# What is My Civic Duty? (Reporting a Tax Cheat) **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 12, 2018, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-my-civic-duty-reporting-a-tax-cheat/806465 "2018-01-12T16:17:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![constanze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f9ae1b/32.png) [@constanze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/constanze)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2018, 8:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-my-civic-duty-reporting-a-tax-cheat/806465/61 "2018-01-19T08:38:21Z")
I remember News reports about how several years ago Italy passed a law to try and combat massive cheating on taxes (both VAT and income tax) by businesses by not ringing up everything. The law gave Police the right to ask shoppers, when leaving a store, to Show a receipt as proof that the sale had been recorded; if the customer couldn’t Show it, both the shopkeeper and the customer could be fined. (It was reported on because a lot of Germans travel to Italy on Holidays, and we often don’t bother with receipts for small personal stuff, to save paper, or not have so much stuff lying around. I still think punishing the customer, too, goes too far, but I don’t know how many People would try and hurt the shopkeeper by throwing away the receipt.) ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2018, 8:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-my-civic-duty-reporting-a-tax-cheat/806465/62 "2018-01-19T08:48:03Z")
You know, I’ve always wondered about those signs at fast food joints, that say “If I don’t give you a receipt, your meal is free.” Reading this I’ve finally put two and two together. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![constanze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f9ae1b/32.png) [@constanze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/constanze)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2018, 9:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-my-civic-duty-reporting-a-tax-cheat/806465/63 "2018-01-19T09:04:32Z")
> [@TruCelt](#): > > You know, I’ve always wondered about those signs at fast food joints, that say “If I don’t give you a receipt, your meal is free.” Reading this I’ve finally put two and two together. The funny Thing is, when I go and shop at the Supermarket or a bakery (don’t go to fast Food Joints usually), Most cashiers will ask me if I Need a receipt, and only if I say “yes” do they press a button that prints it. However, they do scan / type everything into the machine - it’s because People want to not have stuff in their pockets, and many People don’t Keep receipts for foodstuff, so it would be waste. And those thermo-paper roles that most Registers use is expensive, so it’s also good for the shop to save some Money with less printing. But because everything’s has either been scanned or typed into the Register, bookkeeping (and thus VAT/ income tax) has been fulfilled. If I buy non-Food stuff like clothes or electronics, I will usually get a receipt, because of the two-year mandatory guarantee by the seller. (The advice is to photocopy that because the thermal paper fades over time, which is another bother…) ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2018, 9:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-my-civic-duty-reporting-a-tax-cheat/806465/64 "2018-01-19T09:18:01Z")
It does occur to me that there have been occasions when I have said I don’t want a printed receipt, and the cashier has insisted on handing one to me, with vague mumbling, to my mild annoyance, as I proceed to throw it in the trash. Most likely a store policy for just this reason, something that had never occurred to me. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2018, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-my-civic-duty-reporting-a-tax-cheat/806465/65 "2018-01-19T13:33:42Z")
Some stores now offer the option of an emailed receipt, although that might require you to type in your email address. ---
**Author:** ![excavating\_for\_a\_mind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e8c25b/32.png) [@excavating\_for\_a\_mind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/excavating_for_a_mind)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2018, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-my-civic-duty-reporting-a-tax-cheat/806465/66 "2018-01-19T14:27:48Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > There is a business I go to now and then that I’m pretty sure is doing something fishy. > … > If he’s not ringing up the sale, I assume he isn’t reporting the income or giving the State their cut. This is a franchise, so maybe he’s cheating them, too. Don’t know, don’t care. Beyond the scope here. And I’m pretty sure the guy doing this isn’t just some employee. I’m pretty sure he’s the “owner”. > … Without knowing more, it is hard to know if your assumption is valid. The state does not require that all sales be rung on the register, but only that you collect the tax on each sale and pay the state (and municipalities, if applicable) a percentage of your total receipts (minus valid deductions). It kind of makes you look like the guy who assumes someone parking in a handicap space isn’t handicapped since they appear to be walking (perhaps even running) just fine to you. The fact that it is a Subway franchise does make it seem more likely (the Franchise probably has specific requirements for the accounting system the franchisee uses), but it is still possible that if something fishy is going on, that he is only cheating the Franchise (which you stated that you are not concerned about?) and not any taxing authorities. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2019, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-my-civic-duty-reporting-a-tax-cheat/806465/67 "2019-03-08T06:44:10Z")
**Update** : Contacted the State AG, and to file a ‘complaint’ with them was a major hassle, lots of paperwork and too much personal info required from ME, so I sent an email to Subway Corporate a couple month ago, detailing my concerns and what I thought was going on. They responded, fairly generic, but indicated the actual franchise owner was possibly notified… blah, blah blah. Drove by today. Place is closed, windows with plastic over them and a sign that says,\* “Closed for Remodeling”. \*Coincidence? 😃 And today was 6" BMT day. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2019, 11:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-my-civic-duty-reporting-a-tax-cheat/806465/68 "2019-03-08T11:03:15Z")
BMT. .??? ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2019, 11:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-my-civic-duty-reporting-a-tax-cheat/806465/69 "2019-03-08T11:56:51Z")
> [@elbows](#): > > BMT. .??? [https://www.subway.com/en-us/menunutrition/menu/product?ProductId=4263&MenuCategoryId=1](https://www.subway.com/en-us/menunutrition/menu/product?ProductId=4263&MenuCategoryId=1) Biggest. Meatiest. Tastiest. ---
**Author:** ![Littleman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ccd318/32.png) [@Littleman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Littleman)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2019, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-my-civic-duty-reporting-a-tax-cheat/806465/70 "2019-03-08T19:00:16Z")
Your civic duty is nothing here, that would require the government to have a really active interest in enforcement. The amount of money out your pocket is unaffected ,whatever the result of the report won’t effect you either. The won’t be a reward. So IMO it’s just a tattletale compulsion. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2019, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-my-civic-duty-reporting-a-tax-cheat/806465/71 "2019-03-08T19:15:39Z")
> [@elbows](#): > > BMT. .??? Bacon, Marmite and Tomato. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2019, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-my-civic-duty-reporting-a-tax-cheat/806465/72 "2019-03-08T19:17:12Z")
> [@Littleman](#): > > Your civic duty is nothing here, that would require the government to have a really active interest in enforcement. > The amount of money out your pocket is unaffected ,whatever the result of the report won’t effect you either. The won’t be a reward. So IMO it’s just a tattletale compulsion. So reporting it out of civic duty is wrong, but reporting it if you can squeeze a little money out of the deal is right? ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2019, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-my-civic-duty-reporting-a-tax-cheat/806465/73 "2019-03-08T21:19:32Z")
> [@elbows](#): > > BMT. .??? An Italian BMT. Also my choice at Subway. Not sure what the BMT stands for. I’ll go Google it and report back. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2019, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-my-civic-duty-reporting-a-tax-cheat/806465/74 "2019-03-08T21:21:57Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > [https://www.subway.com/en-us/menunutrition/menu/product?ProductId=4263&MenuCategoryId=1](https://www.subway.com/en-us/menunutrition/menu/product?ProductId=4263&MenuCategoryId=1) > > Biggest. Meatiest. Tastiest. Well, looky here. Shoulda read the thread better.🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2019, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-my-civic-duty-reporting-a-tax-cheat/806465/75 "2019-03-08T21:59:26Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > An Italian BMT. Also my choice at Subway. Are you a long-lost sister or something? And you live in Arkansas… this could be interesting. ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2019, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-my-civic-duty-reporting-a-tax-cheat/806465/76 "2019-03-08T22:45:43Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > Drove by today. Place is closed, windows with plastic over them and a sign that says,\* “Closed for Remodeling”. \*Coincidence? 😃 Coincidence? [Probably.](https://www.qsrmagazine.com/exclusives/subway-reflects-year-fresh-forward) ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2019, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-my-civic-duty-reporting-a-tax-cheat/806465/77 "2019-03-09T23:08:19Z")
> [@AlsoNamedBort](#): > > Coincidence? [Probably.](https://www.qsrmagazine.com/exclusives/subway-reflects-year-fresh-forward) Well, how 'bout that? I sure hope it doesn’t open back up with that ‘new’ look. That looks like shit. ---
**Author:** ![Littleman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ccd318/32.png) [@Littleman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Littleman)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2019, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-my-civic-duty-reporting-a-tax-cheat/806465/78 "2019-03-09T23:58:28Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > So reporting it out of civic duty is wrong, but reporting it if you can squeeze a little money out of the deal is right? There’s no civic duty to report something when the enforcers don’t even care and no person is in danger. If there’s a reward it just moves from tattletale compulsion to something with actual motivation aside from your inner desire to point and go awwww I’m gonna get you in trouble. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2019, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-my-civic-duty-reporting-a-tax-cheat/806465/79 "2019-03-10T00:34:23Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > Are you a long-lost sister or something? > > And you live in Arkansas… this could be interesting. IDK, my Daddy used to say he found me on the side of the road. Where were you found? ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2019, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-my-civic-duty-reporting-a-tax-cheat/806465/80 "2019-03-10T15:39:51Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > IDK, my Daddy used to say he found me on the side of the road. Where were you found? On the other side of the road. 🙂 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-my-civic-duty-reporting-a-tax-cheat/806465.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-my-civic-duty-reporting-a-tax-cheat/806465.md?page=5)