Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2 3 4 5 6

Original poster

How do I pay our lovely cleaner?

137 replies

Alwaysfullofquestions · 13/12/2021 09:46

We’re hiring a woman to clean once a week because work is getting busier and busier and i also have a chronic illness which causes fatigue so I struggle to keep on top of it.

My only question is how do I pay her? She wants to be paid in cash but I want to make sure I’m doing it correctly, should I be paying by BACs? Or does it not matter? Anyone I’ve hired before for things like gardening or rubbish removal has been online banking.

Just want to make sure I’m doing it right and sorry if this seems like a stupid question!

OP posts:

ChangeChingyChange · 13/12/2021 09:50

It's up to you, if she wants cash its because she's tax dodging. If you feel uncomfortable with this then insist on Bank transfer only. She could say no then you've lost her as a cleaner. I'd have the conversation with her before she starts. Would it really bother you that much to not just pay her in cash?

Original poster

Alwaysfullofquestions · 13/12/2021 09:53

@ChangeChingyChange She says she’s always paid in cash. If I do, and it is because she’s tax dodging, do I get in trouble? Thanks x

OP posts:

Triffid1 · 13/12/2021 09:54

No, it is her responsibility to pay her tax, not yours as she is self employed.

coatilove · 13/12/2021 09:55

Of course you wouldn't get in trouble for paying cash! Paying cash isn't illegal lol it's up to her to sort her taxes.

Fwiw my cleaner asks for cash and it absolutely pisses me off it's a massive inconvenience so perhaps have a think about that and set your stool from the beginning and tell her you don't have time for cash.

RunningInTheWind · 13/12/2021 09:55

Tax threshold starts at £11k.

Do you think she’s cleaning your house for shits and giggles or because £20/week will really make a difference in her life?

Starcaller · 13/12/2021 09:55

Just pay her in cash, if it's not totally inconvenient for you. It's none of your concern why she wants cash. Maybe she's tax-dodging, maybe she just prefers it, maybe she doesn't have access to her own bank account, maybe she finds it easier for budgeting reasons.

jetadore · 13/12/2021 09:56

Just pay her cash, it’s a bit of cleaning not international money laundering.

MaryAndGerryLivingInDerry · 13/12/2021 09:58

It's up to you, if she wants cash its because she's tax dodging

yawn.

Lots of people still operate in cash OP. If she has asked for it in cash and you can give cash then do so. If you can’t give cash ( as many people just don’t keep cash in their purse) then say so and ask if you can do bank transfer. Her tax responsibilities are just that. Hers.

Bigoldhag · 13/12/2021 09:58

Paying in cash does not mean she’s tax dodging for christ sake.

Pay her how she asks, if you prefer to transfer then get a different cleaner.

MaryAndGerryLivingInDerry · 13/12/2021 10:01

Also- totally irrelevant to your question OP why does it matter if she’s lovely? and how do you know she is if she hasn’t started yet?

Itsalmostanaccessory · 13/12/2021 10:02

It does not mean she is tax dodging. I'm fucking sick of hearing that.

Wanting cash payment can be for a lot of reasons. She gets paid the cash the day she does it, so she never has to chase anyone to make the bank transfers. I've seen threads on here which say, "I forgot to pay my cleaner and she has sent me 3 messages asking for the money. It's only been a few days, I'm thinking of letting her go after she hassled me for payment." Because some people dont understand that the cleaner bloody needs paid. Cash payments on the day prevent that issue.
Also, if she is living in an overdraft and you pay by bank transfer than the money can be swallowed up. Cash means she can then go and buy food. Whether or not you agree with living in debt and using unatranged overdrafts, lots of people are in that situation. Cash payments mean she can at least buy food and sort out paying back the overdraft as she can.

I'm self employed. I take cash and card payments. I pay tax on everything.

MRSAHILL · 13/12/2021 10:04

My dh did home tutoring and the clients always paid him in cash as it seemed to suit them. My dh just bought a little receipt book and issued a receipt each time he was paid. He then used these receipts to complete a self assessment every year for him to pay tax on his earnings, then kept the receipts for 7 years. It was very straightforward and no one felt awkward or as if they were doing anything underhand. Pay your cleaner in cash if that's what she wants but ask that she provides you with a receipt each time to keep for your records. As far as you are concerned then everything is above board. The responsibility is entirely upon her to submit receipts, complete self assessment etc.

Equallyconfusing · 13/12/2021 10:05

Maybe wants cash so as not to declare to tax max. Just check she has liability insurance

Equallyconfusing · 13/12/2021 10:05

Man not max

2TurtleDovesInARow · 13/12/2021 10:05

Ultimately it’s up to you, she may not be tax dodging and it’s not your responsibility.

Mine prefers BACS and so do I because constantly withdrawing cash is a pain and also makes it hard to track for my budgeting! If you’re going to struggle with cash let her know now

notanothertakeaway · 13/12/2021 10:09

I've always tended to assume people who insist on being paid in cash are not paying tax. I suspect that's often the case

However, there was a recent thread here where loads of people explained that cleaners, gardeners etc often prefer cash because it's (1) guaranteed money, (2) simple, (3) easier than issuing invoices & having to check bank statements to see if they've been paid

We pay our cleaner by standing order and she's fine with that. It does mean that we pay her whether she comes or not e.g. if she is on holiday or ill. But she knows the money is guaranteed and has never requested cash

I can imagine it's quite a hassle for cleaners to issue invoices and then check bank statements to see if they've been paid. And they won't want to carry out work in advance, trusting that invoices will be paid

But I can't see any legitimate reason for objecting to payment by standing order

ginghamstarfish · 13/12/2021 10:09

I'd be absolutely amazed if anyone who gets paid in cash for work declares 100% of it. Their responsibility however, not yours.

Offmyfence · 13/12/2021 10:10

@ChangeChingyChange

How on earth can you decide she is tax dodging?

InTheLabyrinth · 13/12/2021 10:12

Paid cash doesn't automatically mean tax dodging. Can we stop that please.
Yes, those that want to dodge tax prefer cash, but cash doesn't mean they aren't declaring in it. Dad got paid in cash for most of his life. He also paid tax and NI.

It's up to her to declare her earnings, and pay appropriate tax. She's self employed, so NI is on her too.
If cash isn't difficult for you, and that what she prefers, go with it. If cash is tricky for you talk to her about bank transfer.

Itsalmostanaccessory · 13/12/2021 10:13

@notanothertakeaway

Because standing orders can be cancelled. A standing order isnt a guarantee that you'll be paid on the agreed day. A standing order is controlled by the person paying. That just have to log on to their banking and cancel it or change the date if they dont have the money or decide they dont want to pay for the service. It doesnt protect the cleaner at all. Cash paid at each clean means they get paid and no one can cheat them.

Onehotmess · 13/12/2021 10:13

Yes all those rich cleaners dodging tax 🙈🙈 pay her in cash. X

notanothertakeaway · 13/12/2021 10:13

Also, if she is living in an overdraft and you pay by bank transfer than the money can be swallowed up. Cash means she can then go and buy food

Oh, @Itsalmostanaccessory that's true, hadn't thought of that

JustLikea · 13/12/2021 10:14

Cleaners always get paid cash

TooWicked · 13/12/2021 10:17

I insist on cash only for new clients (I’m not a cleaner and I’m not tax dodging) because I got sick to the back teeth of chasing payments and people thinking they could not pay me for 2-3 weeks, or wait until after their own payday to pay me when I provided the service 10 days ago, or ‘forgetting’ to pay me.

My time is money, and time spent chasing these people for what they owe me is unpaid work for me.

MrsMcCluskeysCat · 13/12/2021 10:18

Even if she was tax dodging it wouldn't matter whether you paid cash or not, just because you pay by BACS doesn't mean she has to declare it (well not yet anyway).

Flip

1 2 3 4 5 6