To ask if you've ever reported somebody for benefit fraud

[Fragmentedbrain]

And if the DWP subsequently came for them

I’ve been reported for pip Fraud.

I was exonerated.

Just wondering how many of those so keen to report people for benefit fraud have ever paid tradesmen in cash for a discount because they’ve avoided VAT?

I wonder what your point is? One wrong doesn't make a right to begin with so it's completely irrelevant. Secondly, resentment towards paying tax will increase as the tax burden increases and people become angry about funding a large amount of benefit fraud with their taxes. If the government is seen as unable or unwilling to stamp out fraud then people will understandably not believe that their taxes are being well spent and look for loop holes and ways to avoid paying tax.

I also just can't get my head around people that are essentially defending benefit fraud. Do you not understand that there is a finite pot? That ultimately benefits and services for vulnerable people that actually depend on them will ultimately be cut if too many people take the piss. You aren't stealing from the rich but from those that are poorer and probably more vulnerable than you. Terrible!

It was a simple question, based on the fact that I was on a thread on here recently where about 90% if posters said they will pay cash for services if it means they get a discount on the VAT.
I’m not stealing from anyone by the way. I don’t claim benefits, I’m not even eligible for child benefit. Never have been. I also won’t pay tradesmen in cash to avoid VAT. I’ve never reported anyone for benefit fraud as I don’t personally know anyone who has committed benefit fraud. I do know a lot of people who are self employed and don’t declare their income.

I guess I was surprised that there is such strong feeling about people defrauding the government on this thread, whereas on that thread 95% of posters were in favour of defrauding the government in other ways (when there was an advantage to be gained by them).

You would be better off calling the Council, or the Police, about her anti-social behaviour. Her being worse off financially, due to you reporting her for benefit fraud, is going to help you how exactly?🙄

Do you think that not everyone don’t read and post on the same threads?

Yes and benefits (UC and pip) was reduced as it should be

Of course not, silly 😁. That’s exactly why I asked my initial question. To see whether there was any overlap between the people who are vehemently against benefit fraud but are happy to evade tax where possible.

Just wondering how many of those so keen to report people for benefit fraud have ever paid tradesmen in cash for a discount because they’ve avoided VAT?

This was my question, for reference. I don’t think anyone will answer honestly though!

No - when I was quite young I remember a family who were defrauding both in uk and another country (or at least I was told so) but I didn't have the full details so stayed clear.

I'll tell you why.

Paying cash to a tradesman means that I get a lower price and he pays no tax. I don't have to pay a portion of what I pay to my roofer from my already heavily taxed income to the government. What he does with that is his issue to wrestle his conscience over, but if he can keep some of his earnings for his labour rather than hand it over to the government, I wouldn't shed a tear. Essentially, I'd be (and the roofer) handing over less than I should be to the government as a result of having work done, which the government wouldn't have got any if I'd sat on my hands and done nothing anyway. I resent the double taxation that VAT is.

However, a falsified benefits claim sees someone perhaps lying or exaggerating an illness to obtain tax payers money to fund their lifestyle. Gaining something that they're not entitled too off the backs of the likes of me and my roofer who had to earn their crust.

Morally, I feel less bothered about someone holding on to something that they earned through hard graft or careful saving, that is technically due to be taken away from them, than someone lying to obtain something they haven't worked for and are not entitled to.

@SomeOfTheTrouble all hypothetical, of course.

I reported a family member because she was living with a partner while claiming benefits and housing benefit as a single parent. Her benefits were stopped during the investigation and during that time she miraculously decided to become honest and stop claiming.
No further action was taken because cunningly, although partner lived with her full time, shared household expenses, lived as a couple etc, he had let out the house he owned to a member of his family and still had his post sent there and the utility bills were in his name, so there was no proof that he wasn't just someone who stayed over occasionally, even though in reality he had lived there for over a year.

Fair enough, thank you for your honest answer! The outcome is the same though; less money in the government pot to provide essential services and for safety nets for those who really need it.

This is a great idea!

Given the low level of fraud do you think this will save more than it would cost?

Yes, you are right. Of course every unpaid £ is a £ less to spend on public services. I accept the need to pay tax, but I don't see a moral equivalence between someone already perhaps paying the 60% tax trap avoiding a bit of VAT and someone lying to get something for free that is only available because other people have suffered the 5am alarm clock day after day, year after year. And lying about being sicker than you are is especially nasty.

How many times a week is a partner allowed to stay over? I can not find anything online. I claim UC, and my DP stays over sometimes.

Has anyone reported anyone for tax avoidance? We never see that question on mumsnet, do we?

I have. I whistleblew and lost my job. About 25 years ago.

There’s no set number of nights a BF or GF can stay over as far as I understand it.

it’s more to do with are they contributing to your house, do they have their own place with their own bills I thought?

Ah, the haves are protected - of course. It’s easier to report the have nots who have not right to being defended.

Ah ok. I thought that was the case. PP said there was a certain amount of nights.
DP has his own place and does not contribute to mine at all.
Meant to quote @Bananapotato

Do you mean I protected the haves? I didn’t, I reported.

I was told the 3 night rule was a myth and it's where they're registered for bills, etc