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AIBU?

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Original poster

Would you still pay tax if you could get away with not paying it?

179 replies

Uneasyy · 08/10/2020 18:27

NC for this.

My lovely friend is currently making thousands a week in a cash-in-hand job.

She’s happy, genuinely happy and living her best life. However she dropped into conversation the other day that she got no grants/furlough or anything over lockdown as she’s never put anything through the system.

I didn’t really know how to feel. On one hand it’s none of my business whatsoever, on the other - This situation has made me scared for our economy and future prospects and it’s made me feel uneasy about her as a person.

She said she’d lose thousands through tax and it would be pretty impossible for her to get caught.

So I wonder, if were 100% sure you wouldn’t get caught, would you still choose to pay tax?

AIBU to think that I still would?

OP posts:
AngusThermopyle · 08/10/2020 19:35

Yes I would. I have my own ltd company, i could easily not declare cash payments or i could pay myself large bonuses and a small wage (paying less tax) but I don't.
I declare all my earnings and I pay regular wages and a small bonus around xmas . I pay my full due taxes and corporation tax.

LaurieFairyCake · 08/10/2020 19:35

FeminismforAllWomen

Apologies, I was being mildly flippant. I do know some about it as I did a (therapeutic) placement with recovering addicts, many of whom were sex workers.

jasjas1973 · 08/10/2020 19:36

Yes i would still pay, it annoys me that the very wealthy use loopholes to limit tax liability but without tax where would we be?

DelilahfromDevon · 08/10/2020 19:39

If I could get away with it, with no legal, financial or criminal repercussions, I would absolutely not pay any tax.

FeminismIsForALLWomen · 08/10/2020 19:44

Apologies, I was being mildly flippant. I do know some about it as I did a (therapeutic) placement with recovering addicts, many of whom were sex workers.

That sounds very interesting, and I'm sure you learned a lot about survival work. It can't be applied universally to sex workers though. The assumptions that people constantly make about sex workers, well meaning or otherwise, can be very damaging in itself.

Foxyloxy1plus1 · 08/10/2020 19:47

I would still pay tax and if she’s an escort, she won’t be able to do that for ever. She’d better hope that she amassed enough money long term because questions will be asked if she gets an ordinary job at some point.

Squashbanana125 · 08/10/2020 19:48

Thing is not putting this through her bank may mean she’s earning a lot of money but it’s not transferable. She can’t deposit regular large amounts without it getting picked up. How do you buy a house? You need a mortgage, which she can’t get. As she has no paper trial. Same as a car. You can’t buy a car with cash from a dealer. She’s basically like a drug dealer in my eyes. Yes she’s got stacks of cash at home but a limited amount she can do with it.
I’m guessing she’s not married or in a relationship as she’s an escort sleeping with men! All that glitters is not gold !

Apple31419 · 08/10/2020 19:53

I worked as a contractor some years ago, before all the clamping down and had the option to set up the limited company thing that contractors do, saves you 1000s in tax.... and I didn't do it, just didn't sit right with me. And I'm not the only one!

Brot64 · 08/10/2020 20:25

If we could get away with it I wouldn't pay a single penny in taxes. Only because we have private medical insurance, we educate our children privately, we employ over 500 people, paid stamp duty on our property and pay an extortionate amount in council tax, we are paying high taxes as it is despite having offshores accounts for our businesses, investments, properties etc. Having said that, I recognise that this all can change and it's not all about us but wider society.

However if I was making cash in hand and was reliant on the government I would chip in and be ok with it.

Chicchicchicchiclana · 08/10/2020 20:26

Of course! dumb question.

jasjas1973 · 08/10/2020 20:38

@DelilahfromDevon @Brot64

I suppose the monies saved will (as you say) pay for private education, healthcare (foreign workers as no taxes to pay for UK ones) and for the gated community security you'll need when the masses come looking to rob you of your wealth.

I used to live South Africa, armed robberies at robots (traffic lights) were common, usually resulted in death, my nr neighbours were murdered in a robbery (set on fire) and my SA cousin paid for 24hr armed response and his kids could all use a 9mm pistol.

Go for it!

Iamthewombat · 08/10/2020 20:39

So your mate gets paid for going for dinners with men and you don’t know the ins and outs? You could probably guess, eh?

She said she’d lose thousands through tax and it would be pretty impossible for her to get caught.

I bet she’s the first one moaning when there are potholes in the road or her granny can’t have a new hip.

If we could get away with it I wouldn't pay a single penny in taxes. Only because we have private medical insurance, we educate our children privately, we employ over 500 people, paid stamp duty on our property and pay an extortionate amount in council tax, we are paying high taxes as it is despite having offshores accounts for our businesses, investments, properties etc.

Yeah, sod everyone else, eh? Nobody else pays council tax or stamp duty like you. Is this a joke?

or i could pay myself large bonuses and a small wage (paying less tax) but I don't.

You have heard of double entry bookkeeping, right? I hope so, if you are running a limited company as you say in your post. You can’t hide a bonus payment without making fake accounting entries and, newsflash, bonuses are taxable as if they were ordinary salary.

HRH18 · 08/10/2020 20:43

I don’t have any time for tax dodgers whether that be multinational companies, billionaire or self employed Cash in hand people.

I would pay tax and would pay more if asked based on what the country has had to do to help people during these times.

AmandaHoldensLips · 08/10/2020 20:45

I've been self-employed (and an employer) for over 30 years. I have absolutely no issue with paying tax, much of my life at higher rate, because that's what makes a good society where those who can pay more should pay more.

Tax avoiders and evaders really REALLY piss me off.

Iamthewombat · 08/10/2020 20:46

I wish we could choose where we want our tax to go. I want my tax to support the NHS, child protection services, schools, emergency services and road services (not just keeping the road councellor live on perfect) I'd love a checklist getting posted out where you put your NI number and tick where you want your money distributed and maybe not allow it to fully control it but to weight the distribution of our taxes where the working population want it to go.

This is hilarious. Who is going to tick ‘sewers’ or ‘prisons’?

What is a ‘road councellor’?

Iamthewombat · 08/10/2020 20:49

Also, the people who moan about not being able to dictate how THEIR taxes are spent (spoiler: it’s not yours) or want to know exactly where THEIR taxes have been spent (“two lamp posts, some fuel for a battleship and Mr Arthur Pringle’s knee replacement”) are usually the first to whine about there being “too many pen pushers”. Exactly the same people who would have to do the admin for the stupid schemes they say that they want.

FeminismIsForALLWomen · 08/10/2020 20:51

However if I was making cash in hand and was reliant on the government I would chip in and be ok with it.

Nice to know you'd apparently be fine with paying taxes like the plebs if you weren't so well off, but because you are you think you shouldn't have to. Absolutely ridiculous.

FineWithWine · 08/10/2020 20:51

Yes, I would. I’ve been to Monaco (tax haven) and whilst it was beautiful and maxing there is something very vapid about those who choose to base their self in Monaco for tax purposes IMO. I appreciate your friend isn’t doing this, but the tax dodging principle is the same. So yes, I would pay tax.

OneForMeToo · 08/10/2020 20:52

Our finances are set up in a way to minimise tax payments.

I don’t even pay the tv tax... sorry license.

Sparklesocks · 08/10/2020 20:55

Yes. I’m not happy to pay for everything that our taxes support of course but I agree with the overall concept. I judge tax dodgers and think badly of them for it, even the ones who do it legally via clever loopholes.

1Morewineplease · 08/10/2020 20:56

Your friend will come a cropper at some point.
Her career, as you've described will not last. At some point she'll need to draw on a state pension. I'm assuming that, as she's not paying tax, that she's not paying NI contributions either.

Brot64 · 08/10/2020 20:59

@jasjas1973 , I am not reluctant on paying employee taxes at all. In fact I support this notion and it's not merely about wealth but these people are working and are earning their taxes and/or benefits. It's the fact that when you pay a significant amount on taxes and you are then entitled to nothing people still want to come for any penny you make! The reality is that the more you make the more expenses tax wise you have.

Do I want to protect our wealth? Absolutely , as I said and have said on here on numerous occassions I have nothing against offshore accounts , which we have etc. However I struggle with knowing that some people do the minimal and benefit more from my and everyone's taxes more than those people that pay in.

So yes. If I could get away with not paying taxes and we have explored many avenues and are now only paying what is legally required for us and employees which is still a significant amount, I would without guilt.

Sparklesocks · 08/10/2020 20:59

And if she is a high end escort - that’s not exactly a job you can sustain for your whole working life (at least not at the same rates). Even aside from the dodgy tax side - Hopefully she’s being smart and saving or has a back up plan!

FeminismIsForALLWomen · 08/10/2020 20:59

What is a ‘road councellor’?

It's a specialist counsellor to give the roads therapy after they're finished being roads. They can't be roads forever, after all, and surely must be absolutely wrecked because I saw a road that was once just a little joke for the sex workers

FlorrieMango · 08/10/2020 20:59

@Iamthewombat

So your mate gets paid for going for dinners with men and you don’t know the ins and outs? You could probably guess, eh?

She said she’d lose thousands through tax and it would be pretty impossible for her to get caught.

I bet she’s the first one moaning when there are potholes in the road or her granny can’t have a new hip.

If we could get away with it I wouldn't pay a single penny in taxes. Only because we have private medical insurance, we educate our children privately, we employ over 500 people, paid stamp duty on our property and pay an extortionate amount in council tax, we are paying high taxes as it is despite having offshores accounts for our businesses, investments, properties etc.

Yeah, sod everyone else, eh? Nobody else pays council tax or stamp duty like you. Is this a joke?

or i could pay myself large bonuses and a small wage (paying less tax) but I don't.

You have heard of double entry bookkeeping, right? I hope so, if you are running a limited company as you say in your post. You can’t hide a bonus payment without making fake accounting entries and, newsflash, bonuses are taxable as if they were ordinary salary.

This! @Iamthewombat. Couldn’t have phrased it better!