Quote: cod'ead "So they're wonderful for giving money to charities from staff & customer funding and then they avoid paying stamp duty on land purchases? Is that how it works? Maybe I could stop paying Income Tax and make a donation to the charity of my choice instead?'"
Up to you, if that's what you want to do.
Quote: cod'ead "I also notice that they swing between fixed sums (£13m) and percentages (1% of pre-tax profit).'"
The fixed sum was an amount that staff and employees raised via
fundraising activities - the target was (I think) £10m. The 1% of pre-tax profit was a
donation, and something quite different.
Quote: cod'ead "If they are so transparent and benevolent, then why the need for Cheshunt Properties LLP? or other shadow subsidiaries in Luxembourg, BVI etc?'"
I didn't say they were transparent, I merely pointed out that, like with most things, there's always a different point of view. Regarding benevolence, I suppose it's a very subjective one to answer - I, personally, believe that the fundraising effort was great (it certainly brought many staff and customers together, and some friends / colleagues had fantastic experiences raising money whilst climbing to Mt Everest base camp / walking the Inca trail / etc). And to donate £74m, irrespective of what the annual profit was, should be applauded. But, as I say, that's my subjective opinion.
