u/Cairnsy103

*Disclaimer* I work an office 9-5 job so have basically zero knowledge of having your own company and it’s tax implications. I am also well aware this is a common joke amongst the trades so not taking this as what’s actually going on throughout the industry.

I saw this video recently, where basically everyone jokingly says they earn the personal allowance amount of ~£12.5k a year to dodge tax. It made me think how common this actually is? Surely it must be quite common considering how prevalent the joke is? Just from personal experience of dealing with the trades every single quote I’ve received they’ve given an off the record option to pay in cash for a discount.

Surely it’s not that easy to dodge this as HMRC would be well aware?

Also if it is so prevalent, how are they not more vilified? Why when a celebrity dodges tax there’s a nationwide outrage but when tradesmen up and down the country seemingly do it, it’s a bit of a laugh?

*Edit - a lot of clarification of the dividends process which is fair enough if done in line with the tax laws (arguing about the morality etc of specific tax law is not what I tended to bring up). As mentioned I know basically fuck all about tax so the more you know eh.

In my original post I admittedly confused this as part of the cash in hand stuff which is a separate thing (which is bollocks still).

Obviously the majority of trades up and down the country are paying their fair way and the issue is a bit more nuanced than the discussion I was trying to raise with the original post.

Yet another crash tonight on Chatham Street in Edgeley with people gunning it down well over the speed limit. Spoke with the driver at fault tonight and he said he didn't even know what a give way line is so was confused when everyone was saying it's his fault.

Is there anything that can be done to get traffic lights or at the very least stop signs on Chatham Street because people are too thick to realise they need to give way on there?