MONEY MORAL DILEMMA. Would you pay Brian the Builder in cash?

pineapple

You make a fair point post 71. In fact part of me agrees with you.
But I think there is a lot of cynicism about how our taxes are spent, plus the junketing at the top as well as legal tax evasion because the well heeled can afford accountants with the know how. That's how I justify my attitude to myself anyway!
As for our legal liability if we are knowingly helping someone defraud the tax man, I may be on my own here, but I have never yet encountered a tradesman who has openly acknowledged what he is doing - though one might suspect it. My own 'tame handyman' will say if asked that even cash is always declared. In fact it might well be. But I don't think I could be prosecuted if it turned out he was not declaring it. Could I? Any legal experts out there?
That said I recently had new windows installed. I could in fact have had my neighbour (who works for the same company) do it for a lot less. But I would have been missing a crucial guarantee. So it was self interest that took me down the more expensive route. And there's another dilemma for you. What about the myriads of tradesmen who take advantage of their firms contacts to do the same work 'on the side'? I actually think that's a more heinous crime as they are effectively cheating on their employer.

Dooooooooooooooonut

Tax is theft. I am certainly not going to help the theives out!

inmypocketnottheirs

StillSavingMoney wrote: »

I think we all have a responsibility to pay our taxes and not to assist others to evade paying their tax. If no-one paid their taxes who would pay for the schools, hospitals, police etc.? When we talk about "paying the taxman", the "taxman" is actually the public purse out of which everything is paid for - it is our money. Whilst we sometimes might not agree with how our (elected) Government spends our taxes, I don't think we can say that, just because we don't agree with some of the Government's policies, we're going to actively assist tax evasion. If you're not self-employed i.e. on a wage, then you have to pay your taxes through your pay packet. Why should the self-employed be any different and escape paying tax? We not only have a moral duty not to assist tax evasion, I'm pretty sure we have a legal duty as in the VAT Act 1994; we can't just say "what he does with my money isn't my problem". If you called an ambulance to your house in an emergency and it was 10 minutes too late due to lack of funds (i.e. tax receipts) how would you feel then?

What a load of tosh! See signature below:

inmypocketnottheirs

Dooooooooooooooonut wrote: »

Tax is theft. I am certainly not going to help the theives out!

Too right!!

ashleypride

lizzybear wrote: »

No. My dad owns a small business and I see how much he has to pay in VAT alone each year so I don't think it's right when people try to get away with not paying it. I also can't help thinking that the reason such taxes are so high is partly because of those evading them.

Your dad isn't paying VAT - he's collecting VAT on behalf of HMRC. The money was never his to begin with.

ashleypride

StillSavingMoney wrote: »

I think we all have a responsibility to pay our taxes and not to assist others to evade paying their tax. If no-one paid their taxes who would pay for the schools, hospitals, police etc.? When we talk about "paying the taxman", the "taxman" is actually the public purse out of which everything is paid for - it is our money. Whilst we sometimes might not agree with how our (elected) Government spends our taxes, I don't think we can say that, just because we don't agree with some of the Government's policies, we're going to actively assist tax evasion. If you're not self-employed i.e. on a wage, then you have to pay your taxes through your pay packet. Why should the self-employed be any different and escape paying tax? We not only have a moral duty not to assist tax evasion, I'm pretty sure we have a legal duty as in the VAT Act 1994; we can't just say "what he does with my money isn't my problem". If you called an ambulance to your house in an emergency and it was 10 minutes too late due to lack of funds (i.e. tax receipts) how would you feel then?

While I see your point, it is sometimes impossible for the consumer to know about the VAT status.
For example, I could come over your house and do some work and either
1- Work as employee of my company, give you an official receipt and collect the VAT or
2 - Work as a individual, not charge you VAT, and give you a personal receipt. As long as I am declaring my income to HMRC, no tax evasion has occurred.
or
3 - Work in a non VAT registered company with no need to collect VAT.

Paying somebody 'cash-in-hand' doesn't always mean something dodgy is occurring - but not getting a receipt is generally a good sign..... On the other hand a builder could come over charge VAT, give you a receipt but never declare it.

marvic_2

Yes! we all pay too much tax anyway to this gready government

mad-mum_3

Where do you all find these trustworthy builders? I used one who did fab work for my parents and he made a complete pigs ear of the simpler job he did for me. When he offered me a for cash discount to save on the old VAT it was great to see his face whan I asked him if he knew where I worked!

I am constantly amazed by the workmen who will offer to do things "off the books for cash" without knowing the first thing anout who they are talking to .

I do not work for the revenue but I do believe in trying to do the right thing.

I can understand why people do take the option of the cash amount. My husband is self employed and getting insured and trying to do other things completely legally has been a nightmare there is so much red tape in the way and rules and restrictions. Given the work he does and the fact that there are so many people advertising for the same kind of work I would have anticipated that there would be an insurance category for him but it would appear he is in the minority in ensuring he has appropriate public liability insurance etc. He does not earn enough to have VAT issues but people have refused reciepts from him, even for large amounts of money, saying for him to just have the cash. It would be so easy to not play it by the book.

Florrie97

Yes I would pay the cash as I have already paid tax on my earnings. Why should my money be taxed twice? I can't avoid paying tax so good luck to him!! Why can't we reclaim the tax back when we pay money that will be taxed again? And again it would be taxed if he were to use this money to pay someone else for something!!!

beerbottles

gavsmillie wrote: »

This throws up the age-old dilemma of integrity ! Most poeple, not all, have a right/wrong response to these type of questions. It is the way we are brought up etc etc. However I have always believed that certain people should set examples especially those in power. If they pay their taxes correctly then so should I !

Unfortunatly last year both the ousted PM and the other party leader both claimed back their TV licences under some parlimentary ruling !!! These people earn a lot of money yet they can't afford to pay their TV licence without having to claim it back !!!

In answer to the question I would take the offer given it was for a product that I did not require follow up at a later date. In that case I would look for some sort of guarantee. Britain has long being the rip-off country with the ususal excuse of transport and other excuses. Now the power is with the people and not with the banking, fuel and other manafacutures who have been ripping us off for years !! Honda's £12.5 billion profit last year - this year asking us to support them !! What happend the profit ! What happended to future forecasting ! Do they not read Martins' advice on 6 month emergency funds !!

Seems like I have gone off on a tangent here but this is why people do pay for work without VAT !! If you lead by example and with a fair price I will gladly pay my VAT for work done !!

Right soap box away and a happy Hogmanay to all !

:T To Quote the christmas no 1 Hallelujah. you speak for all of us well done !!