Is paying tradesmen in cash “morally wrong”?
Is this extending the tax avoidance effort too far?
Several papers, including the Mail, are carrying reports of the comments by Tory treasury minister, David Gauke that paying cleaners and tradesmen cash-in-hand is “morally wrong”
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He said: ‘Getting a discount with your plumber by paying cash in hand is something that is a big cost to the Revenue and means others must pay more in tax.’ Asked explicitly if he disapproves of the practice, he said: ‘Yes, I think it’s morally wrong.’
The challenge here is the practice this so widespread touching millions of people for whom the notion of paying in cash is a way of keeping their costs down.