Can’t Pay We’ll Take It Away Bundles Of Cash

[smurfchops]

So many people pay the bailiffs with bundles of cash. Do HMRC ever get in touch with them??

[THECORBYLOON]

How would HMRC get to know about the payments?

[ToraToraTora]

with the amounts involved it'd cost more to investigate.

[smurfchops]

They would see if they watched the programme! Can’t be too difficult to trace them.

[ToraToraTora]

just because they have cash doesn't mean it's hooky. HMRC would have to show that tax had been evaded, too much like hard work and not worth it.

[ummmm]

Don't they often have to borrow the money. People have to go to cash points.

The show is edited. If it wasn't it'll be on all day and we'd just be watching bailiffs waiting while people tried to get cash together.

[THECORBYLOON]

Do you think there's a team dedicated to watching the programmes and checking out the repeats just in case they missed someone?

[davebro]

HMRC explore all avenues of tax evasion. However these TV progs are often depicting events years ago (Homes under the Hammer from 2013?) so it would not be very efficient to take these as a good source for investigation.

[Prudie]

I have to admit (and I don't know why) but we watch these programmes a lot when there's not much else on and they rarely pay in cash. Most I see use cards, either their own or friends/family who've stumped up. I must have missed these bundles of cash.

[royfromaus]

Same. Prudie but bundles of cash makes for a better thread.

[TonyV]

Many years ago, before internet, my ex brother in law was a tax inspector. He used to go through papers to look for adverts for people renting holiday properties (south coast) and then see if they were paying tax on income - sad but true.

[barry1010]

Is there a new series? I thought they'd given up with the show when they got fined over privacy

[Mamyalynne]

The last series, Series 5 was in 2017-2018

[barry1010]

Thanks, Mamya

[andy-hughes]

If you watch the series regularly, you will know that the majority of cash payments to the officers come from Asian debtors.

The Asian debtors will argue and negotiate right to the wire, because that is an intrinsic part of their culture - they like to deal if they can.

When all else fails, almost all Asian debtors have immediate access to cash from local friends and neighbours - once again it's part of their culture to help each other out, and there is always a simple network of local people who can provide cash when needed.

As advised, there is nothing to suggest that paying in cash is illegal, or that the source of the cash is not legitimate, which is why HMRC would not bother investigating any cases they see on television.

[Peter Pedant]

well at present there are so many tax men off
they cant deal with day to day inquiries - if you should have one

very large transfers will trigger a money laundering notice - I can remember what the hurdle is

[Peter Pedant]

article over privacy here

http://infolawblog.com/privacy-v-freedom-of-expression-cant-pay-well-take-it-away/