'Would you 'pay in cash' to help people avoid tax?' poll

Former_MSE_Lawrence
Former_MSE_Lawrence Former MSE Posts: 975 Forumite
edited 24 May 2010 at 1:29PM in MoneySaving polls
Poll between 17-24 May 2010:

Would you ‘pay in cash’ to help people avoid tax?

If a builder/masseuse/cleaner/plummer/market stall holder or anyone else offered you a 15% discount because “it's better in my pocket than in the taxmans”

Which of these is closest to what you’d do?

A. Take it – a saving's a saving - 65%
B. Haggle- ask for a bigger discount - 22%
C. Refuse it – you won’t take part in tax evasion -10%
D. Report it – report them for tax fraud - 3%

11,285 total votes.

Voting has now closed, but you can still click 'post reply' to discuss below. Thanks :)

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Comments

  • Gareth_Lazelle
    Gareth_Lazelle Forumite Posts: 110 Forumite
    Shouldn't A. be:

    A. Take it - Stealing is saving of a sort

    ;)
    - GL
  • Quiet_Life
    Quiet_Life Forumite Posts: 2,498
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
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    I have to earn approx. £144.60 to receive £100 after tax and NI, so if I'm quoted £100 cash in hand for a job, it's really costing me a lot more.
    In giving
    you are throwing a bridge
    across the chasm of your solitude.
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  • kalaika
    kalaika Forumite Posts: 716 Forumite
    What are the odds that the guy saying "it's better in my pocket than in the taxman's" will be the first to complain about public service cutbacks to ease the Government's budget deficit?
    No trees were killed to send this message, but a large number of electrons were terribly inconvenienced. - Neil deGrasse Tyson (@neiltyson)
  • jackieglasgow
    jackieglasgow Forumite Posts: 9,436 Forumite
    Quiet_Life wrote: »
    I have to earn approx. £144.60 to receive £100 after tax and NI, so if I'm quoted £100 cash in hand for a job, it's really costing me a lot more.

    I had to read that a few times for it to make sense, but I totlayy agree. I'll also add that someone offered me a cash only price for some work the other day at my MIl's house, which is about two minutes away from a huge tax office, and most of the employees come from the local area, he had no hesitation and didn't even stop to think if I might. FWIW MIL is retired from there, and would have slapped me hard if I'd accepted!
    mardatha wrote: »
    It's what is inside your head that matters in life - not what's outside your window :D
    Every worthwhile accomplishment, big or little, has its stages of drudgery and triumph; a beginning, a struggle and a victory. - Ghandi
  • ThinkingOfLinking
    ThinkingOfLinking Forumite Posts: 11,828
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
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    D. Why should they get away with not paying tax? And as another poster said, that money they're asking for already costs you more than that due to your own tax and NI burden...
  • zygurat789
    zygurat789 Forumite Posts: 4,263
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
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    Do you believe everthing a builder/masseuse/cleaner/plummer/market stall holder or anyone else says to you? All he wants is the money now (don't we all) rather tyhan a cheque which may bounce and cost him in bank charges.
    The only thing that is constant is change.
  • davetrousers
    davetrousers Forumite Posts: 5,862
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
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    A 15% deduction would be less for the tradesman!

    Job costs £100 plus 17.5% VAT = £117.50 (so this is what it should legitimately cost.)

    OK now deduct 15% from £117.50 and the sum is £99.88
    .....

  • brightonman123
    brightonman123 Forumite Posts: 8,532 Forumite
    depends on the service / price offered- do you get good value BEFORE % taken off?
    Long time away from MSE, been dealing real life stuff..
    Sometimes seen lurking on the compers forum :-)
  • beer_tins
    beer_tins Forumite Posts: 1,677
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
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    It's worth bearing in mind that all taxpayers need to cover the shortfall caused by tax fraud. The government will get the money they don't get from the tradesman, from you and me.
    Running Club targets 2010
    5KM - 21:00 21:55 (59.19%)
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  • wildthing01
    wildthing01 Forumite Posts: 329
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    beer_tins wrote: »
    It's worth bearing in mind that all taxpayers need to cover the shortfall caused by tax fraud. The government will get the money they don't get from the tradesman, from you and me.


    i'm sorry - i don't get this - are you saying that the government knows how much they are losing from cash in hand deals each year and so adjust the national tax rates upwards to take account of this? in the same way shops raise prices to allow for a certain amount of shoplifting? i really hope they don't!! tax is tax isn't it?

    and as for the people saying that that £100 has actually cost them £144, well you could make the same arguement for when you buy anything with your hard-earned cash - down to a tube of toothpaste - and in most cases then the government is then taking two lots of tax, once from your paypacket and then again when you purchase something. so i don't really get that arguement either i'm afraid!
This discussion has been closed.
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