I am a middle-class criminal," says John Baines, at the building site that is his Victorian semi in a prosperous London suburb. "I am a tax fiddler, a cheat." These are candid words from the 39-year-old, an advertising executive who donates to charity and helps run his 10-year-old son's school football team.

 

We are standing at the scene of his crime, where drilling and hammering shatter the tranquillity of the tree-lined neighbourhood. For Mr Baines will not be paying VAT on the cost of the loft conversion that will give him and his wife, Karen, a large master bedroom with an en-suite bathroom.

 

"I asked the builder straight out if he would drop the VAT for payment in cash," he says. "He agreed without batting an eyelid. I've saved more than 10 grand."

 

Mr Baines knows that he is breaking the law. He admits that, as a socially aware citizen who wants to see more money spent on schools and hospitals, he is also guilty of hypocrisy. But he believes that paying cash to builders is the acceptable face of middle-class criminality. "All my friends do it," he says. "We pass on the numbers of good tradesmen who work for cash."

 

Mr Baines is typical of millions of normally law-abiding, white-collar workers who have no qualms about depriving the Treasury of vast amounts of tax revenue when it comes to dealing not only with builders but also with plumbers, cleaners, nannies, gardeners, and painters and decorators. Often the illicit deal is suggested by those providing the services, but increasingly it is proposed by householders.

 

"I always ask about a cash deal," says Peter Robertson, 45, an accountant from Manchester, who recently had a kitchen extension built, VAT-free. "I just come straight out and ask them how much. I suppose it's understood that means no VAT, but I just see it as a discount for cash. It's up to them what they do after that."

 

Are you a tax cheat?

 

Have you ever employed a cleaner on a cash-in-hand basis when you know he/she should be paying VAT?

 

Have you ever asked your nanny to work extra hours - and agreed to pay in cash?

 

Have you ever used a cash payment as a bargaining device with a painter or decorator?

 

Have you ever employed a builder on the basis that it's a cash transaction?

 

See whole article here : http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml...4/nclass124.xml

The answer to that is yes, I try and deal cash in hand all the time be it paying out or receiving

No - but then am not in a position to pay anyone else to work for me :rofl:

Maybe if we saw our taxes put to better useage we'd be more inclined to pay them "properly". I'm sure if I was on the average middle-class salary, I wouldn't be too encouraged to pour vast amounts of money into a country that splashes it out on useless ventures, while we're desperately short for services like the NHS, or so we'd be led to believe.

In a capitalist society, no matter how rich one is one wants to keep as much of there money as possible; even if they are aware that it will go to good use. It highlights how selfish we all are really.

im self employed and get cash in hand..... have i declared every penny?.... no.

 

but then again, do all of you who sell stuff on ebay declare all of that?...