To not want to pay cleaner in cash?

[brokenteddychair]

We have had a cleaner for about the last six months. She generally does a solid job and is reliable. I like her very much, she works hard and is trustworthy. She is currently the sole earner in her household as her husband doesn’t work (manual job). This is allegedly due to an injury but he is currently in his home country helping a family member with a renovation project so I’m a bit skeptical.

She has asked if we can start paying in cash “because the costs are burdening me and I need to ask clients to start paying in cash.”. This indicates to me that she is planning to under declare her income and therefore either not pay tax, claim benefits she isn’t actually entitled to, or both.

This is really conflicting me. I feel strongly that everyone should be paying their fair share of tax. I also don’t want the inconvenience of having to remember to get cash out every week. I have enough to do, that’s why I need to outsource help!

Would you suck it up or let her go?
YABU = cleaners are worth their weight in gold, just pay tax
YANBU = don’t be complicit in her fraud, find someone who will take bank transfer

Are you on crack?

You are assuming that’s why she wants cash!! I’m self employed and I prefer cash. You know why? Because when you get cash, you get it on the day, People often “forget” to pay when it’s a bank transfer. Cash flow is everything! I pay my taxes. I did a job for someone last week. They still haven’t paid. It’s a fucking nightmare. And it’s ALWAYS people who have a lot of money who pay late. Grinds my fucking gears. Pay cash and stop judging her situation and lifestyle. It’s none of your business!!!!!!

My cleaner has always been paid in cash since day 1. Its no hassle, I just the money out of the cash point when I do my weekly shop.

Google it then!

Oh dear people won’t be able to buy inessential overpriced coffees and fast fashion, how terrifying.

Are you right in the head?

“There were times when it absolutely saved me financially” - how did it save you? If it was tax avoidance then you’ll know that it’s not “casting aspersions “ to think that the cleaner in the op is doing exactly the same.

Same applies to any establishment of your choosing. Not just coffee and clothing/lifestyle shops

Cash is important.

Because years ago you couldn't claim much income support if your ex was paying towards the children and/or house rent etc. He said he did )the exact amount that was the cut off point)and he didn't and so I was left with absolutely nothing so many times, was 5 months behind on my council house rent and this cash bailed me and my children out. I couldn't give less fucks that it is technically tax evasion because that system screwed a lot of women over and it took weeks to get it sorted and many visits to the job centre to prove he wasn't paying and the onus was on me to prove he wasn't not on his to prove he was .. eventually he said it was cash... It was a hellscape. Once my daughter had to wear black plimsolls to school because she broke the buckle off her shoe and I didn't have any any money until the next week to buy new shoes.. that might not seem much to you but I still burn with shame at that memory 20 years later. So yeah, pay cash because it's no real bother and none of your business.

Sorry that your ex was a dick and made your life difficult. I wouldn't be too ashamed about your kid going to school in plimsolls for a week - my shoes were constantly fucked at school and jumpers and trousers had holes in as we were v poor - I don't think about it, certainly don't blame my lovely mum, and I'm sure your kid doesn't remember so don't beat yourself up.

As you accept, it was still probably tax evasion + meant you claimed benefits (you were living in a council house as well as avoiding income tax) - this is not "none of my business". I live in the UK and use and pay for public services so the working of the tax system is very much the business of me and everyone else on this thread who's in the UK.

Yea still not feeling the guilt .. I pay builders/gardeners who work here cash if they'll knock the vat off .. it makes the world go round and I pay so much tax nowadays, we both do so I do not need to feel anything but pride that I got myself and my children through the worst time of our lives and none who gave me work gave a shit because I did a good job. I think if you employ a cleaner and pay pension contributions etc for them go ahead pay them into their bank etc but seriously if you live in a world where absolutely no cash in hand works goes on, I just do not recognize that at all. And to reiterate, I tried to claim benefits and could not so I was literally swinging in the wind with nothing, trying to run a car to get my kids to school and just manage. If you've not been there, you've no idea and attempting to empathise about why I shouldn't be worried about something doesn't cut it. It was bad and I sorted by working for cash. My Dd doesn't even remember the shoe thing but it haunts me... My Ex did not make my life difficult, he made it impossible and cash circumvented that and saved my kids from losing their home. My inability to provide for my children lives with me and I am relatively rich now and as for the council house... Come on, what has that to do with it? You still have to pay and I didn't even have enough for that. You don't know the reason I got that house and again, none of your business... My point is, you know nothing of other people's lives and you've no right to pry just because you are some amorphous 'tax payer'... You just don't. Seriously, get over yourself.

Do you have to be so incredibly rude?

The reason why I mentioned it was simply because the OP says it was a hassle to get cash out each time. You're not likely to dip into tesco vouchers like you might with cash and they're easy to pick up when you get groceries.

Fine to disagree with me. But it was simply a suggestion and your response was so rude.

You're entitled to your opinion and outlook and I'm still entitled to think that people evading tax is bad for society. I don't need to know about your personal circumstances 20 years ago or how much money you have now to have that view.

I don’t really like paying people in cash, but I do understand in some cases. There can be many legitimate reasons unconnected to tax evasion, including bank accounts that are seriously overdrawn and prioritising food on table over debt repayments.

Also, I think it matters how much you are paying her. Is it below the fair market rate? Not just the lowest cost you can get a cleaner for, but what is fair given:

• she has transport costs between jobs
• her overheads will have gone up
• she gets no sick pay
• she gets no employer NICs or pension contributions
• she gets no holiday pay

To me, anything below about £18 an hour is absolutely unfair, and even more so if in London or the South East.

Have you ever considered paying her in crops or other produce? Might be a solution, especially at this fruitful time of year.

A cleaner paying tax or not is the least of our worries. If you want to focus on tax avoiders punch up not down.

Just pay her how she wants, there could be loads of reasons she wants to hide her money from her partner or have a go fund.

Tesco vouchers?! To make sure she only spends her money on groceries and not anything fun?!

Yeah she'd laugh and never come back.

What the actual fuck?!

This is so condescending.

You can deal in cash and still pay all your taxes, but by dealing in cash, you can avoid banking costs arising from card transactions; these costs may be hammering her and may no longer be financially viable to her. Cash transactions will save her money, and then she only uses the bank when necessary, keeping costs down.

No, your suggestion was what was rude and bloody condescending. How would you like it if your employer decided bank transfer was inconvenient and they’d pay YOU in Tesco vouchers? 🙄

Edit, only just realised they meant they'd buy aTesco gift voucher!

I'm also wondering who gets enough in Tesco vouchers ever week to pay their cleaner!

Do Tesco do a "pay your cleaner with them and we'll double it" like they do with Alton Towers 🤣 ?

There are plenty of free bank accounts where you won’t be charged as a sole trader. The cleaner is not taking credit card payments!

But it’s not money! You can’t just pay for things in vouchers, that’s why people are so boggled 🥴

Pizza express is triple! Even better

Tax evasion and benefit fraud id say when everyone else's taxes are going up.