Faith, Hope and... Tax Avoidance
After the G8 promises to ensure big business pays its dues, Fran Abrams investigates how charities can be used for tax avoidance. She asks if the charity watchdog is up to the job.
While the G8 summit of world leaders has agreed a global deal to ensure big business pays its dues, concerns about tax avoidance go wider.
A group of MPs has just examined the case of the Cup Trust, a charity which tried to claim 拢46 million in tax relief but spent just 拢55,000 on good works. The Chair of the Public Accounts Committee, Margaret Hodge, concluded the Trust's purpose "was to avoid tax".
And she said this wasn't an isolated case. The Committee heard that HMRC investigates around 300 charities a year over concerns about tax fraud.
In this week's File on 4 Fran Abrams examines the blurred lines around charities and tax.
What happens when genuine charities find 'donations' are designed so the donors can claim Gift Aid payments from the tax man? And how easy is it to register a charity whose main aim is actually tax avoidance?
Is the 160 year-old Charity Commission up to the job of policing 21st Century charities?
Producer: Ian Muir-Cochrane.
Last on
More episodes
Previous
![]()
Charities - Giving and Taking
Can charities be trusted to run public services well and honestly? Gerry Northam reports.
![]()
Taxing Questions
Corporate tax: Who writes the rules? Fran Abrams investigates.
![]()
Tax Avoidance
As the Treasury reviews tax avoidance, Fran Abrams asks - how widespread is the problem?
READ THE PROGRAMME TRANSCRIPT
Broadcasts
- Tue 9 Jul 2013 20:00麻豆社 Radio 4
- Sun 14 Jul 2013 17:00麻豆社 Radio 4 FM
Download this programme
Subscribe to this programme or download individual episodes.
Podcast
-
![]()
File on 4 Investigates
File on 4 Investigates: News-making original journalism.
