Should I shop 'em?

withabix

Shop him. He is stealing from all of us.

RayWolfe

MrCarrot wrote: »

Why do I have a feeling that if every single tax evader started paying up, the rate of taxation would not actually come down?

I guess you would say the same about shoplifters from Tesco. You either have morals or you revert to the law of the jungle.

Davey2009

Mojisola wrote: »

If you knew that friends of yours were shoplifting, stealing cars or robbing houses, would you also keep quiet because they were friends?

It would depend on my reasons for wanting to shop them if it was because I wanted to be a law abiding citizen yes but that would be far different then acting out of envy.

hullight

Why should someone on NMW pay 20% tax plus NI for hospitals, schools, etc. when people like this are free loading?

If you ever share a taxi with them, check your change.

BBDom

If you are that worried about it, wait until they both go out then go round "in a panic" when they come back to say there were a couple of men in suits who called round and asked you some questions about what business they were running.

Obivously you didn't say anything to them but you thought they should know just in case they came back.

If they are doing anything illegal then it should put the wind up them enough to sort their finances out.

Dave101t

your paying more because of cheats like him.

stebiz

How many times have 'we' had a couple of drinks, and boast of things we haven't actually done? Made things sound better?

These friends confided this with you, whether true or not, and in my world that is were it would stop! If you don't like what they are doing, fine - you don't need to have them as friends anymore. But telling the authorities something you don't even know is 100% true..................not me!!

Stebiz

Sam_G_3

Yes TBH they could just be talking cr*p - unless you know the intimate details of your friend's finances and are 100% certain they are breaking the law, you should leave well alone.

I could tell everyone on these forums that I am a millionaire and don't pay any tax or NI, unless you were someone very close to me how would you know whether what I say is the truth or not? Would you 'shop' me?

Fulham_Mark

Have I misunderstood part of this?

Not being registered for VAT means that you aren't a tax collector for the government. You don't get to charge 15% VAT and then get to keep some of this as a little pat on the back from Darling.

It makes you a cheaper supplier and helps you get started in business - hence the threshold being 60k in sales.

If they are not declaring extra income then one day they will get caught and you would be doing them a favour to tell them to stop it. I think 3% of self assessments are checked - looking for increased bank transactions etc as people have mentioned. if you've been doing it for ages then a spell in prison looms

cford_2

Hi - just a quick update on this...

Firstly, thanks to all who posted. It's nice that I asked people for opinions about a moral dilemma - and already I am a "spineless grass" and accused rather sarcastically, of being "some friend" - hmm... I thought I was discussing a personal dichotomy? hung, drawn and quartered already....

Anyway - on to the serious responses... I can categorically state that this is not drink talk - the person is not declaring any income from the business and therefore is not paying any tax on this income. How they do it, I do not know - what I do know is they are spending a lot of money at the moment - and he is very worried that he is going to get caught - and being driven by his wife who is far more intent on tax evasion than he is by the looks of things.
I do not know any more because , I do not want to know any more. This was originally because I thought if I made too much of a fuss / took too keen an interest in their "tax" affairs, then either they were found out, or I shopped them, then i would be prime suspect as I am not sure how many (if any) other people they have told in any case. Since then, I do not want to know anymore, because, I am afraid it does put me in a moral dilemma that quite frankly, I do not need.

I feel angry about it not because I don't value our friendship - but because, it's fraud, it's illegal, it's immoral and, yes, I don't mind admitting, I feel aggrieved that other tax payers - like me - have to pay tax.

And to answer one post - I have a good accountant thank you - and how do you know that I don't?

Anyway, I am not going to do anything about it. I have decided not to. Can't really explain why - I feel very angry that they think they can do this - but I have decided that it's none of my business. And if they get caught, then c'est la vie.

I have told him that I feel very uncomfortable even knowing this - that what he's doing is wrong - that he shouldn't tell ANYONE else - and would rather not discuss it from now on. So my views are known - I've done my bit. I don't like it - and if it was anyone else other than close friends, I don't think I would hesitate...

But my view is - if they get caught, which I think they will eventually (cos she will keep pushing him through greed - I know it!), then fine. And when they get caught, they will have to pay every penny back, that they have already spent. Which is fair enough.

Again, thanks for the responses everyone...