It’s alleged Scientology has avoided paying tax in the United Kingdom by claiming it is run out of South Australia. In Britain, the Church of Scientology is supposed to pay tax on the millions of pounds it brings in each year. Now, the organisation has been accused of claiming its entire UK operation is part of its Australian outfit.
The Independent Senator Nick Xenophon is one of South Australia’s favourite sons. He championed the former members of Scientology who spoke out about the abuse inflicted on them. This latest intrigue surprised even him.
“When you look at the fact that the three directors are based in the UK, that returns haven’t been filed for the South Australian entity in over 30 years you’ve got to ask what on earth is going on,” Xenophon said.
Full article at TodayTonight
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I must admit I find it odd that it has taken the mainstream media this long to start following the money. Glad they’ve finally got round to it though, and glad that, by the sounds of it, the UK authorities are investigating the situation.
Nice one Scientology – some pretty smart tax evasion moves there. Hats off. I don’t see what the problem is with these guys really. Taking lots of money of dumb shits is pure Darwinism at work, it’s a beautiful operation. If only more pseudo religions could do the same stirlling job in slowly eradicating the stupid people from the gene pool the world would be in a better place.
Rod: Oh yes, ‘stupidity’ (read: loneliness, despair, wanting to belong, being too trusting) is totally genetic. No environmental factors at all. In fact, let’s shoot everyone who displays any type of emotion at all (after all, it’s a weakness that these awesome cults can exploit, so it must be undesirable) and turn ourselves into the Borg.
Is there an opt out for agnostic people as well? Because I’m not sure I want to live in your world, but being a cultist doesn’t hold much appeal either…
I think he was being ironic.
It’s a bit of a myth that only stupid people get involved in cults. I believe if anything they tend to be more, not less, educated. Unless they were raised in the cult, of course.
I’ve seen so many people online seriously argue this sort of vision (granted, usually in comments on news articles, which do tend to gather the pond scum of the net
) that irony just isn’t my first thought when I see comments like this…
For a taste of what income Scientology is evading taxes on, this blog contains price lists (in US dollars) for some auditing and courses. It appears towards the bottom of the page, under “09 Donation and Registration Rates.”
http://offdainnertube.blogspot.com/2010/01/scientologyi-want-my-cash-back.html
Didn’t Hubbard used to run the operation offshore on a ship?
In any case,
“Under British legislation, all religious entities benefit from a business tax exemption while council tax discounts are given for the homes of religious leaders. Under British law, a building must be the venue used for worshipping a God or deity, but not a philosophy, in order to be considered as a place of religious worship.
But the Equality Bill has some small print which asks councils to protect all religious or philosophical beliefs from local taxes just as a new public-sector equality duty forces authorities to promote equality of those who hold philosophical beliefs and stops them from any discrimination against all philosophical beliefs.”
http://www.wcjb.co.uk/church-of-scientology-tax-exempted-29460