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

[Davethedog]

As an aside that minister claimed £450k in expenses between 2005 -2009

http://www.theyworkfo...th_west_hertfordshire

[Sqad]

Dave that is only £100,000 a year.....no big deal...it's was a footballer may earn in a week.

[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.

[johnny37]

The question is borderline slanderous. Stealing is stealing, whether at the top or bottom. I should be surprised if the minister concerned is stealing, like all the rest of the cash in hand merchants. Without the perks no-one would do the job. VAT? What about the income tax? So its alright to steal from the rest of us is it? If the minister can find a way of stamping it out good luck to him.

[ludwig]

I'm confused about something - if an MP gets a duck house built on expenses but gets a discount on it for paying cash, is he saving the taxpayer money or not?

[Quizmonster]

The person who pays cash-in-hand obviously ends up with some spare dosh. What does he do with it? Well, he probably buys something, doesn't he? And given that pretty-well everything one buys has a tax of one sort or another on it, the government gets its hands on lumps of it anyway!
What the tradesman does about reporting his income is his affair.

[boxtops]

Am I right that we are talking here about the black commerce, when we pay for a job with cash without an invoice? My windowcleaner only takes cash but I have no reason to believe he's not paying his taxes. My builder said it was £1500 if invoiced, or £1300 cash in hand. The latter is tax avoidance, IMO.

[Sqad]

Boxy.........so which did he get............;-)

[boxtops]

The former, sqaddie - I am boringly upright about things like that, I want an invoice for my filing cabinet.

[Sqad]

boxy.....good girl.....I should have guessed........so you paid £200 over the top.

Sounds a good deal to me.

[boxtops]

Virtuous, sqad (but occasionally daft)

[Davethedog]

Quizmonster why. If someone says a job is £1300 and thats all you have and your in Boxtops shoes chances are the job won't get donet because your £200 short.

[shaneystar2]

I pay my hairdresser,gardener ,window cleaner in cash .It's up to them if they declare it .Once it leaves my purse it's their responsibilty to sort out their tax affairs .
However this chap has got a bit of cheek .I bet they don't baulk when Lord Ashcroft and his ilk who salt their money away in offshore accounts divvies up a few bob for the party funds .
I bet they don't preach morality then.

[Sqad]

Dave...sorry Quizmonster to butt in.....if the job is £1300...that is what boxy has, as she is willing to pay £1500.

Have I missed your point?

[Quizmonster]

I don't really understand your question, Dave. I'm not in Boxtops' shoes, so - if a tradesman tells me he can charge me £1,300 or £1,500 and I opt for the former, I then have £200 in the bank that I wouldn't have had if I'd opted for paying £1,500. If I spend that on fags and whisky, the government will be coining it in from me!

[Quizmonster]

My apologies, Sqad, I didn't even see your post!

[Sqad]

Quiz.......no problem.....you didn't miss much ;-)

[ludwig]

// The person who pays cash-in-hand obviously ends up with some spare dosh. What does he do with it? Well, he probably buys something, doesn't he //

Jimmy Carr should have used that as his excuse for paying 1% income tax. 'It's ok, I'm spending what would've gone to the government!'.

I do agree though, it's not really the paying customer's job to make sure the tradesman's paying his taxes. If he wants to offer a different price depending on the payment method, that's his concern.

[DrFilth]

the link i wanted to post has now been removed by the mail but this one is still up


http://www.dailymail....ars-tax-avoiders.html

[DaisyNonna]

That minister does not live in the same world as me. I agree a price for a chap to help in my garden, no question of my paying less for cash. Advantage, I do not have to write a cheque, he gets his money immediately, no waiting for a cheque to clear and so has money to buy weedkiller etc. which he supplies. Saves me from lugging it home on the bus. OH! But cheques are going to be phased out. No cash payment, no cheque, no work done, another chap claiming benefits, I cripple myself trying to do the garden. More charge on the NHS. How much were the minister's expenses?