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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to report somebody for not paying tax?

155 replies

PramInspector · 07/02/2009 19:07

I'm really not sure about this one and would really appreciate some views as it is a bit of a moral dilemma which I just don't have the answer to.

I know someone (a guy) who runs his own business and who has not been declaring the large majority of his earnings (and thus not paying tax on them) for many years.

Now on the one hand, I think it is not my business to judge. On the other hand, I think this is clearly a crime which we are all paying for.

Why on earth should he get away with it? And why on earth should it be seen as any different to nicking somebody's handbag (which most people wouldn't hesitate to report and probably involves a lot less money)?

The other thing that makes this decision harder is that this guy has recently left his partner & 3 children, and I am not sure what impact it could have on them if this tax fraud was reported.

So what would you guys do?

OP posts:

hf128219 · 07/02/2009 19:23

It is taken very seriously. It's not just tax - there could be VAT implications as well depending on his turnover.

Original poster

PramInspector · 07/02/2009 19:23

Droopy - No I am not the ex.

That is the main reason that puts me off reporting. When they were together, she was heavily involved in the business and so I am not sure what impact this could have on her.

Now whilst I still think that she should be held to account for ripping off the country just as much as her partner, I worry that if it was reported, then it would be the children that would suffer

I am not sure I could have that on my conscience

OP posts:

HecateQueenOfGhosts · 07/02/2009 19:23

Yes. Keep your nose out. People know folks will generally keep their noses out.

That's why this man is boasting about defrauding the taxman - ie the taxPAYER quite openly.
That's why (usually) women are beaten by their partners and the neighbours say nothing
That's why children are beaten and worse and not rescued
That's why people claim benefits while holding down a full time job
That's why people get mugged in the street, or pulled into an alley in broad daylight and raped.
etc. etc. etc

Everyone keeps their nose out of everything and the country is going to hell in a handbasket.

HecateQueenOfGhosts · 07/02/2009 19:25

that was me agreeing with your post of 19:19 btw, OP

hf128219 · 07/02/2009 19:25

Is it a Limited Company, Partnership or Sole Proprietorship?

Was she involved in the book-keeping?

TheNinkynork · 07/02/2009 19:33

If he's been claiming to have been on a low income for years then housing benefit and tax credits the family wouldn't have been entitled to may have also been paid and will be clawed back from the ex. Tricky

tiredsville · 07/02/2009 19:38

Oh, so it's ok for him to be punished, but not her? I thought it was illegal, immoral and what have you.
If you feel that passionate about it, pick up the phone and call the hotline.

TheNinkynork · 07/02/2009 19:46

They should both be punished if she knew what he was doing but wouldn't the children be the ones to really lose out wrt tax credits? I had an overpayment in the early days and they reduced the amount I was entitled to for DD quite drastically.

Still I suppose looking out for the DC is why most of us just don't break the law in the first place!

Original poster

PramInspector · 07/02/2009 19:46

tiredsville - as I said, it is not him OR HER that I am worried about. It's the children.

Obviously they are innocent in all this, I fear that they would be the ones to suffer if all this was to come out.

BUT - does that mean that their parents should be allowed to steal from the rest of us?!?!??

OP posts:

tiredsville · 07/02/2009 19:47

Well that up to you to decide isn't Pram?

Original poster

PramInspector · 07/02/2009 19:49

Obviously. And I am finding it tricky. Hence my posting on here.

OP posts:

GossipMonger · 07/02/2009 19:50

Report him

Just do it

I did it and am pleased I did.

Dont know what the outcome was but why the f* should he get away with it. He was claiming that his DP with 4 of his kids was actually his secretary and that he lived elsewhere. Bollocks to that! she was on full Tax credits etc and scamming the whole thing so I emailed them and told them what was what.

oysterpots · 07/02/2009 19:56

I would do it. Agree with all the other pro-grassers - maybe we all wouldn't be in such a blimming pickle if the taxman could find a way to get some of that illegal cash back from twats like your friend.

BTW the cash in hand thing is different. It's one of the big white-collar/middle-class crimes - asking a tradesman to accept cash in hand means not paying the VAT, not income tax, and as such the responsibility lies with the asker not the askee.

That, and nicking stationery from work, and keeping schtum when you get too much change back in a shop. Who here has done any of those? I know I have

oysterpots · 07/02/2009 19:57

You're right, Hecate, I hate that attitude. Apparently is known in psychological terms as diminished responsibility - assuming someone else will do it which results in no-one doing it. Bad news for the community indeed.

HerBeatitudeLittleBella · 07/02/2009 20:00

If it was a benefit fraudster, people would be yelling about reporting him.

I don't really see why tax evasion is more socially acceptable, I haven't noticed any ads on the TV warning tax evaders that the inspectors are coming after them.

tumtumtetum · 07/02/2009 20:05

I hate it when builders etc ask you to pay in cash. I always say no and make them have a cheque.

Desiderata · 07/02/2009 20:08

Hmm, the trouble with tax is that most of it just goes to line the politician's pocket.

I'm in favour of abolishing income tax entirely.

We should pay a tax on the things we use. That would be fairer all round.

tumtumtetum · 07/02/2009 20:11

I wondered when someone was going to say that.

So we should ditch all the state benefits, NHS and pensions etc.

The rich can pay for any treatment they need.

The poor can live as if in a previous age, dieing in childbirth and of preventable diseases. The elderly can just starve if they're not well off, and when their money runs out any care they are receiving should cease and they should be left in the gutter.

Nice.

hf128219 · 07/02/2009 20:13

Lines the Politician's pocket?

It is actually spent on Schools, Hospitals, Defence et al. How else do you think these things are funded?

tiredsville · 07/02/2009 20:14

Yes, along with MP's "John Lewis" expenses and funding their furniture.

HerBeatitudeLittleBella · 07/02/2009 20:14

Oh yes it would be much fairer if poor people paid 60% of their income on tax and rich people paid 5% of their income on tax.

Fairer all round.

tiredsville · 07/02/2009 20:14

Illegal Wars

HerBeatitudeLittleBella · 07/02/2009 20:15

Does anyone really believe that a few John Lewis lamps and sofas cost the same as running a hospital for one day?

Desiderata · 07/02/2009 20:18

Ah, but my point is that the generation of taxes necessarily requires an army of people to adminster them.

These people have better pensions than you, and a more secure future.

A tax on the things you purchase means that those people who use less, pay less.

The money would still go to the government, but it would pretty much negate benefit fraud, 'cos if you want a loaf of bread from the corner shop, you've got to pay the tax on it.

tiredsville · 07/02/2009 20:18

Mp's should be setting an example, don't you think?

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