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?

things mumsnet loves:

Taking from the welfare state

Swindling the welfare state

What fallout? If you mean her punishment, well maybe she should have thought about that before proceeding down this path.

The amount that would turn a blind eye to theft is astounding. We are supposed to raise our children with morals, yet so many think it's absolutely fine to steal.

I couldn't be friends with a theif.

Just one for thought OP, I pay myself cash. I declare it to hmrc every month deduct my tax and ni be for I take it and ale record it in my business books. I have also paid some employees cash again after deducting ni and tax and also reporting it to hmrc and recording it through my business books. How wages and payments are made are irrelevant, what is relevant is wether it's declared and all dues are paid.
People can nudge nudge wink wink all they like but you will be surprised how many people cover their arses.

We get of customers, I don't need an invoice I'm paying cash. Ok we say, but we still price the job up with vat added on, they think they're getting it cheaper by paying cash no not having paperwork, it is there they're just not getting it, we cover our arses.

Just be sure of your facts first.

[https://www.gov.uk/report-an-unregistered-trader-or-business]

It's very easy to report using this link. It's very important that you don't raise suspicions or tip off the person concerned, as it is HMRC's responsibility to investigate, not yours, and a third party trying to check the facts for themself can easily jeopardise any subsequent case. HMRC can make some very quick checks to establish if the person concerned is paying tax appropriately and declaring their income. They can then share information with other agencies if appropriate or drop the case if the report is unfounded.

If you do decide to report, submitting this form could be the final piece in the jigsaw puzzle which HMRC require or it will be taken no further if the person concerned is doing nothing wrong.

If she was truly a friend, wouldn't you raise it with her first?
Reporting someone for the things you think she is doing is not the work of a friend at all.
If I had a friend in this situation I would voice my concerns directly to them, and point out that they could be in a lot of trouble.
But you seem to be willing to piss on her without having the full facts to hand.
I'm glad you're not my friend.

Yes, it's a crime.

Absolutely report her. I reported a business that my son worked for last summer. He never received a payslip which in itself is illegal. He had no idea if they were paying him correctly. Then when they decided after a few months that he wasn't "the right fit" probably because he kept asking for his payslips he never received a P45. He went back a couple of times to ask for one but it never materialised so with his permission I reported them. HMRC were very thorough in the amount of information they asked for but they don't report back with any results so we don't know what happened. The business is still running but there has been a change of manager.

I suppose we all know somebody or could hazard a guess at somebody who is doing this. It makes me seethe inwardly because I feel I am the fool paying taxes while others don't bother. I know if I tried doing it, I'd be the first person caught and probably held up as an example to others of what not to do!

That said, I have never reported it and I very much doubt I ever would and as awful as it sounds if I had a job where I could get paid in cash, I would probably try to dodge paying some tax at least by declaring I worked less hours or whatever way people do it. That confession means I am not any better than the person blatantly avoiding tax and that is the main reason I wouldn't report them.

I'm not sure why people seem to think stopping tax evasion by companies and by individuals are mutually exclusive things, and that we should come down hard on corporations but it's perfectly fine for individuals to it.

It is stealing whether it's a company or an individual and it is taking money away from those who actually need it. I don't know how people can criticise benefit cuts and austerity but think it's acceptable for people not to pay towards public services.

Why should benefits prop her up if she can support herself? I would want to make sure benefits went to the most needy and desperate people, not to those who see it as their right to lie and cheat the system. Report.

The vitriolic posts on here are unbelievable.
OP you sound like a nosey bitter person with not enough in your life as some other posters do too.
Join the police why don't you.

You're not a close friend but according to you she has been telling other members of the group that she's dodging the tax system. So, you're basically telling us that you are treating gossip as evidence or fact. And want to act on it by feeling resentful and self righteous and reporting it. Ime gossip is rarely an honest, reliable source of information and I never treat it as factual until I have significant evidence that I have seen with my own eyes and heard with my own ears. I doubt a person who is committing tax evasion is going to risk talking about it openly even with their friends. Acting on gossip is not the right thing to imo.

People shouldn't take what they are not entitled to.
BUT I do hate the fashion for bashing poor people.
When every business owner pays the right amount of tax, when everyone with savings pays the right amount of tax and when everyone pays the correct price for goods and services instead of asking for a discount for cash, THEN we should go after those on benefits who are maybe earning a little extra on the side.
I don't know if your 'friend' is in desperate straits, or a right royal pisstaker.
And neither do you.
I do know that when it comes to robbing bastards, she's not up there with the worst of them, so why pick on her?

Well said hazell.
OP do you twitch your curtains?
You sound horrible. How the hell do you really know her business?

Do it, it’s fraud.

What is it about people on mumsnet reporting their friends and neighbours all the time?

Neighbour shouts at her kids after a long day? Report to Social Services!
Friend trying to feed her family by working? Report to DWP!

What happened that made us all spies for the state and unable to help people on a human level?
It is wrong but you obviously don't have the same financial concerns as her and living on benefits is monumentally shit, both financially and emotionally. Have some compassion. I'm sure she'd much rather be able to work and pay taxes and live like you do but she can't for whatever reason and I'm sure she doesn't feel great about it.

Race car. Come on, you've only got to glance at the news. Hundreds of big companies, Starbucks, McDonald's, amazon..... treat workers like shit, avoid and evade tax, pollute everywhere and we all continue to support them, even tho they damage small businesses. Atos and group 4 etc taking government money, not providing the service, hurting vulnerable people. There are much bigger fish to fry
MPs eat every day in high price restaurants where poor people, some with no papers, work for cash and no benefits are exploited. Get real
Many trades people take cash and don't declare, are you happy to pay the cheaper rate. Don't get me started on landlords, that's a benefit scam.
On £80 a day probably might be entitled to some benefit, depending on other circumstances. Look at the big picture, more in unclaimed benefit than obtained by individual fraud. Perhaps the work is not secure and she won't get pension, sick pay etc. Not saying I advise fiddling the system, but not buying a duck house or second home is she

Yes, please report her straight away if you haven’t already done so. Disgusting that people screw the system like this. If she isn’t doing anything wrong then she’s got nothing to worry about. If you have suspicions then report.

Most of the 'keep your nose out' its a shitty thing to do' posters seem to be focusing more on the fact this person isn't declaring their earnings and thus paying tax. She is also claiming benefits which she Is not entitled to! if indeed she is actually earning £80 per day 5 days per week then she is earning around £20,000 per year tax free..........give or take a few weeks she may have off to go on holiday!
If this behaviour is fine to do then why don't all the 'keep your gob shut about it' people go and illegally claim some benefits too then!

SuperMumTum She can't pay tax and doesn't feel great about it? Get real! You don't live in the real world!

Many people would fiddle and brag about getting away. You sound incredibly naive.

@CalF123 I'm not sure why people seem to think stopping tax evasion by companies and by individuals are mutually exclusive things, and that we should come down hard on corporations but it's perfectly fine for individuals to it.

Who said that? I'm reading the thread and can't find one place where anyone has said that.

Spase She is also claiming benefits which she is not entitled to!

OP does not know that. None of us do. I know if this lady is on £19k cash, that OP doesn't know if she is declaring, that OP has not/cannot confirm is 5 days a week, nor what benefits this lady claims.

As OP does not work for HMRC or DWP, she can mhob. Why do the government's job for them? They have employees for that. In fact it's my SIL's job to investigate. she likes her job, but hasn't had a decent pay rise in years, could it be because of all these benefit cheats? I doubt it - since catching them is her bread and butter, more likely 'they' spent any potential increase on the systems in place for us to 'report on our 'friends' and families.

@Faultymain5 read Missingstreetlife's post carefully.

Report her. It's fraud.

I bet the ones saying don't report do the same thing...

Definitely report it, anonymously, and with any evidence you can share. So that an anonymous complaint is not ignored.
She's stealing, from all the people who are struggling with full time jobs and paying for childcare and paying into the tax/NI system.
People like her give a bad name to people who genuinely need benefits support.

And shame on the posters who tell you to mind your own business. They probably have skeletons in their own closet.