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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask if you would report this

117 replies

sweetsweetlovin · 09/04/2018 21:32

My neighbour is an electrician. He isn't self employed and works for a company.

Anyway, I know his wife and she makes a joke out the fact that he earns a fortune doing homers and gets away with paying no tax. He earns decent money in his job but can do a couple of rewires a month as well as odd jobs. This can net him a few thousand extra per month. He has bought a van so he can do these homers on the side.

She jokes that the taxman will never find out and it affords them holidays, designer clothes and for her to be a sahm.

Now I have a really good job that I enjoy and my DH also has a good job. I know it shouldn't but it riles me that I am taxed at source on all my earnings and she's boasting about her husband dodging the taxman.

I can see why people would say stay well away and not report and I can see why others would report it.

WWYD?

Btw I have name changed for this.

OP posts:
MrsEricBana · 09/04/2018 21:33

It is definitely wrong and definitely tax fraud but I'm not sure I'd get involved.

MissMarplesBloomers · 09/04/2018 21:36

Hmmm tempting yes & I can see why it would rile you but TBH it's none of your business , but if his wife keeps mouthing off a
bout this he'll soon come a cropper.

DialMforMordor · 09/04/2018 21:36

Doesn't some of that stuff require a safety certificate for the homeowner? Rewires, etc?

HeadingForSunshine · 09/04/2018 21:36

I'd think of your sick pay, pension contributions and the fact your livelihoods are secure. And keep my beak out.

Original poster
sweetsweetlovin · 09/04/2018 21:37

dial

I have no idea but he's doing a couple a month and netting a good whack for them.

OP posts:
HollyBollyBooBoo · 09/04/2018 21:37

The wife is a bit daft to be crowing about it, someone will report it I'm sure!

formerbabe · 09/04/2018 21:38

No I wouldn't report that. I'd mind my own business.

HollowTalk · 09/04/2018 21:40

I've recently been self-employed after a long time of PAYE and I couldn't believe that you were just trusted by the Inland Revenue as to what you earned and what were taxable expenses. It seems insane to me, especially if everything goes through your bank account anyway, so it'd be easy to check.

When someone's paid in cash, I don't know how the Inland Revenue could ever know what you're earning. Think of a chip shop - nobody pays by card. Everything's cash - how the hell would you know what someone earned and what their expenses were?

Tiptoethr0ughthetulips · 09/04/2018 21:41

Mind your own business.

wendiwoowho · 09/04/2018 21:42

Is it not pritty common for most trades people to do homers.
It's more a benefit to the people receiving tbh, as it tends to be cheaper than norm.

PretABoire · 09/04/2018 21:49

Could you try to talk to them? People must know if she talks this much about them, I would phrase it as warning them that people are aware, it’s illegal, and mostly seen as very immoral. If you want to report them even partially out of envy at least youd have a totally clear conscience if you gave them a heads up first

TaytoAllDay · 10/04/2018 14:20

No, I would absolutely not report them. That's just mean, and makes you sound jealous - I'm not calling you jealous by the way - just saying it doesn't look great on your part. Just leave them to it and do your own thing..

sirlee66 · 10/04/2018 14:23

I would report them.

sarcasmisnotthelowestformofwit · 10/04/2018 14:26

pp saying mind your own business, it's illegal, and it's fraud. Bet you are the first to complain, and rightly so, about tax evasion by the rich and by huge corporations, but it's ok for someone else to dodge thousands in tax.

It's utterly wrong and contemptible and I would definitely report.

cansu · 10/04/2018 14:29

Jealousy basically. Just own up to fact that you are jealous. It is a pretty spiteful thing to do tbh. If you are so sure you are in the right then pop round and tell them you are reporting them. I am sure you will have lovely neighbourly relations then. If you had a skill that you could do for cash you would probably do it - shame that you don't really.

SandyY2K · 10/04/2018 14:30

I wouldn't report it.

68Anon · 10/04/2018 14:31

Why report them? Just because he's earning cash and not declaring it? The majority of trades people do not declare their cash earnings.

The green eyed monster is not a nice character trait to have. Concentrate on your own life and keep your nose out of your neighbour's life.

findingmyfeet12 · 10/04/2018 14:34

I'd report it.

If they're breaking the law then I'd have no problem at all reporting it.

Itsallpropaganda · 10/04/2018 14:36

I have to say I'm staggered at the number of people saying keep quiet. I would definitely report him. Why should law abiding citizens pay their taxes at the correct rate while he swans about breaking the law? If he wants to do extra work at the weekends for extra money fair enough, but he should be filling in a tax return and declaring it like the rest of us.

MelvinThePenguin · 10/04/2018 14:36

Jealousy basically...If you had a skill that you could do for cash you would probably do it - shame that you don't really.

Are you serious? I am always confounded by comments like this, where it’s assumed that everyone would break the law if they could get away with it. That is simply not true!

findingmyfeet12 · 10/04/2018 14:37

Someone is breaking the law and the op is being told to keep her beak out and people essentially saying "good on them".

Hmm
Mrsx79 · 10/04/2018 14:42

Id be more annoyed at tax dodging mega-companies like Amazon tbh.

ItsNiceItsDifferentItsUnusual · 10/04/2018 14:43

I get why it's annoying, but I definitely wouldn't report. And tbh, I'd find more time for getting fucked off about the people earning a shit load more than him, and employing people to find tax loop holes. And corporations dodging tax.

Just feel pleased you're a decent sort Smile

Strumpetpumpet · 10/04/2018 14:51

I would report it. It IS your business (as a taxpayer) when someone else deliberately avoids paying their share, and it is NOT a “victimless crime” because taxes are used to pay for the public services we all use, so when the tax take falls, either services are cut and we all suffer, or taxes are raised in which case taxpayers suffer.

MinisterforCheekyFuckery · 10/04/2018 14:52

Those telling OP to "mind her own business", I actually think that it is her business. OP is a law abiding tax payer and as such is entitled to be pissed off with the situation, especially as the neighbors are so brazen about it. She hasn't gone fishing for evidence of her neighbours indiscretions, the wife has been bragging about how they're doing so well out of cheating the tax system- you can't do that and then expect people to "mind their own business". Vital public services are stretched to breaking point, which affects all of us, and the situation isn't helped by people like the OP's neighbors thinking they're so special that they shouldn't have to contribute to those services like everyone else.

Those having a go at the OP for being "jealous", what has that got to do with anything if she is? You can be envious of someone's lifestyle but still have perfectly valid objections to their behaviour and know you would never do the same. DH has a cousin who enjoys a very nice lifestyle (she doesn't have to work, spends her days at the gym, shopping and going for lunch or to spas, has a brand new car, at least two 5* holidays a year, all the latest gadgets, designer clothes for her DC etc etc) due to her DP's extremely lucrative but illegal "business". Am I occasionally envious? Too bloody right I am, but I would never trade places with her in a million years. Not only do I value my self respect too much but I also would hate to be living in fear of the knock at the door from the authorities!

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