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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

277 replies

KikiLondon1 · 12/05/2018 18:49

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?

OP posts:
Highhorse1981 · 12/05/2018 19:07

You’ve known for years?
How come thinking about doing something only now?

Faultymain5 · 12/05/2018 19:07

OP ever buy from Amazon? Starbucks? Use Google?

If you're not bothered by their evasion, I'd sit pretty knowing you are doing the right thing. If it bothers you so much stop being 'friends' with her.

SluttyButty · 12/05/2018 19:07

So, you have a not close friend who, presumably, you know nothing about their life.
They're on benefits and maybe they've racked up payday loans trying to feed themselves due to sanctions/high utility bills/anything else that eats the stingy amount of benefits up (austerity really is a thing you know, it's not just a word bandied about by people on the telly 🙄).
And they're trying to pay these debts off in an ever spiralling mess?

If you have no idea how this 'not close friend' is really surviving then butt out.

arethereanyleftatall · 12/05/2018 19:07

I always assume that anyone saying 'myob' or similar on these threads, is doing it themselves, hence the defensiveness. It's a worryingly large number.

arethereanyleftatall · 12/05/2018 19:09

But @Faultymain5, we can't do anything about amazon. We can do something about the individual we've caught stealing.

TroysMammy · 12/05/2018 19:09

Not that it makeswick a difference but how many days a week does she get the £80 a day cash in hand?

Original poster
KikiLondon1 · 12/05/2018 19:10

We aren't close but she in my close group of friends. We never socialise on our own, only in a group and she openly tells our group about her job and her benefits...

OP posts:
Faultymain5 · 12/05/2018 19:10

arethereanyleftatall

So because I don't report people doing weed (for example), that means I'm doing it too?

Sorry (or glad) to say, since the day I started working I've never qualified for any benefits.

MayCatt · 12/05/2018 19:12

I always assume that anyone saying 'myob' or similar on these threads, is doing it themselves, hence the defensiveness. It's a worryingly large number.

This^^

It's theft. Why on earth wouldn't you report this?!

Faultymain5 · 12/05/2018 19:14

arethereanyleftatall
Actually, we can all do something. Hence my questions to the OP. If we're being so moralistic about right from wrong start boycotting those companies that refuse to do the right thing. Or is that too inconvenient for us?

Or should we just be like the government, and go for the low hanging fruit instead? So much easier, than actually doing the right thing.

carben · 12/05/2018 19:14

How do you know she isn't declaring it and still receiving benefits? Lots of people work and still get benefits and by your own admission you don't her very well. I'd leave well alone.

NoYouDontHaveThat · 12/05/2018 19:14

Because I don't get a self righteous lityle glow reporting people for things just because they work less than me or seem to be getting something I'm not.

Because that's all it's ever about. It's never about 'stealing'.

arethereanyleftatall · 12/05/2018 19:15

@Faultymain5
I'd say weed is different. Illegal, yes, but doesn't affect anyone else. Not paying tax owed + receiving benefits not owed does affect everyone else. It affects you when budgets are cut at your kids school/hospital.

I'm not sure what the 'this means I'm doing it too' bit of your post is talking about.

SluttyButty · 12/05/2018 19:15

@arethereanyleftatall I'm definitely not doing it myself, I don't work but my husband does paying the higher rate tax.
Am I bothered about it? No, because I know what it's like for the poorest in society now. It's shameful that we have period poverty and such high demand on food banks...

Plopster · 12/05/2018 19:15

The first £10/11k is tax-free & you haven’t said for how many days of the week she gets the alleged £80...or what her expenses are which would bring down her income/profit.

Report to HMRC and let them decide.

Original poster
KikiLondon1 · 12/05/2018 19:16

Lol, I feel stressed now reading the relies.

I'm not a bad person!

She isn't on the breadline & yes she may have debts but is that an excuse?

Yes, I've known for years and never reported it so I probably won't do it now... just wondered what others thought about it as I've only ever discussed it with my OH.

OP posts:
Brazenhussy0 · 12/05/2018 19:16

Why on earth wouldn't you report this?!

Because you can needlessly ruin someone's life for several months if you are wrong.
But hey, what's a little human collateral damage when you're up on the self-righteous high horse eh?

GirlsBlouse17 · 12/05/2018 19:16

She is earning a decent amount of money tax free and getting benefits she is not entitled to. I say report her. She is conning the system which you and other law abiding tax payers are contributing to. She will be using public services which are struggling under a lack of funding and she needs to pay her fair share towards these. You are right to report her and it would also be reasonable to review this friendship.

Melliegrantfirstlady · 12/05/2018 19:16

That’s a lot of cash. Roughly 1700 per month take home.

I wouldn’t report anybody tbh

Millions of people/businesses up and down the country don’t pay their taxes

Tradesmen especially like cash!

I don’t believe for one minute the govt would make my life easier in any way if everyone paid their tax as they should

However if the govt taxed amazon properly that’s a different story

jnfrrss · 12/05/2018 19:16

Big surprise, Amazon and Starbucks is mentioned already.

Everytime I hear someone try to defend a wrong with another wrong I assume they are dodgy as fuck and commiting fraud and just telling themselves it's fine Amazon do it!

gamerchick · 12/05/2018 19:16

I always assume that anyone saying 'myob' or similar on these threads, is doing it themselves, hence the defensiveness

I don’t have a problem with anyone ‘reporting’ anyone for any wrong doings. I do have problems with those who do it sneakily out of spite and then watch from afar while still being normal with that person. 2 faced people stick a picture in my head.

Anyway I’m sure the OP won’t have a problem letting her know she’s reporting.

huha · 12/05/2018 19:17

Mind your business.

Graphista · 12/05/2018 19:17

Shitty thing to do. But I notice as with all these threads the op NEVER has the balls to speak to the alleged fraudster themselves, OR to report openly - funny that! Why? Oh yes - cos it's a shitty thing to do!

Given nobody but me and my dd knows MY household financial info - how come they always know too? And to the £? I call bullshit!

Melliegrantfirstlady · 12/05/2018 19:17

If she’s done this for years and also claimed benefits reporting her would probably result in a jail term

NewYearNewMe18 · 12/05/2018 19:18

You'd have to report every builder, taxi driver, hair dresser, shop owner childminder - every cash based business operates ever so slightly dubiously

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