To report someone for tax evasion

[WhatsHoppening]

An acquaintance doing medical aesthetics and making a bomb but not officially registered as a business and paying no tax despite advertising on social media and posting lots of clients.

This has been going on 3+ Years so not a new act of desperation.

Sorry i haven’t read through all the replies. Just curious to know If HMRC find she’s operating under the radar and prosecute OP’s friend will it affect her nursing career? Yes I agree she’s totally in the wrong and probably not insured but I’m not sure how I’d feel if my actions sent a friend to prison and they end up losing everything. Maybe an anonymous note to the friend would’ve been better?

The irony that the OP saw this women's post on social media (run by some of the biggest tax evading corps) is historical. Happily bolsters the coffers of the corps that are truly screw ing us, but feels she has a moral duty to report this nurse.

Genuinely disturbed by the number of people here agreeing with her.

Are you actually serious I can’t believe the amount of people that think HMRC have the resources to deal with this 🤦‍♀️

This!

Prime example not to let let every and anybody aware of your moves.

The fact that OP didn't say anything to the friend or other members of their circle to express that she thinks its wrong.

Horrible people to have around

She wouldn't go to prison. She'd have to repay what she owed and would be fined.

@RepublicOfNarnia knocking 7 minutes off your working day is not illegal. It’s not a comparative thing at all. I’m amazed how many people just accept tax avoidance and illegal activities. If you heard your neighbour being beaten up would you ignore as ‘none of your business’? The tax people avoid paying would go into the pot and help those struggling now. If you excuse literally illegal behaviour then I really don’t value your opinion.

The tax people avoid paying would go into the pot and help those struggling now.

Of course it would. So not only are you vindictive you are also exceptionally, indeed blindly naive. My goodness. Not even a grain of critical thought.

I have no critical thought because I want to challenge illegal behaviour rather than just allowing it without question? Yep 👍🏼 How stupid I am.

You won't find it anywhere on the .gov.uk website because there's no such thing, posters do spout some bollocks on threads like these.

I know she’s not paying tax because she told me there’s no point me looking it all up.

Ultimately if everything is above board no harm done.

That's not really true though, is it? I cannot imagine the stress if HMRC turned up on the doorstep or even a letter demanding7 years of records and bank statements and spreadsheets and accounts and all the rest of it - and my accounts are super straighforward as I don't buy stock, my turnover and wages is the same thing. All the time you're faffing around pulling together all the information is time you are not earning, and then at the end when HMRC decide that actually you have declared everything - no apology, no compensation for your lost time/effort? That is a LOT of harm to a sole trader.

There are so many misconceptions about self-employment. We're not all on the fiddle. Taking payments in cash doesn't automatically mean you are dodgy. Many sole traders are not VAT registered and there is no legal requirement to do so unless you're turning over £85k. There is not a public register of the self-employed. Sole trader is not the same as limited company, or partnership.

@Stroopwaffels I completely appreciate that- I know loads of people who are self employed whether sole trader or limited company etc and absolutely believe the vast vast majority are doing everything completely legitimately and support them. I try and shop locally and use small businesses whenever possible- absolutely not against the self employed.

This person has told me flat out they do not pay tax. THATS why I reported- not because I don’t trust them with no evidence or trust no self employed people.

What a ridiculous comparison.

Although I think the sort of nasty, small minded people who would make this sort of report tend to be those who would refuse to get involved if someone was actually being harmed as that is none of their business and could come back on them. Making an underhand, anonymous report behind someone’s back is more up their street.

Morals are a relative thing. I couldn’t ignore someone being attacked, assaulted or abused under any circumstances. But I have better things to do than get involved with the financial affairs of other people. We pay our taxes and that’s our choice. Other people’s choices are theirs to live with (as long as no one is being hurt).

Honestly I would only report someone I really, really hated

@LuaDipa sweeping statements r us

Here's my own - I think people
Who choose to get involved in either are more likely to intervene in the other.

I couldn't care less.

Anyone in this day and age that makes a few bob is welcome to it if you ask me.

You’re just reporting her through jealousy and spite. Go you!

Based on the experience of someone I know who reported a deadbeat ex for working cash in hand whilst on benefits, paying zero tak (and actually bragging about it) - absolutely zero happened. And the deadbeat still didn't pay child maintenance and bragged about that too.
So good luck getting anyone in authority to give a shiny shit.

tak=tax of course

Perhaps I did speak out of turn. I just have no time for those who involve themselves in other people’s financial affairs. Heaven knows I’m busy enough dealing with my own life to care about anyone else’s. If someone is being hurt, that’s a different matter, but I have enough to do without worrying if my friends or neighbours are correctly reporting their earnings. And I certainly wouldn’t be going out of my way to find out because it’s none of my business. I think that no good comes from setting out to deliberately hurt other people in this manner.

Precisely this.

Even though that directly means schools, hospitals, benefits etc, have less money? That’s the point of taxes - to benefit the community and community organisations provided for us.

That’s exactly my view @daisypond although apparently we lack critical thinking because of this

Even though others lose out? You don't care about those? Should we all do it?

Tax avoidance is using an ISA, contributing to your pension, or using your tax-free allowance.

Trying to compare it to illegally not paying what you should isn’t sensible. It’s the difference between using a money-off coupon at the supermarket and shop lifting.