Which is worse and why?

[Hettster]

Question in 2 parts Which is worse and why . . .tax evasion or benefit fraud? Please answer both parts thank you

[venator]

The culture has changed in this country. Benefit fraud by individuals, and tax evasion by self employed people doing jobs for cash is not seen as anything major.

They're as bad as each other.

Large scale tax evasion involving large criminal gangs is worse, as the sums involved can be very large.

The use of tax havens and non-dom status is harder to classify, as the people who do it could often live in any country, and they do bring business to this country.

[haggisbasher]

One is as bad the other and it is not the government being ripped off it is the taxpayer who funds non essentials like schools and roads. When you hear of any fraud just remember we , the taxpayer pick up the bill whether it is benefit fraud, tax evasion or smuggling.

[joko]

i agree with karen as generally its people who are skint...the professional benefiteers are not that common really.

tax evasion tends to be done on a grander scale

[Graham-W]

"tax evasion tends to be done on a grander scale"
Years ago, when I was working full time as a welder, in my spare time I repaired cars for cash in hand fitting new sills etc. I didn't declare it as income. I evaded paying tax on some of my income. Certainly not on a grand scale but it helped pay the mortgage and keep a roof over our heads. Does anyone see a problem with that??

[MarkRae]

> Does anyone see a problem with that??

Apart from it being illegal, you mean...?

[Graham-W]

Yes, I accept it's illegal and contributing to the black economy but is it worse than benefit fraud? I was paying tax and national insurance on my full time job and managed to make a little bit extra in my spare time to help raise a family and pay my mortgage. It was illegal but was I doing a bad thing?

[MarkRae]

> It was illegal but was I doing a bad thing?

Seriously...? Of course you were! You were breaking the law. Makes no difference whether *you* thought it didn't really matter much in the grand scheme of things - it's still illegal.

Clearly, some laws are daft and/or are no longer relevant in modern society, but this isn't one of them.