AIBU to be so sick of tradespeople/ cleaners asking for cash in hand?

[Endlesspasswords]

So my cleaner charges £21/hour cash, but just said she wants more if I pay by bank transfer, because bank transfer means she can’t dodge declaring it. As if paying by transfer (i.e. traceably) is some kind of favour/ privilege I should pay extra for.

Same with some work I got a quote for- it’s the attitude that if I don’t want to pay in cash, I’m the one ‘hurting’ their bank balance or being awkward.

I’m freelance B2B myself. No sick pay, no employer pension contributions, no paid holiday, I know exactly what it’s like to carry your own tax and NI. But I still pay tax on every invoice, because that’s the deal.

I’m so sick with the fact that self-employed people in one sector get to treat tax as optional while others pay for their healthcare, schools etc.

and yes, I’m getting a new cleaner.

This lot is going to say that you are being unreasonable, but I totally agree with you.

Nope, I hate it and use it as a barometer for whether I hire someone or not. I don't want to be contributing to the problem.

All the tradespeople I use always prefer bank transfers.

Totally agree. I was in the same boat and just found another cleaner. I refuse to be part of someone’s tax dodge / benefits fraud.

Yes, we uncovered loads of problems with our walls (old house) during decoration and urgently needed a plasterer. Decorator recommended one who might squeeze us in. He came round to quote - £1800 if cash in hand, £2,200 if bank transfer. Why should he get away with not paying tax? 😡

I agree OP and I refuse to pay in cash.

I agree with you. I think they ought to be reported tbh.

I’d do it but I’d say 20 so I didn’t have to find a £1 each time 😂

I agree and try to avoid it. My partner is even more so a believer than me and avoids take away that don’t accept cards which is annoying as there are some nice places we miss out on. He works for HMRC so I guess he’s in the right job.

Didn’t expect such a unanimous agreement- although the poll shows a few ‘cashiers’ have voted!

I had one guy say ‘do you mind paying it in cash as I’m on the VAT threshold and don’t want to have to register’ which means he had an income of £90k per year for a man and van business.

Let’s not also forget the many men who do it to dodge child maintenance… It’s dodgy, you’re right.

Great point!

Another benefit with a bank transfer, is that you have a record of the transaction and payment, if there are any issues in the future.

In the big scheme of things it makes no difference to him he gets £1800 cash or £2200 transfer after tax that’s more or less £1800

The guy who was supposed to to do oour boiler quoted us x price +Vat and then said if I paid cash he would knock off £200 off the full VAT price.

So actually wanted to be paid more for the work if paid cash.

People always say the cost of the work is the cost. But in this example...?

I'm self employed. I don't take cash.

I agree with you. I won't use businesses that do this.

yes I hate it. We all have to pay that bit more because some people aren’t paying their fair share, and yet they have the gall to ask me to help them dodge it

We all benefit from the UK tax pot, so we should all contribute.

It does if everyone insists on paying by bank transfer because he can’t hide his income.

It’s exactly that- the assumption (and yes, gall) that I should help them dodge it…

Try finding a nail bar that accepts anything but cash, there are thousands of them up and don’t the country. They avoid income tax and business rates

thousands of people getting their nails done & they must realise what’s happening?

VAT threshold is done on turnover. Not profit.

example being builder on a job that pays 80k could have 45k of materials to buy. And be making 35k income/profit. Once they got over 90k turnover they need to pay /charge VAT so like to keep under the threshold so not to price themselves out of jobs by needing to add 20% to the bill.

asking for cash doesn't mean someone's not paying tax. I can mean they can pay for materials in cash, or pay another trade in cash. I wouldn't just to the conclusion that they aren't paying tax.

100% agree with you OP! And well done you for sacking that cleaner.

I've heard people make the arguement that they don't use public services at all so don't see why they should pay tax... Ridiculous and impossible.

I've also known a public servant try to cut down their tax bill on some property they used to rent out and felt baffled by their motivation to do that, like you're a well-off individual whose main income is a job that is funded by the taxpayer, how can you not see the benefit in people paying tax when you deliver a helpful public service everyday?!

Hard agree. I lost an amazing cleaner over this. The fathers that get away with low child maintenance I think is an awful situation

I would possibly do the odd - have £50 for a favour job on a Saturday morning. Eg a builder friend of mine had some tiles off me he knew I had hanging around so gave me £50. I still felt guilty about that and gave £5 to charity!

He is offering you not to pay the cash, you just say you’ll pay the full amount