What kinds of deals often involve under the table money in your place?

[Klaus]

Over here, it's pretty common for things like housecleaning or music lessons. Also, craftspeople will often gladly accept a part of the total sum in cash (such that an official invoice with a lower amount still exists).

[bachophile]

To the best of my knowledge prostitution and drug dealing is strictly cash. No one agrees to checks or credit cards.

But that may be just here

[bachophile]

But to really answer your question, gardeners, home fixit people like simple plumbing or electricians will all be more than happy to accept cash.

[Copper]

About the only place where I used cash was the barber shop.

And I stopped going there a couple years ago.

Now, it's just golf bets.

[xenon]

In my old neighborhood in Canada - it was super immigrant heavy - so there were lots of cash services.

My current neighborhood is a bunch of rule followers - so not so much.

[Aqua Letifer]

Baltimore has really changed over the years, but you can still get drugs and hookers there in cash. It's quaint like that.

[jon-nyc]

Most tradesmen prefer cash here. Barber is cash only.

[Mik]

In just about any transaction you can imagine. Contracts, justice, anything.

'What kind of ________ do you think I am?"

"We've already established that. We're just haggling over price.".

The unmarked envelope of cash is still a welcome offering, albeit done more stealthily.

[Jolly]

I would never pay cash for anything.

[Klaus]

I'm not asking about paying cash. I'm asking about tax avoidance.

[xenon]

I use "paying in cash" as a euphemism for the same thing, Klaus. I don't really know how the folks are filing their taxes - but I'm assuming some under-report it.

[Klaus]

For instance, I wonder how often @LuFins-Dad is approached with the idea of saving money on a sale by splitting the bill into an official and inofficial part.

[Mik]

I have a family member who rails on about taxing the rich and all their various tax devices. But he has worked in a cash business his whole career and I doubt he has reported half his income.

[Horace]

I have a guy doing some handyman work on my house just today who will be paid cash. 3 days skilled labor for $1200.

[Mik]

That's a great deal.

[LuFins Dad]

@klaus said in What kinds of deals often involve under the table money in your place?:

For instance, I wonder how often @LuFins-Dad is approached with the idea of saving money on a sale by splitting the bill into an official and inofficial part.

Nothing like that. I did have a guy once try to offer me a "tip" after a negotiated sale price. I added it to the price of the piano.

[Rich]

On the piano moving end of my business (which has become fairly substantial) we get quite a few people looking to pay in cash....for some sort of discount.

Though I know what they're really after, I'll occasionally offer about a 2.5% discount, since that what the card processing fee would average out to.

At this point, many if not most of the folks looking for a cash discount, actually have a stack of cash themselves they are looking to use up...so there's really no benefit to discount at all for cash.

[Horace]

@mik said in What kinds of deals often involve under the table money in your place?:

That's a great deal.

My wife found him through some referrals by Chinese friends in the area. He's not great with the English but he can do everything, including plumbing.

[Copper]

@rich said in What kinds of deals often involve under the table money in your place?:

actually have a stack of cash themselves they are looking to use up...so there's really no benefit to discount at all for cash.

Can't you scrape off the cocaine?