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

wildthing01

why is everyone going on about public sector pensions again???

1. i pay for my public sector pension, same as anyone who pays for a private pension.

2. i DON'T get to retire before anyone else (not sure where people are getting that idea - trure, a very small number of people in certain very high stress public sector jobs get to retire early - but then they often suffer stress-related health problems after retirement, so they're not exactly benefitting from it)

Broadwood

We are where we are as a country right now and have arrived at this point in history in this state mainly due to decisions made by royals and politicians, some elected but the majority not.

Until a government comes along and gets to grips with our problems and we get a fairer society then more and more people will be inclined to vote "A" or "B". We are not as bad as Greece yet but it is a slippery slope that we are on.

As someone stated earlier, we need a fairer and far simpler tax system with no havens. Pensions need the same treatment as does the benefit system. If 99% of the population was doing "the right thing" and happy to be doing it, we would be a far better country, but as things are at present we are heading down the slope into the mire.

P.S. I voted A but would be happy to vote C at some point in the future if as a society we have turned this country around.

You can't swim against the tide. Only our leaders have the power to fundamentally change things and with the present coalition government we have the best chance of change for generations. I hope they have the guts to rip up the rule books and get back to basics this time.

lisawaters

As is borne out by my experiences with a cowboy builder, 15% isn't a saving when you almost lose your home. For any significant expenses, pay by cheque or EFT, have a contract, get three quotes and Google the supplier even if you get his name through Checkatrade or a friend's recommendation. I like a discount as much as anyone, and it's not a question of morals, it's just dangerous trying to deal with someone under the radar. Things can and will go wrong.

fatal1955

Much as I loathe many of the things the state does, stealing from the state is still stealing, innit?

harryhound

rickbonar wrote: »

I went for B

haggle for more. - a lot more!

I figure the cash would go straight into the workman's back pocket and would not go through any books so would not even be considered for any tax let alone VAT.

Of course as pointed out he would not be bound by the normal guarantees .. but then a lot of them aren't worried by that even when they are.

You have missed the point. The guy who is completely in the "black economy"
cannot claim benefits, pays VAT on all his material purchases, pays VAT & Exercise duty on diesel for his van. Cannot claim against tax for his mileage and his tools. So he is not getting away with as much tax as some people think.
The guy who really benefits is one who does some industrial work and some domestic and who knows when to put the domestic payment into his back pocket.
In the 1960's the only bloke I knew with a colour TV was a fitter in the local factory who was always off sick. In reality he was part of the then central heating boom and working out of the back of an estate car.

rickbonar

Hi Harry,

No I don't think I've missed the point! Perhaps you should look again?

Let's take our hypothetical trader in a normal established trade: for example he could be a small garage or a builder and as such will more than likely be NOT entirely in the black market.
He will no doubt in all reasonable probability properly VAT registered and paying tax at the correct rate.
All cheque payments, credit card payments, debit cards and so on will go through these accounted ledgers.

However when he has the offer of a cash payment he can if approached by a nod and a wink from the prospective customer opt to not declare the work. So effectively no one knows apart that customer and him right?

In fact I would so bold as to say in some trades it is virtually unknown for the traders not to have two sets of books. One very neat and ordered, and one tatty and disordered. One for the Inland revenue and VAT office and one personal use possibly coded.
I'll leave it for you to work out which one is which

It was therefore on that basis I made my choice to haggle for a lot less.

CutTheJargon

wildthing01 wrote: »

why is everyone going on about public sector pensions again???

1. i pay for my public sector pension, same as anyone who pays for a private pension.

2. i DON'T get to retire before anyone else (not sure where people are getting that idea - trure, a very small number of people in certain very high stress public sector jobs get to retire early - but then they often suffer stress-related health problems after retirement, so they're not exactly benefitting from it)

You may also contribute towards your pension, but you do not take the risks that private pension contributors do unless they are in a final salary scheme. You are guaranteed a pension at a certain level and it usually increases year on year. A private pension fund can drop in value literally just before you are due to retire and your annuity will be based on that.

Regarding retiring early, I know of countless people who have taken early retirement from the Public Sector, not just a few in stressful jobs. My brother in law is a cop and he can retire at 55, take his pension and get another job elsewhere if he wants to, so I have no idea why you think only a few of them can retire early. Us ordinary workers can have stressfull jobs without the luxury of retiring early.

As I have said before, this is not a personal thing against individuals in the Public Sector, but I wish you could see the huge benefits you have on the pensions front.

Nitha

Take the cash discount and then report them for tax evasion! It's their fault for being stupid enough to tell a complete stranger that they intend to commit tax evasion. Some companies offer a cash discount due to not having to pay Visa charges so if cash discount was offered without that explanation then I'd assume that to be the reason.