Cash In Hand, Morally Wrong?

[ToraToraTora]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-18968679
We all do it but is it an innevitable consequence of our punative tax system or imply morally wrong?

[jim360]

I can't say I see tax evasion in this manner as morally wrong, although it's just a bit dubious. More to the point, though, it seems to make people hypocritical when they complain about the massive tax-dodging schemes rich people use. Apart from, obviously, the scale, what is the difference? None. But if we want to fix the large-scale problem, there will need to be an attitude shift from seeing tax as something to hate and avoid whenever possible, to seeing it as a civic duty that makes us feel genuinely a part of the community. I'm not going to hold my breath waiting for that one. For that matter I'm not even going to advocate that shift in attitude.

In the meantime, how tax is collected ought to tighten up.

[hc4361]

TTT, the window invoices me and I send him a cheque through the post. His choice. Saves him coming back for payment during the evening.

[Retrochic]

Tora -we live 15 miles from our Bank and I hate cheques We now ask for direct credit transfers and that's much better.

[ummmm]

TTT...you can put cheques into the machines. No need for queuing and having to look at spotty people :-)

[jim360]

I also tend to pay in cash whenever possible, by the way, but that is mainly so that I have some physical sense of the money I'm spending. The tax question never occurred to me before today, although in most cases it's still a recorded transaction as any work that needs doing to the house is usually organised by the letting agency for the flat I live in.

[trt]

So if I decide to be like hc,

I couldnt have a gardener, window cleaner, house cleaner, hairdresser (home visit), DIY jobs, and daughter wouldn't have a baby sitter, because it would cost to much!

[Retrochic]

You still have to go to the Bank or find an ATM that accepts payment -not everyone lives in Town

[alavahalf]

When I am working (a bit disabled at the moment) ALL of my customers are retired, disabled, vulnerable or at risk... I can assure you 90% of them pay with a cheque.
No shame in that !

[ummmm]

But trt...it's not you avoiding tax. You pay an agreed price. How you make that payment is between you and the person receiving it. It's down to them to declare any income, not you.

[ToraToraTora]

yes gromit I work in a bank, not sure how that effects this discussion though.

[hc4361]

Nonsense, trt.

[-Talbot-]

jim360
More to the point, though, it seems to make people hypocritical when they complain about the massive tax-dodging schemes rich people use.


or it makes people think 'if you can't beat em, join em'

[Snafu03]

don't think it morally wrong if someone is on PAYE with a full time job but also has a few hours a week cash in hand.

if they are giving up what should be classed as 'leisure time' to provide a bit more for their family why should anyone else benefit from that other than the hard working person?

[Old_Geezer]

It may not be ethical but it's the small benefits that make us feel content, that we have somehow gained a little over others whilst managing to ignore the fact that they are doing the same, so it comes out even. It's about creating that "feel good" feeling. I don't think there's a major issue unless the amounts get "out of hand". It's the extent that matters most not considering things either black or white. If we don't all have a little leeway to break/bend the rules what a misery life becomes.

[jno]

I couldnt have a gardener, window cleaner, house cleaner, hairdresser (home visit), DIY jobs, and daughter wouldn't have a baby sitter, because it would cost to much!

That's life... if you can't afford it, don't buy it

[Gromit]

We'll all be paying by pairing mobile phones within the next couple of years. No need for cash, visits to bank or paper invoices. If anything it will make the black economy run even smoother.

[EDDIE51]

The entire 'black economy' looks like it cost the treasury less than just 4 or 5 Tory multi million £ donors have evaded in unpaid tax!

[THECORBYLOON]

TTT I have no idea what your job in the bank involves but say you are on the counter and we know each other. What would you say if I wanted £400 in cash from my account and asked you to put it through as £350? Would you do it if you thought you could get away with it?

[ToraToraTora]

Thats not a valid analogy TCL

I do work for a bank but the last think I do is anything related to banking.

[THECORBYLOON]

I asked a hypothetical question so for the purposes of the question, would you give me £400 but say it was only £350?