Paying cash in hand is “diddling the country” says HMRC's Hartnett
Dave Hartnett called on people who suspect wrongdoing to telephone HMRC's whistle-blower hotline and tip off inspectors
PAYING a builder or cleaner in cash will result in deeper government cuts to public services, the country’s top taxman has warned.
Dave Hartnett, permanent secretary for tax at HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC), told the Daily Telegraph that those who contribute to the cash economy cannot then complain about austerity measures.
“Tax provides the funding to run the country: hospitals, schools and everything else,” Hartnett said. “Every time someone pays cash in order not to pay VAT, the nation gets diddled.”
Hartnett called on people who suspect wrongdoing to telephone HMRC’s whistle-blower hotline and tip off inspectors.
“Cash has been a problem for a long time. The people who are worried about it should use our whistle-blowing line to tell us. We are getting better and better at finding people who receive cash,” Hartnett said.