Stop paying tradies with cash: tax chief

The tax commission is imploring people to stop paying tradies with cash because it's costing the economy billions of dollars.

His call comes after reports of tradespeople issuing fake invoices using a Bunnings business registration number, or ABN.

"If you pay cash for a discount, in many cases you are effectively ripping off yourself as an Australian taxpayer because this type of behaviour is what sees billions flow out of the tax system and into the cash economy," Australian Taxation Office chief Chris Jordan told The Australian on Friday.