cash in hand payments - morally wrong?

wouldbeqaulitymoneysaver

@antrobus £13tn is what the Guardian reported is OFFSHORE in bank accounts where there is tax evasion /avoidance.
Of course Companies should pay their taxes along with everyone else but the fact there is legalised tax evasion/avoidance means the fiscal burden is disproportionately in the lower orders including those on benefits in VAT payments which tend to be steep.

wouldbeqaulitymoneysaver

@antrobus I believe the HMRC is severly hampered because the very people opposing Corporate Taxation beyond the barest minimum along with other free market neo liberal regimes are sitting on the Board.
TV Documentary but there is wide evidence of revolving door between Government and Big business.
So I think it mean and petty minded to once more focus on the small man as a tax evader and not the big guys who are so hated by the public at the moment.

chewmylegoff

lemonjelly wrote: »

What shockingly short memories everyone appears to have!

I'd love to know what Gaukes' exposure was during the expenses scandal when it broke. MP's everywhere made the arguement that they operated within the rules, regardless of morality when they were hard at it. I'm sure pickles & hunt have never ever got anyone to advise them on tax avoidence in any way. We know they always needed the receipts for their expenses claims anyway.

Gaukes tone in lecturing us is offensive. People in glass houses & all that. The arguement made by all MP's was about "within the rules" Morals did not come into it with their actions.

I would say we get the politicians we deserve, and that anyone who thinks it's fine to share in the spoils of cash in hand tax evasion (by benefiting from the lower prices that tax evasion brings) has absolutely no right whatsoever to criticise politicians for dubious expenses practices. If the population as a whole has the attitude that it's fine to gain a financial benefit by engaging in fraud then it's hardly a surprise to find that our democratically elected representatives are the same.

ash28

I usually ask tradesmen what they would prefer - cash or cheque - most don't mind and if it's not a large amount of money I usually pay cash.

It's not up to me to decide if they are going to declare the amount I've paid them - that's between them and their conscience. I won't become part of the "tax police" for the government.

And while the government and HMRC allow all sorts of corporate deals regarding paying tax, and senior civil servants who are paid "off the books" to avoid paying the full amount of tax (perhaps I am being a cynic), then I have no sympathy with either HMRC or the government. Treat everyone fairly - which they don't.

In tax affairs or morality if our politicians led by example it wouldn't be so bad but they have one rule for themselves and their pals and another for the rest of us.

On an aside I've not been long back from Greece (Skiathos) and the little supermarket near where we were staying had a strictly cash only policy and most of time the money went into the till without being rung up and obviously you got no reciept. They were bloody good at mental arithmetic in the shop, they hardly ever needed a calculator. That was the only place we came across like that on our trip - if that's endemic no wonder the Greek's have problems collecting taxes from business/self employed. Of course the employed have no choice, same as here.

lemonjelly

chewmylegoff wrote: »

I would say we get the politicians we deserve, and that anyone who thinks it's fine to share in the spoils of cash in hand tax evasion (by benefiting from the lower prices that tax evasion brings) has absolutely no right whatsoever to criticise politicians for dubious expenses practices. If the population as a whole has the attitude that it's fine to gain a financial benefit by engaging in fraud then it's hardly a surprise to find that our democratically elected representatives are the same.

Equally when politicians have spent years unethically taking payments from a system because "it is in the rules" and "everyone else is doing it" Then suggesting everyone else should do as they say, & not as they do is hypocritical, no?

There is a distinct lack of consistency between their message & actions.

They didn't rip off expenses because of any of my actions. That was their own self interest. That arguably leads to a bigger debate about the nature of capitalism imo, but irrespective, it is simply a double standard being trotted out by Gauke.

michaels

Everyone else cheats and breaks the rules so I can to seems to be the general consensus....after all it worked so well in Greece.

bankhater_1965

chewmylegoff wrote: »

I would say we get the politicians we deserve, and that anyone who thinks it's fine to share in the spoils of cash in hand tax evasion (by benefiting from the lower prices that tax evasion brings) has absolutely no right whatsoever to criticise politicians for dubious expenses practices. If the population as a whole has the attitude that it's fine to gain a financial benefit by engaging in fraud then it's hardly a surprise to find that our democratically elected representatives are the same.

only that politicains get away with millions and on top of that regards to the cash in hand non tax jobs not going towards there expenditure tax payer pot for cleaners and other little scams they have going, as to the self employed its pitance , if this is the case to hell with them, which im almost sure it is:T

MobileSaver

Generali wrote: »

I call BS on that. You are not going to get a 10-15% discount for 'easing cashflow concerns and you know it or at least should. It's convenient to believe it.

What nonsense! Loads of totally legitimate companies offer discounts to encourage early payment to improve their cash flow. They don't care whether you pay by cash, cheque or bank transfer so long as they get the funds sooner rather than later.