[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.

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.

I have no idea how true the story was, and I can't remember who posted it but historically you'll find it's very much how the tax office works. If they find something  wrong they will take an educated guess at how much someone hasn't been declaring and hit them with it. The person then has to prove it's wrong which is very difficult if say they have proof of not declaring everything. It's the only institution where your guilty till proven innocent. Not to be messed with are hmrc.

[AuRavelling79]

I take Cash, cheque and Bank transfer.

I reckon 85% is bank transfer, 5% is cheque and 10% is cash. It gets put through the books.

The cash is easily used. If I get say £250 in a month then it can get used for groceries shopping, takeaways or a pub lunch.

I find cashless pubs from COVID are now going back to cash.

[jay moley]

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 ?

I offer bank transfer, card payment if they see me and PayPal. Normally older people want to pay cash but most will pay by card or last resort cheque.

[Tam1872]

Not believing for one second you have declared every cash payment.

Around 95% of my payments are bank transfer, which i obviously declare, there's not a way not to declare them, as itl have a digital foot print and can be located. (Trust me ive done hours upon hours of research into it to see if they can be hidden).Anyone trying to not declare they payments are off there heads.

Cash payments it depends, if i do a job and it's a decent amount then unless I have a way of getting rid of it quickly then il usually bank it.  If it sits around the house it just gets wasted.  If I'm coming home with £50 some days in cash then that's getting spent at shop on the things you need, ie dog food etc. 

[Tam1872]

I was one of the first to go the bacs route around my way, I'm not going to lie, originally I had it planned that people would pay that way if they weren't in, if they were home when I done it I would have still took cash. But with hardly anyone carrying cash now, when I chapped for the money they just said they will do it online now.  So that back fired a bit lol.

I've no kids or that and don't get any help finacial wise through benefits, so I wasn't loosing any of that by changing mine to banks.  A few people I know won't change to banks because they would loose money they get for having kids. Each to there own I suppose.

[dd]

Not believing for one second you have declared every cash payment.

Around 95% of my payments are bank transfer, which i obviously declare, there's not a way not to declare them, as itl have a digital foot print and can be located. (Trust me ive done hours upon hours of research into it to see if they can be hidden).Anyone trying to not declare they payments are off there heads.

Cash payments it depends, if i do a job and it's a decent amount then unless I have a way of getting rid of it quickly then il usually bank it.  If it sits around the house it just gets wasted.  If I'm coming home with £50 some days in cash then that's getting spent at shop on the things you need, ie dog food etc.

I am glad I am not one of your dinner guests.

[windowswashed]

I don't accept cheques, too time consuming.
Most elderly people pay BACS now as there's hardly any banks open around our way. My bank is 16 miles away and a good fifty minutes travelling one way to sit in traffic jams trying to find a car parking space.
The only ones who ever pay cash are those who have been scammed and reluctant to bank online (can't blame them) and those who get muddled trying to use online banking as they're not computer savvy.
Personally I prefer BACs so I have a record of payments to backtrack.

[dazmond]

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.

Yes they do. I know a few one man bands who have been audited. A  mobile dry cleaner and a painter and decorator.

[Tam1872]

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.

Yes they do. I know a few one man bands who have been audited. A  mobile dry cleaner and a painter and decorator.

When i was looking into it all it says the software they have now that it should be 1 in 8 years. And the softwares only getting better as time goes on.

[Stoots]

If HMRC really wanted to find undeclared cash payments they could. They have the power to search your bank records, phone records, social media etc.

That one text "I've left your cash just under the plantpot" could be enough to say right youve been taking cash and we think youve roughly taken this much over the years  so here's your bill and then it's up to you to prove you haven't.

So yeh of course we all know self employed people have been pocketing cash for years but youve got to be super smart about not leaving a trace to the point is it worth it, even your phone can be tracking your movements and storing info you dont realise...depends how much you worry about looking over your shoulder i guess. 

I prefer all bacs for a few reasons, i don't have to chase the cash, i don't have to knock the door or fiddle about with change. Just scrub, post a note and go.

[dazmond]

Going forward IMO the reason why HMRC want us all digital is so they can ask for more information/proof of expenses online if your ever audited and fine us if there's the slightest discrepancies. They also have a sophisticated AI tool called 'connect' that tracks your bank accounts,social media and have the powers to freeze them and seize your money. Its to increase compliance and reduce tax avoidance obviously.

The powers they've got these days is huge.

[AuRavelling79]

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.

Yes they do. I know a few one man bands who have been audited. A  mobile dry cleaner and a painter and decorator.

Do you know the results of the audits?

[Scottish Cleaning Service]

I believe cash will always be king (king Chick) because there is one fundamental reason. Digital can never be 100% safe. The Gov used to print how much was lost to cybercrime but the last amount was £36 Billion about 10 years ago. They don't print it now.

What would happen if cleanerplanner or Squeegee went down? What would happen if all the customers details were stolen and posted on the net? What would happen if their customers bank accounts got emptied?

Window cleaners would go back to cash or ask the customers to pay by Bacs. Maybe the customers would cancel and blame the cleaner.

Anyway, I was the brains behind my father's hotel which my mum ran. I have always been flexible with many streams of income. But I have always preferred cash because I can touch and feel it, don't need to go on a computer and look for the deposit.

Been like this since I was a paper boy in the early 1980's, cash gives me a good feeling while digital has no emotion bar anger when its not there after spending ages looking for it. IMO

[NBwcs]

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.

Yes they do. I know a few one man bands who have been audited. A  mobile dry cleaner and a painter and decorator.

Do you know the results of the audits?

An ex customer of mine ran his own  cheese business, he would buy in cheese from Cornwall and re package it  and sell it on. He was audited by hmrc and two  tax inspectors visited his premises. He himself had his accountant with him and he said they looked at everything in his workplace and home. His father had died a couple of years earlier so  anything he didn't have a receipt for he told them he inherited it from dad. He had an answer to everything and all looked well till right at the end when  the lady inspector clocked  his washing machine. He again said "got it from dad". At this point she looked at her colleague, smiled and closed the book she was carrying. Next day he had a call and his world fell apart. The woman had the very same washing machine and it  had only been on the market for the last couple of months so they knew he was lying. The outcome was that he ended up with a £30k tax bill (this was around  the 80s). Very stressful  and caused him big problems. It's just not worth it. You  might get away with the odd bit here and there but you can't spend it on anything other than  disposable items, take aways etc, anything else  and  your asking for trouble. They're not stupid.

[dazmond]

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.

Yes they do. I know a few one man bands who have been audited. A  mobile dry cleaner and a painter and decorator.

Do you know the results of the audits?

Yes. No fines or tax owed as everything was above board. I don't think HMRC are that bad as long as you keep good records.

[Tam1872]

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.

I don't know how you lot do it down south, but up here, the people who use ladders, don't do any of the frames, glass only, ive some parts of my run I pull the ladder off because it's quicker than the pole.

And a wee bit of self awareness, laughing at someone cleaning windows because he's doing it in a different way from you. It's no worse than the very thing we have seen people moan about on here about ppl looking down there nose at you as your just a window cleaner .

[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 

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.

I don't know how you lot do it down south, but up here, the people who use ladders, don't do any of the frames, glass only, ive some parts of my run I pull the ladder off because it's quicker than the pole.

And a wee bit of self awareness, laughing at someone cleaning windows because he's doing it in a different way from you. It's no worse than the very thing we have seen people moan about on here about ppl looking down there nose at you as your just a window cleaner .

Laughing because its ridiculous,  i was clearly twice as quick as him and wasnt risking my neck to do it.  Its a daft way to work when there are faster, easier and safer methods.  Id finished before he had done the front and side but i should have brought a bag of popcorn and a chair to watch how he was going to tackle the single storey extension at the back, no doubt walking on the sloped tiles 

[Simon Trapani]

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.

I don't know how you lot do it down south, but up here, the people who use ladders, don't do any of the frames, glass only, ive some parts of my run I pull the ladder off because it's quicker than the pole.

And a wee bit of self awareness, laughing at someone cleaning windows because he's doing it in a different way from you. It's no worse than the very thing we have seen people moan about on here about ppl looking down there nose at you as your just a window cleaner .

Laughing because its ridiculous,  i was clearly twice as quick as him and wasnt risking my neck to do it.  Its a daft way to work when there are faster, easier and safer methods.  Id finished before he had done the front and side but i should have brought a bag of popcorn and a chair to watch how he was going to tackle the single storey extension at the back, no doubt walking on the sloped tiles 

Tam makes a good point.

And maybe just an older chap who can't afford/isn't prepared to invest in wfp at his time of life?

[Don Kee]

Trad guy around here has three guys working for him and owns multiple properties.
Seems to work for him…

[dazmond]

There's plenty of wfp window cleaners who haven't got a clue what their doing  even though they've been cleaning for years. I bumped into a guy the other day  (He's been wfp for nearly 7 years now). Still using bendy,heavy poles with a brick on the end. It took him 5 MINS to clean one window above an extension. Apart from struggling with his cumbersome pole his flow was so low it was barely dribbling out.🤣

Id finished the back of a house including side windows by the time he moved to his next window!