Real-life MMD: Should I let my brother pay staff twice?

emma.cook3

Family is important and your loyalty should be to your brother. Also the employee has been dishonest so doesnt deserve the money

pinkcalculator

Its not even something you should need to ask if you have a professional qualification.
Nothing stopping you helping this employee out if you wish to offer them a loan or assistance or ask if you brother to do so which would be a very supportive gesture from him to his employee. I would be concerned though if the employee hasn't said anything as to their honesty, though they may not as yet have realised themselves.

Mojisola

MSE_Debs wrote: »

I handle the accounts for my brother's business as a unpaid favour. I've spotted we've paid an employee twice by mistake. I'd usually ask the employee for the money back, but he's struggling financially, unlike my brother's firm, which is doing very well profit-wise. I'm tempted to keep quiet - the cost's nothing compared to paying for an accountant, but don't think my brother would see it that way.

You could get your brother to pay you for your work and then help out the employee privately.

marich

What self-indulgent twaddle !

You have been given a ROLE to play by your brother - that of an unpaid accountant . He did not make you into the Good Fairy or even God !


You need to find out what went wrong , check the other employees' wages and then report any anomalies and the solution for the flaw to your brother . It is then HIS decision as to what to do next .

If his firm is doing so well then it might be a good time (in a couple more months - so as he may have forgotten your !!!!-up) to ask him to pay you for your time . But it is not your decision as far as this poor worker's pay goes...

silverswan

You could always forget to pay him this month, and if/when he complains, point out that he had 2 lots last month! Anyway your brother must be told and he should sort it out.

omendata

Everyone I know is struggling financially including myself its no excuse.

Best be upfront and avoid tax issues in the future.

Family is the most important - blood is thicker than water I am surprised you even asked that question!!!

spursliz

Please - the moral and legal issue here is the same. You have found someone cheating your brother, and taking money he is not entitled to. At the very best, he hasn't noticed you've paid him extra. It's not up to you to decide who deserves the cash more - you are in a position of trust, whether paid or not. Tell your brother!

DWatts

MrsE wrote: »

No dilemma, it's easy. It has to be recovered.

Blimey, it took 11 posts for someone to say "no dilemma" this week. Thanks for the insightful post MrsE! :T

pinkpanther22

This will show in the accounts. You don't indicate the size of the company but under new HMRC rules all payroll information is directly linked to HMRC. Worst case (although unlikely) is that the overpayment could bump him into the next tax banding and then he would be even worse off. Either way, it has tax implications and HMRC investigations are not a whole lot of fun.

Raise it before someone else finds out and it opens a whole can of worms.

anniey

Keeping money that's not yours is fraud. Possibly the employee has'nt not noticed the double payment, but its their moral and legal duty to repay.