TelBoy

I'll champion the second half of this post. It's absolutely true in all of Scandinavia. They pay what seems to us ridiculous taxes, but their quality of life is totally superior to ours.

But it's an accepted way of saving some cash and dodging some tax in this country, so the promise of a better lifestyle won't change a damn thing.

addi monster

iTrader: (6)

To be fair chris, No. I will and do accept BACS from several companies i sub off and do accept it from the general public, the hassle i get with cheques is if one bounces i always seem to be chasing another payment for weeks when my time could be spent doing better things. If the customer cant seem to accept the fact i will not accept a cheque im my opinion there is somthing not right.

TelBoy

And out of interest what's your opinion of "professionals" such as;

who obviously cook their books, avoid as much tax as possible etc etc? Are you just being a mug by paying your way?

f1_fan

iTrader: (9)

Sorry, I meant more do you think you have ever lost work by not accepting a discount for cash rather than the cheque thing (which I totally agree with you about by the way - as you say the time lost chasing people to pay is ridiculous).

addi monster

iTrader: (6)

I really believe if everyone did actually pay there way our tax codes would improve, My opinion of the "book cookers" is they are simply theives.
Call me a mug or whatever you want but i know deep down i have not got one single worry in the whole world

Beef

Paying cash != evading tax. Perfectly possible to pay in cash and pay all relevant tax.

However, I personally have opted to pay the higher, properly taxed price in the past. Why? Warranty/comeback.

If I have work done on the house, and I pay off the books, then I have no comeback in the event of something going wrong. After all, if it's off the books then you're hardly going to get a receipt, not to mention if they are caught doing this and get nicked/scarper/phoenix.

I am also wary of traders that operate in this manner - if they're happy to take shortcuts and employ workarounds when it comes to payment, IMO that increases the likelihood of them doing the same when it comes to their workmanship.

There is also the case of if a job is done off the books, you'll often find it's fitted in around more 'legitimate' jobs, and as a result a job that would only take a few days as a proper job ends up dragging on for weeks or even months.

I also view it as playing fair - 'everyone else does it' is an excuse that shouldn't make it past junior school.

So yes, I willingly pay more for the same job, for all of the peace of mind it offers.

addi monster

iTrader: (6)

Again chris i would still say no, when i price a job up there is no way i can make it cheaper by the method of payment offered so my price is my final price regardless, the only people who can make it cheaper by accepting cash are simply not declaring there income, All in my honest opinion of course.

Butkus

One of the previous posts inferred the same point, but once the ordinary man loses respect for those in power and sees how corrupt those people are, they're not going to have a problem with breaking the rules to do what is best for themselves and their families. Surely I only need to mention 'duck houses' and 'moat cleaning' to make my point?

No one else is helping the working man, so why shouldn't they help themselves? They work hard yet read in the paper everyday (rightly or wrongly I might add) that other people are being given their tax money to live a life of apparent 'luxury' for doing nothing. And then they're told that doing a bit on the side for cash is morally wrong?! Surely they can see it from the other side.

Only the other day there was a report regarding the expenses paid to ex-prime ministers by the tax payer. £115,000 to Tony Blair for example. How do you think this sits with the working man?

I'm not saying it is right to work for cash, I am just saying that these people telling others what is right and wrong should look closer to home first.

TelBoy

Me asking, addi, is there a real risk of having your books/business investigated?

I bet the amout of jobs that are paid cash in hand is waaaay higher than most people imagine, probably because the chances of being caught are so small as to be negligible?

It just seems to me that a huge chunk of the economy relies on morality, ie the vast majority of avaoidable tax IS avoided? Or am i unnecessarily pessimistic?

f1_fan

iTrader: (9)

That's interesting and good to hear as I did wonder whether you would be almost sometimes forced into a situation where if you didn't do the job cheaper you wouldn't get it as Joe Bloggs down the road was prepared to do it for less and avoid paying the tax. That being said I still think if you are good at what you do people woudl rather pay that bit more to get a top job done, I know that is the way I am anyway.

Dedrater

I have been searching for that post some accountant made on here, how all money eventually goes back to the government, i think they were talking about petrol, but i would guess it would apply (anyone know what i am talking about?)

Along the line of person A gets paid via PAYE, 20% tax, 11% NI, VAT 20% etc

f1_fan

iTrader: (9)

Yeah that is kind of what I was alluding to earlier until I got called stupid by the forum's current resident muppet.

I do think there is something in what you say, if people feel they are getting some help from the powers that be and the country is being governed for the good of the people and not the politicians then I think some people would be less inclined to avoid paying their taxes.

addi monster

iTrader: (6)

Thats hit the nail on the head, I hardly advertise because most of my work is from word of mouth and the rest from long standing companies i sub off. If i price a job thats it, if i dont get it then so what, i will not cut corners to bring the price down because the job will cause problems in the future which will take up my time and tarnish my reputation

addi monster

iTrader: (6)

We do take a lot of cash and yes there is a real risk of being investigated, for example i sacked one of my employees for being a **** shall we say and the first thing he did was try to hang me with the tax man, The investigation was completed and all was back to normal, all i will say is if you cook your books you better be good at it because when they start probing your income they do turn every stone

finalzero

"Mr Gauke said cash payments were "facilitating" the hidden economy"

These people have some nerve!

They are the ones facilitating a hidden economy of the 10%/5/%/1%...the cheek of these people.

Watch "Secrets of Our Streets" on iPlayer, eye opener, you get a glimpse of their world where you need to be on at least 6 figures to be a part of the club.

Ant

The company I work for lose a lot of business due to people quoting jobs stupidly low just for the beer money for the weekend and taking cash.

It is killing our industry. I went to a quote for a job where it was about £250 a one man band quoted £105!

Devildog

The morality issue rests with the party being paid. They have a responsibility to account for the appropriate taxes irrespective of how much they charge, cash or otherwise.

Maz

iTrader: (34)

When ministers go on about morality and fair play, my opinion is the general public is inclined to stick two fingers up and do the exact opposite. When the politicians clean up their act and practice what they preach only then can they expect the public to take heed. It may take a while though....

addi monster

iTrader: (6)

I like that answer but im not going to prison for tax dodging

Maz

iTrader: (34)

Just do what the politicians do and A. Redact all your paperwork and B. Pay it IF you get caught.

Maz

iTrader: (34)

Leslie

If the politicians stop all the methods of avoiding tax used by their friends who make political donations and also sack all the politicians who abused their expenses thus stealing public money and losing any kind of respect from taxpayers, and also managed to actually tell us the truth for a change such that we could believe them, then they would be on less of a sticky wicket when they come out with such pronouncements!

Les

Terminator X

iTrader: (7)

Wrong says the OP?! Why not, we pay enough fookin taxes ffs For a bloody politician to start lecturing Joe Public just makes at even worse imho

TX.

The Zohan

http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/news/s...-2012072435498

Builder Stephen Malley said: “It’s not like we’re spending this money on cocktails in St Lucia like some non-domicile corporate fat cats.

“I’d like to think our beer duty is going back into the NHS, and will one day help to replace my swollen liver.

“And as far as being ‘morally repugnant’ goes, I even urinate in customers’ sinks when they are out, just to save on the water usage associated with flushing toilets.”

marcevs72

iTrader: (5)

since leaving army and qualifying as a decorator i am working for myself and for the first year its all cash jobs if i can...not to avoid tax etc but it means i can do the job cheaper and get more work in to help build my reputation up.then when i have a steady amount of work coming in a can do everything properly and by the book.

addi monster

iTrader: (6)

If you are not tax dodging how can you do jobs cheaper for cash ?

marcevs72

iTrader: (5)

so how would you suggest i get my business up and running when nobody has a lot of money to throw around??? the people that normally have a go at others for this are normally well off and in decent jobs some of us just want a start and being a bit cheaper than the next man helps that.

TelBoy

In your opinion, is there a limit to the amount of tax you can evade before you would start to twinge? Or would you work 100% tax free if you could, even if it meant not paying £10,000s+ of tax?

And is there anyone else that could tell you that evading tax was sending the country down the drain to make you alter your behaviour, or wouldn't it matter who they were, you regard it as an entitlement to evade tax?

Terminator X

iTrader: (7)

£Billions not £millions ...

http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/n...-6bn-bill.html

TX.

addi monster

iTrader: (6)

Im not having a go at you mate but you will get more respect in the trade by doing it right, if everyone stopped tax dodging it would be a level field for all and you would have a better chance of getting established, if you are in the decor game i would advise you to go around all your local letting agencys with some good quality buisness cards and go and introduce yourself to them, you will be supprised how much work comes from these types of places
You will find most people do not go for the cheapest quote they will go for recomendations so do it right and you will be fine.