[jay moley]

I've never done it as I was brought up in a very strict Christian family where any dishonesty was frowned upon.

I have a window cleaning friend, who does the opposite, always takes cash where possible and doesn't declare it.

The vast majority of my customers pay by bank transfer but I do still get people offering me cash, which I turn down. Also people trying to get a lower price by paying cash.  Had a lady the other day that did that and she was shocked I wouldn't take it.

Just wondering whether I'm mugging myself off. Not exactly thrilled with how my tax is used by the government.

Do HMRC even investigate tiny one man businesses?

By the way I still wouldn't take cash even if I was going to declare it as I dont have a bank near me to deposit it with.

[simon w]

Sell your customers who wish to pay by cash to your mate and he can pay you in cash 

[Spruce]

I've never done it as I was brought up in a very strict Christian family where any dishonesty was frowned upon.

I have a window cleaning friend, who does the opposite, always takes cash where possible and doesn't declare it.

The vast majority of my customers pay by bank transfer but I do still get people offering me cash, which I turn down. Also people trying to get a lower price by paying cash.  Had a lady the other day that did that and she was shocked I wouldn't take it.

Just wondering whether I'm mugging myself off. Not exactly thrilled with how my tax is used by the government.

Do HMRC even investigate tiny one man businesses?

By the way I still wouldn't take cash even if I was going to declare it as I dont have a bank near me to deposit it with.

The post office down the road from us will take cash deposits into my bank account. If I present my debit card, the amount is credited to my account virtually instantly.

We still have a large number of customers who pay by cash. Every cash receipt is recorded on our software. Every day I balance my cash tin against the cash payment/s received. Cash tips are also included but listed separately.  (What I don't 'declare' is any bottles of wine, boxes of chocolates or boxes of biscuits we are given. How do we put a monetary value on these items?)

I've done a breakdown of our receipts over the past 2 months.
45% of our receipts are cash.
54% are bank transfer
1% are cheques.
Cash tips included in the cash receipts come to 5%.

If I didn't declare my cash receipts or some of my cash receipts, then business running expenses would be skew and could show up on the tax man's algorithm. Firstly, running two sets of books is dishonest and secondly, I don't want to be looking over my shoulder every day.

Over the years we have found out that at least 3 of our customers have worked from the HMRC, and a number are also policemen.

The other thing is, imho, that it is not our concern what the government spends our tax bucks on.

[Stoots]

Years ago the local window cleaner where i lived as a kid was one of my mates dad, he said in his house he found cash everywhere lol,  in cupboards, down back off sofa etc, the guy had 3 or 4 lads working for him and it was all cash. Bought his house in cash, wallet was brimming with it  .

Cant imagine there was a single window cleaner back in the old cash collection days who declared every penny. Every window cleaner ive ever known doesnt or hasnt declared all their cash why would you lets be real.

Mines all Bacs btw wallets always empty.

[The Jester of Wibbly]

These posts always start with a friend of mine 😂😂

Oh and cash is useless these days as we continue to move into a cashless society.   

[colin bird]

Cash is legal tender it’s not illegal to take cash ,just declare it as earnings at the end of the year,some will declare it others won’t it’s your call !!

[colin bird]

These posts always start with a friend of mine 😂😂

Oh and cash is useless these days as we continue to move into a cashless society.

I have a friend who says cash is king

[Scottish Cleaning Service]

I take cash and build it up and put it into my bank account and then transfer into my business account. Every 3 months I transfer at least a grand so the taxman will notice a pattern emerging. As long as you can justify it then you will be fine but say I stopped putting in cash then they will want to know why. I don't think saying all my cash customers have left me will stand up in court. 😇

[jay moley]

Interesting responses.

I have no plans to start taking it again.

[colin bird]

Interesting responses.

I have no plans to start taking it again.

Are you then saying if a customers wants to pay you cash you won’t clean for them ?

[tlwcs]

Interesting responses.

I have no plans to start taking it again.

So you did take it once, how did you account for it then?
25 years ago 95% of my business was cash, now it’s less than 5%
Any I do get I account for as personal drawings.

[dd]

I take cash, cheques and BACs.

Very few cheques now (a once a week visit to the bank for Mrs when she is in town), more and more BACs. Average approx £150  - £200 a week in cash.

Don't care how people pay me, it all gets declared. Will not go down the route of a card reader.

Personally I enjoy being honest. What the government does with my tax is up to them.

[NBwcs]

I remember a thread like this a few years ago where someone on here told a story about a plumber he knew who wouldn't take cash and made all his customers pay by card or bank transfer. He had a random tug from the tax office and they simply didn't believe he wasn't taking any cash and hit him, with a very large bill. Its the only organisation where your guilty until you can prove your innocent.Cant win with them.

[dazmond]

I remember a thread like this a few years ago where someone on here told a story about a plumber he knew who wouldn't take cash and made all his customers pay by card or bank transfer. He had a random tug from the tax office and they simply didn't believe he wasn't taking any cash and hit him, with a very large bill. Its the only organisation where your guilty until you can prove your innocent.Cant win with them.

I doubt that very much.....HMRC can't simply make up large tax bills for you to pay unless you were living well beyond what you were declaring and far out of the regular earnings of an average plumber...

As for cash payments for my window cleaning business its less and less as the years go on. I prefer no cash to be honest these days.

The benefits are i always have a record of payment and no collecting. I've been to London for a weekend break (missus birthday) and most places just don't take cash anymore.  Its so much easier to just tap your phone. Its impossible to pay cash for the m6 toll too.

Personally I think we'll be totally cashless within the next decade.

[dazmond]

My local Asda garage is cashless now too. If you only have cash you don't get to fill up. End of.

[tonyoliver]

Not taking cash you  lot are nuts
Take the money spend it unwisely drink drugs motorbikes girls and waste the rest
That’s my advice 

[tonyoliver]

Please don’t tell the wife or the tax man about my last post

[dazmond]

I take cash, cheques and BACs.

Very few cheques now (a once a week visit to the bank for Mrs when she is in town), more and more BACs. Average approx £150  - £200 a week in cash.

Don't care how people pay me, it all gets declared. Will not go down the route of a card reader.

Personally I enjoy being honest. What the government does with my tax is up to them.

No cheques for years now.

80% BACS
5% card payments
5% standing orders
10% cash

Even some of my Xmas tips are BACS now which is annoying as I have to declare them now.🙄

[Stoots]

Ive just cleaned a house that reminded me of this post.

Pulled up next to a trad guy at the same time doing the hose next door, i was kinda laughing at him in my head how ridiculous trad is in this day and age and why would you do it as he moved his ladder about. It was an old chap probably been doing it half a century. I'd finished the whole house as he was just coming round the side of his to the back. I was feeling quite smug at my speed then the side door opened and the bloke handed him over some cash.

Then i thought about it, that guy is probably steady away for a few hours doing 10 or so houses for £150 straight in his back pocket and im running round like a blue assed fly doing 20 or more to hand over almost 30% of it.

Who's the idiot here bet hes laughing when i stuck the note through for bank payment 

[NBwcs]

Ive just cleaned a house that reminded me of this post.

Pulled up next to a trad guy at the same time doing the hose next door, i was kinda laughing at him in my head how ridiculous trad is in this day and age and why would you do it as he moved his ladder about. It was an old chap probably been doing it half a century. I'd finished the whole house as he was just coming round the side of his to the back. I was feeling quite smug at my speed then the side door opened and the bloke handed him over some cash.

Then i thought about it, that guy is probably steady away for a few hours doing 10 or so houses for £150 straight in his back pocket and im running round like a blue assed fly doing 20 or more to hand over almost 30% of it.

Who's the idiot here bet hes laughing when i stuck the note through for bank payment 

Lugging ladders about is hard work and potentially dangerous especially for someone  older. Any cash in hand advantage is evened out by the speed you can work  at and he can't. There's only one idiot here and it isn't you.