Should I shop 'em?

TM1976

Perhaps if they are your close friends as you say you have the courage of your convictions and tell them you think it's wrong to make all that money without paying tax rather than going and telling the tax man.

Be aware that a lot of people make these kind of boasts because they are trying to impress, it'll be it isn't exactly true.

It's difficult to run a business without leaving a paper trail, especially if you are actually spending money aswell. If their tax affairs are not in order it's likely that they will get a bit shock further down the line when the penalties and back tax kicks in.

nm123_2

Hmm... Interesting... A friend of mine married an Argentinian, he got the spouse visa or whatever it is, then came here for just under a year and he worked cash-in-hand the whole time and it really bugged me. Particularly when said friend used to get high and mighty about "immigrants (illegal or otherwise) taking our jobs, not contributing to our society etc etc". And the fact that his family back in Argentina were minted, even by Western standards also really riled me!

I didn't dob, but it crossed my mind. It would've ruined his chances of getting back in the UK I would imagine, and possibly make their lives together very very difficult. But - at the end of the day - who I am to judge?

It was very frustrating to watch, but as someone else said, it would've been totally wrong of me to be a shoulder to cry on if my friend was devastated that Argie hubby could never come back to the UK when actually, that was all because of me.

I decided it was none of my business and that whilst it would serve them right if he did get caught out, I didn't want to be the one to cause the grief.

greyteam1959

cford wrote: »

We have some friends - quite close friends to be fair - who have their own business... He does 95% of it, but she has a good income on her own...

However, his business is really taking off - can't say too much about it - but it's been going for about 3 - 4 years, and now is making some serious money...

We invited them round for a dinner party a couple of weeks ago, and it turns out that he hasn't even registered the company for VAT (and he's above the legislative threshold now), neither does the tax man know about his venture...

It doesn't appear the inland revenue will ever know either - if he's gotten away with it so far - how will he ever be found out?

Maybe jealousy is kicking in... Maybe I should just mind my own business... But when I see what I am paying - 10's of thousands each year in income tax - and I see them getting away without paying a penny, I just hate the fact that they can get away with it!!

Maybe it wouldn't be so bad if they weren't so smug about it - they have booked 3 fantastic holiday's next year - they didn't have one at all this year... And the designer clothes have now started as well... Like I say, it sounds like I am getting bitter - but it's more to do with my personal issue of having to PAY tax, rather than anyone not paying at all... if you get my drift...

Wouldn't want to say too much about their business other than it's quite unique, and is in such a market that means that it's difficult for anyone to really know it even exists (i.e. - it's not a shop!)

question is - should I advise the inland revenue of their company??? I am giving it some thought I must admit - just wondered what everyone else thought and whether I am on my own here - or whether I am just a jealous and twisted person without morals...

Shop them without a doubt.......and don't even feel bad about it.
How do you think they are making money ????......
By not paying PAYE / NI / Corporation Tax / VAT etc etc any fool could make money if they did not pay taxes........

DCodd

Unless they are shoving large amounts of cash under the matteress, he will get caught. Banks do check high transaction volume accounts.

fengirl_2

These people are stealing from all of us and I would inform HMRC without a doubt. If HMRC does take up the case, don't forget that you may never find out, should they choose to keep their shame to themselves.

Swiss_Toni

I had a similar conversation recently and ended up with this take....


If the newspapers exposed an MP who knew their neighbours were working and not paying tax, would you say that they had failed in their duty? would it demonstrate that their moral standards were poor?

Is there any reason why you should expect higher standards of someone else than you do for yourself?

If a Police Officer knew a colleague was stealing from the petty cash, should they turn a blind eye?

If a DR was earning cash for treatment with NHS drugs to private patients, is that something you would do something about?

If the girl who changes the film in the speed camera speeds to work, would you "shop" her?

Would you pay a plumber cash if they offered 10% off?

:rolleyes::A

MrCarrot

#1 He could have registered with the VAT / tax man and is making stories up.

#2 If the tax man doesn't know about him, he could be found out. Not paying any tax is ok if you want to carry round wads of cash to spend on frivolous items, but as soon as you want to buy anything more serious it becomes difficult and you risk losing everything.

#3 They're your friends. They've not murdered anyone. I would leave it be.

Nosht

cford wrote: »

We have some friends - quite close friends to be fair - who have their own business... He does 95% of it, but she has a good income on her own...

However, his business is really taking off - can't say too much about it - but it's been going for about 3 - 4 years, and now is making some serious money...

We invited them round for a dinner party a couple of weeks ago, and it turns out that he hasn't even registered the company for VAT (and he's above the legislative threshold now), neither does the tax man know about his venture...

It doesn't appear the inland revenue will ever know either - if he's gotten away with it so far - how will he ever be found out?

Maybe jealousy is kicking in... Maybe I should just mind my own business... But when I see what I am paying - 10's of thousands each year in income tax - and I see them getting away without paying a penny, I just hate the fact that they can get away with it!!

Maybe it wouldn't be so bad if they weren't so smug about it - they have booked 3 fantastic holiday's next year - they didn't have one at all this year... And the designer clothes have now started as well... Like I say, it sounds like I am getting bitter - but it's more to do with my personal issue of having to PAY tax, rather than anyone not paying at all... if you get my drift...

Wouldn't want to say too much about their business other than it's quite unique, and is in such a market that means that it's difficult for anyone to really know it even exists (i.e. - it's not a shop!)

question is - should I advise the inland revenue of their company??? I am giving it some thought I must admit - just wondered what everyone else thought and whether I am on my own here - or whether I am just a jealous and twisted person without morals...

Take this with a pinch of salt, it's funny you know, you never hear how badly people are doing. :eek:

If YOU pay that much tax then you obviously need help, try a DECENT accountant.


Regards,


Nosht

Primrose

This is a difficult moral argument, but I wonder how you would feel if as a indirect result of their fiddling you lost your job or your tax went up by several pence in the pound to compensate for everybody fiddling in the black economy. I think you should do your best to convince them, over a specified period of time, that they need to get themselves an accountant and get their tax affairs on a legitimate keel. If they chose not to do this and then you then choose to do your duty as a moral citizen on behalf of the rest of us who bear the brunt and DO pay our taxes in full, however painful it is, then in my view, they have to accept what is coming to them . Where do you draw the line at crooks and cheats? Our national economy is in too serious a state, with massive cuts in public spending and tax increases forecast, to encourage people to feel that they have a right to a free ride while the rest of us are paying the full fare. Quite honestly, if I had friends like this, I would feel uncomfortable having an ongoing relationship with them while this issue was outstanding. Perhaps that's because I was brought up to be honest in my dealings, and I don't think I could indefinitely sit on the fence knowing they were fraudsters. (Don't let's beat about the bush on this. This is what they are doing). Sooner or later you'll have to decide where your moral priorities lie. But if you do end up deciding to report them, make sure you do it for the right reasons, not just because you're jealous of what they've got and what you haven't.

Nosht

FWIW
America has started a whistleblowing scheme wherebye %ge awards are given if a successful conviction for tax evasion ensues.

N.