HM Revenue & Customs - HMRC campaign asks: Are you sure your boss is paying the right tax for you?

A new radio campaign is urging workers who suspect their employer isn’t paying tax and National Insurance for them to ring the Tax Evasion Hotline and report them to HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC).
In particular, National Insurance contributions are used to calculate benefits, including State Pension, incapacity benefits, contribution-based Jobseekers Allowance and bereavement allowances. Workers who believe they are not being treated fairly can call HMRC’s confidential hotline: 0800 788 887.
HMRC’s Director of Risk & Intelligence, Stuart Hartlib said:
”Employees can tell us about rogue employers who do not correctly apply and account for Pay As You Earn and National Insurance contributions. They are being cheated by their employer. If National Insurance contributions are not paid employees could lose out not only on their State Pension but also other workers’ benefits such as incapacity benefit and contribution-based Jobseekers Allowance. If employers do not pay their fair share, they are cheating law-abiding employees out of what is rightfully theirs. Every employee should receive a payslip and a P60/P45 which indicate whether their tax and National Insurance is being correctly accounted for”.
Starting this week, the advertisement features a restaurant owner telling his waitress that there is nothing she can do about being paid cash-in-hand.
“This isn’t the Ritz – it’s small time caff. I pay all my waitresses cash in hand.
“Shhhh. Don’t you worry about your tax and your National Insurance – ask no questions and you’ll get no lies.
“Now there’s your wages in cash and if you don’t like it – it’s tough, ‘cause there’s nothing you can do about it, is there.”
Stuart Hartlib added:
“If you work for an employer who pays you cash in hand or you think your tax and National Insurance is not being paid, call the Tax Evasion hotline and we will do something about it. You do not need to leave your name and address. Remember, by paying National Insurance you are entitled to benefits - by allowing your employer to get away with it, you’re being cheated.”
The HMRC Tax Evasion Hotline is open Mondays to Fridays, 8am to 8pm, and Saturday and Sundays 8am to 4pm.

Email: patrick.o'brien@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk