend had pissed me off to the extent that I felt I had to report them to “the authorities” they would be the FIRST to know about it. I don’t think the OP has done this. Maybe we just have a different definition of what a close friend is?

Cherrycokewinning · 02/02/2018 20:54

Thiscantreallybehappening I know that- not really sure what your post is in response to?

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