AIBU to want to anonymously report someone who has a cash only job and not pay tax?

[KikiLondon1]

I have a friend (not close) who has a cash in hand job and doesn't declare the income. It really irks me because I work hard and hate seeing my payslip and all the tax etc that gets deducted.
They get benefits on top of this also (which if she declared her income she wouldn't be entitled to).
I guess I've always been live and let live so would be very out of character for me to report her but on the other hand - I think it's just so unfair.
My oh thinks she'll get caught eventually and just leave it.
It's stealing though. Thoughts?

FWIW I think your compass is spot on @wontbedoingthat 👌

Nina - but paying someone in cash is contributing to the 'problem' - no-one's really given a satisfactory answer to that conundrum yet. Is thst cos everyone does it ?

Threejoeys
Of course we should not all do that. Like I said, it is NOT a race to the bottom.
Squabbling over one slice, no matter how large that slice is, is still a small portion of the whole. That's us, basically. The people on here. The people you meet. We are or should be on the same side in general.

I'm on the side of what I believe is right. Not one rule for one and another rule for others. The law is there for a reason.

Excellent point @lethaldrizzle - the answer is YES - ahahaha 😂

She could be legitimately getting tax credit self employed 16 hours a week. That would give her under the personal allowance for tax.

Posted too early. I did that for a while till my business took off. Totally legit

No, everybody doesn’t do it. I don’t.

Even if it's under the personal tax allowance it should still be declared.

KikiLondon, yanbu.

They are stealing, I'd report it too.

with friends like you, who needs enemies

Regarding paying someone cash, somebody replied the onus is on the service provider to pay tax and not the person paying but this is a cop out. People pay cash for services because it is cheaper. They can fool themselves all they like by saying they are not doing anything wrong but don’t be hyrocritical by then complaining they aren’t paying tax.

My PIL consider themselves pillars of society and like many on here are proud of being ‘respectable’. They are quick and vocal to judge other people yet they have paid cash in hand to their cleaner for years. I questioned them about it once and they said it wasn’t their problem because she is ‘self employed’. They are fully aware she isn’t declaring tax but because they benefit and more importantly can’t be held liable legally, choose to ignore it.

Imo they are absolute hypocrites.

Exactly “Whitsea - unbelievably hypocritical, and makes me roar with laughter.
These ‘pillars of society’ also love to proudly announce their respectability and moral candour to anyone who’ll listen 🤢😷 - favourite phrases of theirs often include “I know the difference between right and wrong! ”, “I’m on the side of The Law!” (personal favourite)

Agree with PPs that
-it's fraud, and it's stealing from all of us
-childish objections to 'snitching' are baffling
-the consequences of any conviction would be entirely the friend's fault, and not the OP's.

If the friend isn't breaking the law and it was empty boasting, than the stress of an investigation (which would therefore find her innocent) would also be her own fault, and not the OP's.

There are businesses out there right now who take cash and pocket most of it. This is why a lot of companies like cash.

I'm sorry but it's pure jealously nothing to do with "I pay tax so she should too". If you had a way to con the system, you would.

Anyone would do something illegal to make a bit extra money.

No, Couple, "anyone" wouldn't - speak for yourself on that one, not the millions of us who abide by the law

Couple count me out on that one. I agree with Utterly Desperate

What an odd thing to say @couple

1. Reporting allows HMRC to determine whether the correct tax has been paid. If it hasn't, it gives them to opportunity to claim back what is owed. It's not the OP's responsibility to investigate further.

2. Never had to pay for a tutor. My DC's state school is struggling for funds (partly because of the black economy described by the OP where people fail to pay the tax they owe, so not enough goes into the education budget) but they still manage to provide a decent education.

3. Yes, I pay my hairdresser in cash, but I know she declares her income because I do her accounts for her. There is absolutely nothing illegal in businesses taking cash, as long as proper records are kept.

4. A lot of you are missing the point that whoever is employing the potential tax-dodger is avoiding their own responsibilities themselves. If they fail to declare that they are employing someone, they are probably failing to insure them, won't be contributing to a pension or paying their NIC and are unlikely to follow proper H&S procedures. Not a nice business to deal with.

I do hope that all you ladies who’re frothing at the mouth and urging the OP to “repeat, report!” have NEVER EVER paid your cleaner/ironing lady(man)/gardener/odd job man/mobile hairdresser/decorator/ babysitter/ dog walker/car washer etc etc cash in hand?? Somehow I doubt very much this is the case

I think the OP should report. I've occasionally paid my hairdresser and my window cleaner in cash, when my chequebook hasn't been to hand. My clients have occasionally paid me in cash, and one or two pay in cash all the time, in spite of me preferring to be played by cheque. I have always paid taxes on my full earnings. I have no reason to believe my hairdresser and windowcleaner don't do the same.

Negotiating large discounts for cash payment of large sums makes the payer complicit in tax evasion. Sometimes paying in cash does nothing of the sort.

I don't have any objection to paying cash in hand. I have an objection to people lying about their income and stealing from the public purse.

Luisa27 You sound childish and frankly rather thick. If you want to argue, come up with a logical reasoning instead of spouting shite.

Pooryorick it's very likely that the person you are paying cash in hand is not declaring it

It's always a risk, but I don't think banning the use of cash is the right solution.

Still doesn't answer the question.