Cash in hand/undocumented payments

Schorpio

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123428853#Comment_123428853

Correct. Far more likely to, though.

C3PO

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123428062#Comment_123428062

I think that you’re the naive one - if a tradesperson is not going to stand over their work do you think a piece of paper is going to make any difference? I know plenty of reliable , trustworthy tradesmen who do cash jobs and in my experience they are “in the majority”! Like a lot of the other posters I wouldn’t employ someone without a personal recommendation and if they want cash for a small job then so be it!
As an aside, I moved to a town in Wexford last year and you would struggle to get anything done without paying cash!

mrslancaster

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123414369#Comment_123414369

It’s not all that counts for a landlord. Homeowners who pay cash don’t need receipts/invoices/documentation in the same way. If the OP wants to record the 150€ as an expense on their rental property they need evidence the money was spent on the rental.

Tax fraud is wrong imo. Why should self-employed tradespeople get a pass on this?

Boggles

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123434589#Comment_123434589

Tax fraud is wrong imo. Why should self-employed tradespeople get a pass on this?

It was the OP that gave him a pass. He was in control in that situation. No Docket / No Money.

But again people look at costs not value.

For me personally when it comes to a relative small amount like that, the value of getting it done, timely and properly out ways the cost.

Calahonda52

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123425318#Comment_123425318

That is an assumption.

The tax issue is for the trades man

Calahonda52

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123403056#Comment_123403056

Telling a tradesman you will report him for tax evasions is a pretty high risk strategy.

boardsdotie44

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123434473#Comment_123434473

"

"a tradesperson is not going to stand over their work do you think a piece of paper is going to make any difference?"

WOW, cant belive I have to say this - Makes a huge difference, at least you have proof of what they did and you can take it further i.e. legal route…

If you have no document, how do you prove that they did anything?

What do you do if you cannot find a recommendation for a particular job? Or the 'recommended' guys are just to busy?

My parents live in Wexford, and they have no problem getting jobs done with receipts!

mrslancaster

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123436751#Comment_123436751

The OP didn’t mention costs or value. Whether it was good /bad value, or good /bad workmanship, or timely / late delivery is not the point. OP needed the receipt/invoice as evidence of an expense for a tax return on a rental property. Revenue rules.

The supplier is entitled to ask to be paid in cash as it is legal tender, and the supplier’s tax returns are a matter between him and revenue but it’s very odd that any supplier would have a problem giving a receipt or an invoice if their business is operating correctly within the relevant tax rules.

mondeoman72

I manage houses for someone and the plumber refused me a receipt for a new boiler. I didnt pay him. A year later I contacted him again for a receipt so I could pay him. He gave me a simple page from a duplicate book bought in a newsagents and I paid him.

Now he wont answer the phone to me. If you want receipts you are limiting yourself.

C3PO

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123439634#Comment_123439634

Good luck taking a tradesman to court and proving that they have a poor job … I’ll take my chances with a recommended guy even if I have to pay cash!

Buddy Bubs

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123436787#Comment_123436787

Yeah i wouldn't do it myself but the OP said it shouldn't be up to the supplier whether a receipt is issued or not, just pointing out its only up to them if you accept it.

I would and have paid tradesmen I knew in cash no problem, maybe an unknown plumber or electrician I wouldn't because if anything goes wrong after you need proof they worked there.

My painter is cash, my boiler service man is above board!

Sleeper12

Hard to believe but there was once a job recruiting website called "Nixers" 😂😂😂

Deeec

Getting work done by tradesmen is very very expensive in this country. As well as that you will be very lucky to actually get someone who is interested in doing the job and that actually shows up! The saving is usually high by paying cash so of course we are going to go for the cash price. That doesnt at all mean they will do a bad job.

To those that are arguing about no receipt means no proof the job was done. I always make sure to have a whats app discussion or email discussion with the tradesman about the job ( detailing job, whats quoted for and when the job will be done) . This is proof that the job was done. I always send a thank you message aswell when complete which they usually acknowledge 😉

Personally I think to avoid cash jobs I think trades should be VAT exempt - this would encourage more tradespeople to be legit and overall result in a saving for us the end consumer.

baxterooneydoody

If we all played by the book the customer would really feel it, people who are struggling would have to go without a lot of basic stuff if tradesmen went fully legitimate in the morning, it's not just landlords and businesses who would have to start paying more but plenty with young families and older people who would put off fixing a leak or wiring a new fuse board or fixing the broken tiles on a bathroom floor.

A bill of 2 grand is another 270 on top for vat, which may be a families grocery bill for the week and a lot of trades will do a cash discount, so further savings to someone who may desperately need it.

I'm not innocent and the majority of the smaller work I do is for cash, it pays for my holidays and the weekends away in a bnb and covers a lot of stuff for the family. Most lads I know are the same, we spend it on the necessities and day to day living, it's not like we have a hoard of cash hidden in behind the bed

baxterooneydoody

@deeec I've said this for years, raise the vat bracket and let the smaller trades and one man bands claim back vat on tools diesel etc or give a tax rebate at the end of the year without having to charge vat. Trying to explain vat to an elderly person orsomeone who might not be able to afford to pay the extra money is a regular occurrence in my game and a lot just don't understand why they have to pay it. There's ways around it but it's somewhat underhand and could be streamlined to make it a lot simpler

deandean

I had the same problem a few years ago, a floor sander in my office about €800. I specifically told him this was through the company and I needed a formal receipt - which never arrived.

I made a document with before & after photos, proof of the cash withdrawl, and all details of the guy, and I gave to my accountant when reconciling EOY expenses. He was OK with this. No VAT was involved. The info is on file if I am ever audited.

baxterooneydoody

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123441969#Comment_123441969

Why did you pay him without an invoice made to company name

deandean

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123442050#Comment_123442050

Fair point. Nowadays, payment is only upon receipt of invoice.

They did a very good job. I paid them the agreed amount. If they fall foul of revenue - their problem.

Last month I sent an invoice to a company and they will only pay it upon receipt & approval of my company's 'anti-slavery policy'. Like, wtf!

boardsdotie44

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123441653#Comment_123441653

:) well thats what their there for …. each to their own..

Still havent explained what you do if you cant get a recommendation or the person is busy?

C3PO

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123442711#Comment_123442711

I would wait or get another recommendation - I would never employ a tradesman that I have found online or in an ad!