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?

If people had to disclose to the world that they were reporting crimes every time they did it, crimes would not be reported and many more crimes of revenge would be committed. Of course whistleblowers should have anonymity. It's not poison pen writing.

Astonishing how many people think that reporting a crime is a worse misdeed than fraud and theft.

I mean, Christ, how many people even posting here are doing it anonymously?

I would report online too. How many people like her are there? It's not just one it's thousands which collectively have a huge impact on everyone with their fiddled income.

Unfortunately unless we take a stand, then this culture of taking everything and giving fuck all back just multiplies.

Boils my piss.

I don't live like that, if I see a crime happen I report it.

The OP hasn’t “seen a crime happen”. She says her “friend” has furnished the whole friendship group with a blow-by-blow breakdown of her undeclared income and yet doesn’t seem to have the slightest concern that someone in the group might report her.

But if the OP speaks to her “friend” first instead of going behind her back without all the facts, it should very quickly be established whether a crime has taken place or not.

Would love to get my car keyed or torched, or worse happen by some unhigned individual (or their cohorts) due to telling them that I was reporting them to HMRC. I'm sure that'll go down well. How is it "sneaky" to chose to protect yourself and your family and property from reprisals for reporting something you belive to be wrong??

But if the OP speaks to her “friend” first instead of going behind her back without all the facts, it should very quickly be established whether a crime has taken place or not.

And if a crime has been comitted? What does the OP do? Say, OK, I'm going to report you then?; then get their teeth kicked in by someone for reporting it? Or they could report it anonymously to the correct authority through their channel, and let them investigate it and deliberate on it?

I don't understand the viewpoint that because the OP has heard this person discussing her fraud/benefits openly in a group that means its unlikely to be true and she shouldn't act on it.

Of course it's possible that the 'friend' is making it up, although it seems inconceivable to me that someone would want to pretend they were committing fraud if they aren't.

OP - yes I think you should report. She is committing a crime - because she is stealing from 'the government' rather than an individual doesn't make it acceptable. And if it turns out she's totally legitimate then it will all come to nothing.

Also I definitely don't think you should have to speak to her about it first. What on earth good would it do? It won't stop her doing it, it would create a massive fall out in the friendship group (where you'd be painted as a troublemaker no doubt) and she'll probably continue but just try to cover her tracks better. It is better to report anonymously and let the authorities do their job.

Perhaps if the OP hadn’t admitted she resents paying tax on her own income, more people would believe she’s doing this out of a sense of civic duty.

But if the OP speaks to her “friend” first instead of going behind her back without all the facts, it should very quickly be established whether a crime has taken place or not.

My God, you're actually serious, aren't you? You seriously think that investigating potential crimes is OP's job, and that her friend will be completely open and honest about it.

You are wrong. If OP suspects a crime has been committed, she should report it, and there's absolutely nothing wrong with doing it anonymously. An investigation will take place (OP is not actually privy to HMRC records, you know) and if no crime has taken place, no case will be brought.

Also I definitely don't think you should have to speak to her about it first. What on earth good would it do?

It would show that the OP’s actions come from her having a strong moral code and not from a place of wanting to cover her own arse by lying to the friend that she has nothing to do with the reporting.

You seriously think that investigating potential crimes is OP's job, and that her friend will be completely open and honest about it.

No, you misread my post. The OP has already said she intends to report.

And if you think wrongly reporting someone for benefit fraud has no outcome, please read the posts upthread that explain what happens. Benefits are sanctioned and families can be evicted for starters. Saying sorry after the event doesn’t cut it.

Perhaps if the OP hadn’t admitted she resents paying tax on her own income, more people would believe she’s doing this out of a sense of civic duty.

I think majority of people resent paying taxes when other people are gaming the system and getting away with earning similar ammounts as them all the while paying no tax on those earnings.

The OP 's reasons don't matter. You'd have a problem with her reporting no matter what her motivation and the outcome would be exactly the same.

Are you reticent about reporting her because your conscience won't let you, as she is a friend, or because you may be found out as the one who reported her? The trouble with Jo Public, they always think somebody else will do it, so why bother. She has been doing it for 3 to 4 years, and nobody has reported her yet. It may seem a small amount of unpaid tax, but you don't need many people to do it, before the amount starts adding up. Our tax goes to pay for hospitals and employees of those hospitals, look how much better off the NHS would be if every single person who should pay tax, paid it, and every single person who shouldn't receive benefits gets a job. I have never been in this situation, but if I was I would like to think I would do the right thing, for the benefit of all public services, where this money is so badly needed.........Phew, I am now stepping off my soap box, to clean the downstairs loo, which my OH used, before going to work, and left skid mark's Jeremy Clarkson would be proud of.

I can't understand why people always bring up Amazon and Starbucks, as though that justifies individual fraud. Just because that's a shitload of money, doesn't mean people should just be allowed to steal as the amount is so much smaller. Also, there isn't very much that we can do to stop Amazon etc, as what they are doing is morally reprehensible but actually legal due to tax loopholes. It's for the powers that be so grow a pair and sort it out. Until that happens it doesn't mean people should have carte blanche to steal. What OPs friend is doing is morally reprehensible AND illegal, and I would absolutely report. It's stealing. The amount is irrelevant.

Not if it’s just for a few extra quid a week. Leave be.
If they’re ripping us off something chronic and earning thousands then prob just state your stance to her xx

Amazon etc are always brought up as a way of justifying fraud, living on benefits etc.

However they are doing nothing wrong by maximising tax loopholes. It's no different to all the SE people who use loopholes, pay themselves min wage whilst taking dividends etc to pay minimal tax and even keep below benefit threasholds to keep claiming.

You have to earn over £200 per week to have to start paying tax, so if they’re doing a £20 PW cleaning job, I do think it’s not worth crying about.

Everyone hates paying tax, but it's a civic duty. Anyone saying the OP is sneaky, jealous, nasty etc can never, ever complain about the state of the NHS, our schools, lack of free childcare etc because they are complicit in bringing these services to the ground.

A Mexican friend often tells me how no one in his country pays all their tax because "they're not stupid". Then he complains about how poor his country is despite everyone working hard. The two things are not unconnected.

Once in a while to help out is one thing, but £80 a day is not. It is more than people are getting on minimum wage. Why should they declare their earnings when someone getting more than them doesn't?

For many people, I’m sure small jobs on the side like, are a bit of a lifeline. Not that it’s right of course. But it’s hard to judge.
It’s the self-employed, shops & small businesses that I often see as being prime cash pots for tax evasion. I know people who own a mainly cash run business, and they only ever deal with cash. It’s by no means a big business, and entirely family run, but they own several homes, have funded 6 kids through elite private schools, drive top of the range cars and have extravagant holidays every year. Not bad for a ‘small’ business!

What benefits IS she claiming?
If it's PIP- it's not means tests so could be earning 150k a year and still claim it.
Working tax credit- clues in the name
Child tax credit- same as above
Housing benefit- same as above (obviously depending on income)

If she's claiming JSA- then she would nee ld tombe completing a lot of applications per week, sign on and attend interviews, which would be hard if she's working full time.

So what exactly is she getting and at what amount?

You'd have a problem with her reporting no matter what her motivation and the outcome would be exactly the same.

Please don’t tell me what I think.

If someone has “seen a crime being committed”, that’s one thing. To report a supposed friend without even having a conversation with her about how worried you are that she may be doing something wrong is entirely different.

If the OP reports anonymously and her “friend” had her benefits stopped while she’s being investigated, how will the OP deal with the fallout?

Will she lie and pretend to be sympathetic, will she stop seeing the “friend” altogether (and out herself as the person who reported) or will she admit she thinks her “friend” deserves to be investigated and she would have done the same thing?

Report, its theft.

If she’s telling you and your other group of friends openly about her finances maybe it’s not dodgy? Do you really know the ins and outs of all her finances? Do you know what happens to people when something like this is reported and it’s not correct. It’s weeks and weeks with absolutely no money Till it’s sorted out. A nightmare.

I wouldn’t report, DB reported the guy who SIL was having an affair with, after posting all the affair evidence to the guys wife and employers.

He reported him solely to make they guys life difficult faith the investigation.