We're aware that some users are experiencing technical issues which the team are working to resolve. See the Community Noticeboard for more info. Thank you for your patience.
📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!

'How far would you go to avoid tax? ' poll discussion

Options
Poll started 12 July 2011, click here to vote

How far would you go to avoid tax?

If the opportunity arose, how far would you go to avoid (legal) or evade (illegal) tax…

Please tick the lowest one you would do (or have done)

Only official schemes like ISAs or pensions
Anything WITHIN the law – including loopholes
Working cash in hand / false receipt to evade tax
Anything – even if illegal provided I wouldn’t be caught
«1

Comments

  • cit_k
    cit_k Posts: 24,812 Forumite
    I wonder if the the tax people see this thread, whether they will use their pretty much unlimited powers to get copies of all ip addressess/email addresses of those who said they are quite prepared to engage in criminal conduct.

    They would surely have damn good reason to, and MSE would have to supply such information...
    [greenhighlight]but it matters when the most senior politician in the land is happy to use language and examples that are simply not true.
    [/greenhighlight][redtitle]
    The impact of this is to stigmatise people on benefits,
    and we should be deeply worried about that
    [/redtitle](house of lords debate, talking about Cameron)
  • tgroom57
    tgroom57 Posts: 1,432 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    where does 'working for an umbrella company' come in all this? the tax-deductables seem very good, for this and self-employed.
  • MSE_Martin
    MSE_Martin Posts: 8,272 Money Saving Expert
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    cit_k wrote: »
    I wonder if the the tax people see this thread, whether they will use their pretty much unlimited powers to get copies of all ip addressess/email addresses of those who said they are quite prepared to engage in criminal conduct.

    They would surely have damn good reason to, and MSE would have to supply such information...

    You don't need to give your email address to vote in the poll - which is a poll trying to discover attitudes not asking for confessions.
    Martin Lewis, Money Saving Expert.
    Please note, answers don't constitute financial advice, it is based on generalised journalistic research. Always ensure any decision is made with regards to your own individual circumstance.
    Don't miss out on urgent MoneySaving, get my weekly e-mail at www.moneysavingexpert.com/tips.
    Debt-Free Wannabee Official Nerd Club: (Honorary) Members number 000
  • tgroom57
    tgroom57 Posts: 1,432 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    edited 12 July 2011 at 12:21PM
    when you said - how far would you go ?' I thought you meant: Channel Islands, Monaco, Lichtenstein, or the Bahamas. :)
  • cit_k
    cit_k Posts: 24,812 Forumite
    MSE_Martin wrote: »
    You don't need to give your email address to vote in the poll - which is a poll trying to discover attitudes not asking for confessions.

    No, but surely the software must log the username of who voted, or they could vote multiple times.
    With a stored username, email addresses become accessible.

    So the details, although not visible to end users are stored on the system, and could easily be requested by authorities after a nice list of people saying they are prepared to fake receipts, work cash in hand, and do anything else illegal to get out of paying tax.
    [greenhighlight]but it matters when the most senior politician in the land is happy to use language and examples that are simply not true.
    [/greenhighlight][redtitle]
    The impact of this is to stigmatise people on benefits,
    and we should be deeply worried about that
    [/redtitle](house of lords debate, talking about Cameron)
  • Cerisa
    Cerisa Posts: 350 Forumite
    Legal loopholes don't make things right. I'm shocked that so many people would employ them. Corporations and ordinary people not paying taxes has exacerbated the national deficit and gien the Tories an excuse to rip the benefits away from people with serious disabilities.

    And no, i'm not talking people with back pain, i'm talking people who are incapable of getting to the toilet being told to use incontinence pads because they hae had their care workers taken away from them.

    I'd really enjoy locking Cameron and Phillip Green up in a room for a week and letting them sit in their own !!!! - then see if they change their minds about legal tax loopholes.
    £1600 overdraft
    £100 Christmas Fund
  • misti
    misti Posts: 29 Forumite
    I put anything, but thats not really to get out of paying my share.

    Entering the fantasy world of euro millions, decided the first thing I would do, would be to get the cash out of uk tax system, but only to reinvest it in better ways, charity donations, foundations, green energy, wind farms, green social housing, & rain forrest (to protect it), till it was all gone. As I wouldn't want half being spent on nuclear weapons, but would put it all back into making a better society. And any money earned from that would go thru the normal tax system, & give me some money to live on.

    Those that are rich & have offshore accounts to stay rich & have money sitting in banks are just rude x
  • MSE_Martin
    MSE_Martin Posts: 8,272 Money Saving Expert
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    cit_k wrote: »
    No, but surely the software must log the username of who voted, or they could vote multiple times.
    With a stored username, email addresses become accessible.

    So the details, although not visible to end users are stored on the system, and could easily be requested by authorities after a nice list of people saying they are prepared to fake receipts, work cash in hand, and do anything else illegal to get out of paying tax.

    If you forgive me you're getting a bit confused. Users of MSE don't have usernames, anyone can use the site - its not a forum poll.

    Plus even if we were to ask people for names and addresses voting in a poll about "what you would do" is not an offence.

    Personally I think this type of poll as a survey of attitudes paints an interesting picture.
    Martin Lewis, Money Saving Expert.
    Please note, answers don't constitute financial advice, it is based on generalised journalistic research. Always ensure any decision is made with regards to your own individual circumstance.
    Don't miss out on urgent MoneySaving, get my weekly e-mail at www.moneysavingexpert.com/tips.
    Debt-Free Wannabee Official Nerd Club: (Honorary) Members number 000
  • In answer to the OP - probably not as far as the MPs, politicians and corporations who run the country have I'll wager!
  • I once worked in a hotel and was paid cash in hand but it was less than the minimum wage, management docked my pay for the same amount i would have been taxed anyway (and kept the money for themselves) so I requested to go through the books so I could at least get my stamp. Cash in hand isnt always better.:eek:
This discussion has been closed.
Meet your Ambassadors

🚀 Getting Started

Hi new member!

Our Getting Started Guide will help you get the most out of the Forum

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 350.8K Banking & Borrowing
  • 253K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 453.5K Spending & Discounts
  • 243.8K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 598.6K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 176.8K Life & Family
  • 257.1K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 16.1K Discuss & Feedback
  • 37.6K Read-Only Boards

Is this how you want to be seen?

We see you are using a default avatar. It takes only a few seconds to pick a picture.