Customers asking to pay cash to avoid VAT.

[dan blocker]

2 hours ago, Steve Bullman said:

 Talk about people being desperate. I put some pallets up on the village facebook group free to collect. Guy messaged me asking if he could have them for firewood. Hes coming round with a wheelbarrow to collect them. He lives on the council estate the other side of the village, about half a mile away 😁 

 

Should have put them up for £595 in hindsight.

 

At least your not saying there’s 2 or 3 tonne of wood and open to best offers. You’ve made a good job of cleaning of the ivy🤔

[Steven P]

Just reading this thread - when lockdown started I had some cash but couldn't deposit it at the bank (dirty money - in the sense of bacteria), so local wasp killer came and I offered him cash - purely since I had it, not for a discount - and he just said "Sorry, I don't do that", simple, till I realised what he was meaning, I explained and he was OK with cash - the full amount. Likewise in a previous life, I was offered a bung, simply said "You'd better talk to 'Dave' about that, he is running the job" - sometimes the simple answer is best. "Sorry, no can do, and the price is still this".

 

As for cash being cheaper - I am not sure depositing cash is cheaper - it doesn't save a round trip to the bank Monday to Thursday between 10 and 3, if they decide to open rather than working but sometimes not having to make that trip to get some cash could be good thing (for example my boys like a £10 note pocket money, 1 cash job a year would save me all their pocket money cash machine trips) - I'm not sure it is a cheaper option

[swinny]

I've had one this morning.... esp when they know its a bigger Job and will cost a bit..... "cash pound note this one, no receipt needed" 

 

I just thought to myself couldn't care less if I don't get it. Take it or leave it. Its always better when you come away and sent a quote through afterwards via email etc rather than them waste your time and try to blagg you to death to take the cash. 

 

Cash is no good to me. If i need to replace equipment. All stuff I look at / need now is easily 15-20k plus.

 

 

[GarethM]

With most banks being few and far between, it's mostly down to the post office to handle these days.

[Peasgood]

Post Office restricts how much cash they will take too.

Online it says £3k/month but mine told me £4k when I asked and no mention of the month bit. 

Had to send the missus with some too.

[treevolution]

Had one last week could I do the job for cash and lose the VAT. 

 

I was tempted as going day to day work wise at present but glad I said know. 

 

I believe that ever customer should pay VAT just to make it fair. 

[GarethM]

Think the post office, like any place will be ok as long as you're not taking 1000s in every day as even I'm surprised they don't have a vault in the branch, yet banks expect them to do most of the customer banking these days.

 

It all depends on price of the job I guess, what sort of price range do they start asking?.

 

No I wasn't suggesting fiddling the vat, but maybe quote more initially, what the customer doesn't know and all that ?.

Edited April 29, 2023 by GarethM

[DJM Tree]

im glad reading this. ive not read all the pages on this but why would i make my life harder and risk my lively hood so you can save a few quid. id rather not do the job. the worst ones are the ones that say can we do cash after the job and then expect a discount.

 

and its always the ones you'd least expect 

[maybelateron]

15 hours ago, DJM Tree said:

and its always the ones you'd least expect 

So often it is the people with bigger properties and bigger cars who want to "lose the VAT". 

 

Mrs Reasonable, the widow living at number 13, just accepts that VAT has to be paid. She's my ideal customer.

[Ty Korrigan]

On 23/04/2021 at 20:23, treevolution said:

Heard of a tree surgeon that always loved to take cash and not declare it until he could not get a mortgage. 

 

It's a fine balance, mustn't be too greedy...