Tax Evasion - should I report family members?

[MixedCouple]

I'm really torn - 2 family members are Taxi drivers self employed and admit to Tax evading - boast about it aswell. They both own villas abroad masses of wealth in other countries and land etc. But in the UK they act poor and they even have a Mortgage even though both have houses more expensive abroad. They also take large amounts of money abroad without declaring it. No trace no bank transfers. All the cash they make while taxing.

Every time they boast about it I tell them off and say one day they will get caught - others have to not just me.
When I pluck up the courage to do it I get super guilty.

Should I bite the bullet

Yes, it’s your civic duty to do so.

Absolutely report them. We all have to pay tax. Why should some get away with not paying and reaping the material benefits from it. What if we all decided to do that?

No.
Why do you want to? If you’re 100% honest with yourself why do you want to report them?
When the government start taxing people / big businesses correctly then maybe but for now they operate a one rule for us, one rule for them so I’m not in any hurry to report anyone for anything like this.

Taxi drivers don't make that much money usually. Have they a sideline or something?

^ This.

I hope you're not married to one of them, because if you are and you keep quiet, you could end up in serious trouble with the law yourself.

I thought taxi drivers incomes had been massively restricted due to Uber etc

That’s a strange outlook on crime and antisocial behaviour. Maybe we should all steal what we want, as there’s little risk of getting caught! These aren’t dirt-poor people doing cash-in-hand work to stay alive. These are rich people enjoying making fools of all those around them.

@stripes even in marriage we are not responsible for another's behaviour.

Some professions, like accountants, have a duty. For the general population there isn't such a thing

As long as you're prepared to be called a snake and a grass, yes. I've anonymously reported SORN'd cars illegally parked on the public highway in permit holder spaces. I got to watch the angry strop from a distance. At least there was a real-world benefit to it as someone with a permit who couldn't park outside their home before was then finally able to.

I think you might just be on a wind up.

trust me, they're not making a fortune taxi driving, especially not now (&never to the point you're describing)

if that. Money exists, it's NOT from taxi driving.

Report away, but bear in mind that HMRC probably won't ever do anything about it. They get hundreds of report a day and can't possibly follow them all up.

I've reported family members with evidence, and nothing happened. Still trading cash in hand, and boasting about how little income they declare. They are shafting an ex spouse and paying too little child maintenance as a result as well. Disgusting behaviour.

Because some of us are paying our dues and living within our means and feel it's unfair that others get to openly cheat the system and then brag about it.

Agree with this. Why report your own family members?
I wince when I look at my tax contributions, but would never drop family members in it. Just can't imagine being that much of a busy body.

Exactly.
we live in an area where Uber doesn’t cover, busses are spotty so if you don’t drive taxis are the main form of transport.
A close friend of mine is a taxi driver he covers a very wide area, has a minibus with a lift on the back so can take large groups, prams unfolded and wheelchairs, so he is in demand.
He works 6 days a week and makes good money but not that much money.

No, I wouldn't ever report my own family for this.

Taxi drivers don't make that much money usually. Have they a sideline or something?

Depends on what you mean by 'that much'. Not millionaire territory obvs but DH is a taxi driver and him and most of those we know are easily pulling in £1k a week after costs, some more if you're willing to do permanent nights. Probably dependent on area - we live in a seaside area that doesn't have Uber to contend with. I hear of lots of taxi drivers saying they're still impacted by Covid or pleading poverty due to diesal costs etc - no sign of that near us though. Taxiing is a very good earner in ours and many other areas.

Dh declares all of his income because he has another business so it's important to make sure he's all above board...but I'd say 90% of the taxi drivers we know either don't pay tax at all or significantly under report. It's why many drivers were fucked during covid - because officially they were earning £2k a year so missed all the SE support packages!

However, honestly, I'd never bother reporting your average single income self employed person for tax evasion...especially a taxi driver. Regardless of the morality of it, it's pointless...theres no 'record' of how much taxi drivers earn and the sensible tax evaders will simply declare £50 of income a week then bank or spend the rest in cash.

There will be no 'big tax bill' coming because HMRC would be unable to prove income. Maybe a fine if someone isn't doing SA's at all - but then further tax evasion would be simple by just under reporting.

Small fry to HMRC and not worth their time.

Sure. Report them. Nothing will happen.

Yes they make loads especially Fri - Sat - Sun. School runs with tips, own clinets etc.
They boast about earnings over Xmas and holidays one example making £1.5k on Xmas Eve.

They do Tax evade as they have a friend accountant so on paper thwir earnings yearly is £25k Gross. When the reality it is X2 that.

They work 7 days a week - self employed then once a year they go on holiday 5 weeks to their Villas.
They don't take anytime off for family events no weddings anything.

Their wives go shopping with wodges of cash - they keep very little in bank accounts and save at home instead. They don't do online shopping very rare.
Their kids got help with University costs as 1 income only.

Yes we have no Uber anywhere in our area and all still cash in hand.
I hadn't thought about it before. The only way HMRC may have a case is the properties abroad and bank accounts abroad.

It is morally wrong and that's why I want to do it. Get it off my shoulders this huge burdon.
Yes I know huge companies are
Doing worse. But still.

And yes they work looong shifts over night. Rest for few hours - school run - rest etc.

Their health is terrible with the lack of sleep - obesity sitting in a car all day and have been beating up a fair few times.
So I'm a way this is punishment.

As I said, go for it. Prepare to be disappointed. You will need to find another way to piss them off.

Dh dobbed his brother in.
Got fined a LOT and jail sentence.

Are these Hackney carriages or minicabs? What's the licensing situation?

If it’s a cash trade it’s very difficult to prove anything. Report them but give as much detail as you can. The full names and DOB of the taxi drivers, where they work, how they business is organised. Give details of where the overseas accounts are held and also the exact name and location of the villa etc.

Cool story bro