Advice Please

[tupaikia]

Hi, I'm trying to apply for British Citizenship. I've live in this country for 15 years now and got my ILR in 2004.

I've been working in takeaways as a chef ever since i came to this country, i don't and have never pay tax and national insurance. I dont have any pay slip to prove that i can support myself, all i got is bank statments.

So my question is can i still apply even i have never paid any tax or national insurance? Many thanks

[Lucapooka]

Have you actually looked at the requirements for naturalization? It is not a means-tested application. However, you say you have never paid NI; can your clarify that statement? If you are working for cash and not paying income tax or NI (but why would you need to do that if you have ILR?), you are committing an offence, and that would matter.

[tupaikia]

Hi Lucapooka, thanks for reply.
When i came to this country i was not allowed to work at all so i just get paid in cash, even after i got my ILR i still continue to work there and get paid in cash and it stayed that way ever since, never really thought about my future.

So what can i do, or what should i do now? can i say that i've never been employed? Many thanks

[Amber]

Hi Lucapooka, thanks for reply.
When i came to this country i was not allowed to work at all so i just get paid in cash, even after i got my ILR i still continue to work there and get paid in cash and it stayed that way ever since, never really thought about my future.

So what can i do, or what should i do now? can i say that i've never been employed? Many thanks

You can accept cash payments for work you do, but it's illegal for your employer to pay you cash in hand without deducting tax and National Insurance contributions from your wages. Also by law you should be given a wage slip.

You could say you are unemployed, however, this would be deception, even if the UKBA don't find out, however likely, it's morally wrong.

How much do you earn each week Gross? And how may hours do you work per week?

How long have you been working at the pizza shop?

[Amber]

Have you actually looked at the requirements for naturalization? It is not a means-tested application. However, you say you have never paid NI; can your clarify that statement? If you are working for cash and not paying income tax or NI (but why would you need to do that if you have ILR?), you are committing an offence, and that would matter.

So that the OPs Gross Income equates the Net Income and he avoids paying his dues or the take away owner pays the OP less than the NMW, typical, when the shop is hiring foreign workers.

[tupaikia]

Hi, i've been working at the chinese takeaway for almost 14 years now and i get paid £400 weekly, i work 48 hours a week. thanks

[Lucapooka]

This is bizarre. There is absolutely no reason for you to be working illegally.

[Amber]

Hi, i've been working at the chinese takeaway for almost 14 years now and i get paid £400 weekly, i work 48 hours a week. thanks

If this is your only job then tax should be about £44 per week and NI should be around £30 per week. Well I'm glad you're getting more than NMW. As you are an employee your employer is responsible for deducting Income Tax and National Insurance from your salary before you receive it, not you! Though, as you are aware he is not, as you're not receiving any PAYE information or end of year P60 (I assume you don't get this?) you are arguably complicit in the fraud. If you indicate you are working then it could result in the HMRC investigating the take-away, not sure how likely that is as some people work and do not pay tax and NI as there income is low.