Cash in hand?

[scotscorner]

We have recently got a new cleaner and she has been very clear about cash in hand only (first time we’ve met her). The old ones were very professional; had invoices and clearly trying to run it as a proper business - though same price!

It got me thinking about how I feel about cash in hand. Obviously it doesn’t absolutely mean that someone is failing to declare income but it’s an indicator. Interested in views - does ‘cash in hand’ put you off hiring a tradesperson / self-employed person or do you think it’s none of your business?

YANBU - it would put me off
YABU - it’s none of your business

There's an awful lot of cash in hand with horse businesses and landscapers / gardeners .

My view is that id get nothing from the state so if my hour of need came the only person to look after me would be me . I'm not in a position to earn cash in hand but I dont have a problem with someone sneaking the odd cash job .

I don't have cash so a bank transfer would be more preferable. I would definitely want to be checking their insurance before letting them into my home though.

I don’t think cleaners are generally minted so I would be more than happy to pay cash and hope they don’t pay tax.

It's such a pain to have to get cash out. I don't really begrudge them but it kind of annoys me if I'm honest when I pay all my taxes and I know some of them are not. I know they're not getting paid loads but mine is £15 per hour so if not paying tax it's pretty decent!

I’d also recommend a cleaner has insurance too

I used to charge cash - tutoring.
You'd be amazed how many people think that whilst THEY should automatically get paid by their employer even if they are late/ sick / perform poorly... YOU should only get paid if they are in the mood/ have the money available/ think you "deserve" it / it's convenient for them.
Cash is great, - and has nothing to do with tax.

Millionaire MPs and giant corporations are the ones where I care about their tax situation.. not my cleaner (who only accepts cash too)

Quite normal with a cleaner but generally I don’t like it. The welfare system relies on people paying their taxes. As a landlord I often get asked for cash for renovations or repairs. It may not go in their tax return but it will go in mine.

Would put me off as never get cash out and would be pissed off at having to make the effort to when online banking is so instant.

Are you upset that she might not be paying tax? If so, why? Lots of big companies are part of tax avoidance schemes...do you avoid spending with them? I like to pay cash where I can and its not my job to police other people.

You shouldn't assume anything about her tax arrangements, just because she's cash only.

That said, it's very irritating these days.

Cash for cleaner, hairdresser, beautician - no invoices needed, nor guarantee for work undertaken.

Tradesmen that I know (e.g. car mechanic for 15 years), cash for small jobs.

Also, there is no way to tell if someone issuing an invoice and having the sheen of professionalism has all the right insurance on that basis alone.

I don't think I would be happy paying cash in hand. What's the reason they don't want it in their bank account?

Maybe they are avoiding paying tax? Or maybe they are claiming benefits and pretending they aren't working?

Accountant. 😂😂

Why are you assuming it doesn't go into their bank account?

Maybe they just prefer to deal with cash - it can be easier to keep track of.

DH and I pay upwards of £55k a year in tax and NI. We don’t have a cleaner but wouldn’t be enabling anyone to avoid paying tax.

Cash in hand is one of the reasons the NHS is failing. Yes, I know it's the government too.

Basically you are paying money to the black market. Drugs, etc.

Why are you assuming cash = tax dodging?

Drugs 😂

If a cleaner takes cash in hand and doesn't declare it, what you find is he/she spends it and it goes straight back into the economy.

When rich people pay accountants to avoid tax legally, they squirrel it away and become richer.

I had similar recently. The first time she came I didn't realise so asked for her bank details, which she wasn't happy about at all. She said "the social just take it off me if you put it in my bank so it needs to be cash next time." I paid in cash the second time. Then I booked the third time and she text saying her bank had been hacked so she could only come if it was cash. I cancelled.

I felt annoyed at the blatant lying, as she'd already told me that it was because it affected her benefits. She's clearly not poor, arrives in a 4x4, comes from a nice area etc, so it all just felt a bit too dodgy for me. Plus it's just a pain to get cash out all the time.

Bank transfer only

@lifebeginsaftercoffee

If they were going to put it in their bank account, they would be happy with a bank transfer or standing order.

Because the insistence on it implies it is.

My window cleaner takes BACS, so do both of my dog walkers. Why not a cleaner?

If they pay some of their own bills/expenses with cash, why would they go through the hassle of taking cash out when they could just be paid in cash in the first place?