Is paying cash in hand right?

[youngmafbog]

Personally I think this minister has a bit of a cheek. Just who are politicians to preach to us all o te morality of things?

Perhaps if they gave up their 'perks' and freebies they may have a point, but as things stand this just looks like the pot calling the kettle black

[FredPuli43]

Who are these traders who offer two prices? Is it common? Never happened to me; it would be daft to announce that you were planning to cheat the revenue and involve the customer in that deal.Why embarrass him ? You don't know who he is, for a start. You never know. He might be a fine upstanding bloke who will grass you up if the deal looks dodgy or if he buys and has a complaint later. Better to say that £1,300 cash for a quick sale is your best price and leave it at that. That leaves the customer to speculate, if he's so minded, but doesn't tell him that it'll be £200 more if you put it through the books.
And then it does leave the customer to think that what you do about the cash is a matter for you, if he bothers to think about it at all.

[DaisyNonna]

Most of us are little people paying little cash. How dare he say we are immoral!

[Quizmonster]

Ludwig, I can't really see any relevant comparison between my dealings with a tradesman and the Revenue's dealings with Jimmy Carr. For a start, I very much doubt that he - who did nothing illegal anyway - splurged the 'saved' 99% of his 'imaginary' tax-bill in a oncer, unless, of course, he bought a private jet or some such!
My earlier comment about 'fags and whisky' was in jest, as I have not smoked for 15 years; however, I definitely am partial to malt whisky and real ale, so I would have blown my 'saved' £200 pretty rapidly! Consequently, the government would have largely regained via alcohol tax the 'lost' - because untaxed - £200 income of the tradesman.

[flip_flop]

dave50 - "I think it's immoral the amount if tax and NI I have to pay as it is, so if I can get away with paying even more then I'm all for it."

I couldn't agree more.

I do my 'bit' by paying a ridiculous amount of tax anyway, so if I can get a 20% discount by paying in cash, I damn well will.

[LochNessMonster]

Cash in hand it's got something to do with MP'S ?

[boxtops]

Daisynonna, the plan to phase out cheques has been scrubbed http://www.hm-treasur...heque_closure_faq.htm

[cathfromsaron]

ditto!

paying tradesmen cash IF YOU WANT TO is fine ... but obviously, concealing earnings 'off the books' is NOT FINE!

cath x

[ludwig]

QM // I can't really see any relevant comparison between my dealings with a tradesman and the Revenue's dealings with Jimmy Carr //

Your point seemed to be that the money that wasn't going to the taxman directly would be spent by the customer, thus being usefully circulated back into the economy, with a portion of it inevitably going to the taxman anyway.

I basically agree with it at the level we're talking about, but it struck me that the same argument could potentially be used to justify any level of tax avoidance.

[anotheoldgit]

FredPuli43

/// Who are these traders who offer two prices? Is it common? ///

Most common in the motor repair trade, have you ever taken your car to have some body work done?

The first thing they will ask you "is it an insurance job"?

Seems if it is, it is an 'open cheque book' situation, no wonder vehicle insurance premiums are so high.

[ummmm]

I have to disagree with that AOG. If the quote is too high the insurance company will use a different firm. The question 'Are you going through your insurance' is a question that HAS to be asked.