The WTBTS and Money. Three questions, please!

Gill

Why does the WTBTS not have to publish full details of its accounts, financial dealings, and multi business schemes? Are all their little business tax free?

AND

Do women Bethelites get paid the same allowance as men Bethelites?

onacruse

Why does the WTBTS not have to publish full details of its accounts, financial dealings, and multi business schemes?

They used to, every year, a full accounting in the Watch Tower. I don't know when they stopped.

Are all their little business tax free?

Yes, though that is the reason they dropped the "contribution" concept with the literature. As I recall, the WTS filed as a 'friend of the court' in a Jimmy Swaggart case where the IRS was trying to get him for not being a non-profit religion. When the Mene-Mene became apparent, within months the WTS shifted over to the "voluntary donation" idea.

AND
Do women Bethelites get paid the same allowance as men Bethelites?

Yes.

Gill

Thanks, Onacruse! It would be interesting to know why and when the WTBTS stop printing full accounts. Surely, as a 'charitable organization' it would be freely available for anyone to scrutinise all of their 'business dealings', wouldn't you think?

So in effect, if your MAIN business is religion, you can go under any other business operation, and still be tax free as long as you are under the umbrella of the original 'religious' business. Is that correct?

It is interesting to see that the women have the same allowance. But I understand the the women get more 'time off' than the men. How come the men don't complain?

diamondblue1974

What might be interesting to know is that the society in the UK has to submit full accounts for their UK operations. I last looked at their 2003 accounts and they made interesting reading.

G

diamondblue1974

I now have the 2005 Accounts as a PDF file if anyone wants a peek.

Send me a PM if thats the case.

It does seem that there has been a considerable drop in turnover for our publishing conglomerate...quite telling really!

Gary

Lady Lee

Thanks DB

How the WTS in Britain claims charitable status:

A major activity of the charity continues to be the printing and distribution of Bibles and Bible study aids, primarily for International Bible Students Association. The literature is distributed free of charge by IBSA to congregations of Jehovah’s Witnesses and then to the public in general. The Society Administers the work of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Britain and notes that in the year under review, almost 18,000,000 hours were spent by Jehovah’s Witnesses in Britain working in their communities helping people morally and spiritually. The Bible study aids printed by the charity offers practical advice on law-abiding citizenship, targeted workable family values for modern living and advises Christian tolerance in a multi-cultural society. Information of such values has a wide appeal as can be seen for the request for more Bibles and Bible study aids be both Jehovah’s Witnesses and members of the public.

What can I say?

InquiryMan

advises Christian tolerance in a multi-cultural society. Oh really....

rebel8

Why does the WTBTS not have to publish full details of its accounts, financial dealings, and multi business schemes? Are all their little business tax free?

In the US charities with an annual revenue over a certain amount must submit financial information to the government, and any US citizen, theoretically, can write to either the government (IRS) or to the charity and get copies of their financial papers. Good luck to anyone who tries because I've asked & never got it, even though it's my legal right to have it. Same for New York State, since I am a citizen of NY.

Their businesses are tax free if they file and get approved for tax free status.

Gill

Lady Lee - You remind me of the article in the local paper when the local KH Quick Build went up. One of the Elders was reported as saying that the building and the Witnesses were there to 'serve the local community'.

This still makes me smile as at all times when the hall is not in use, there is a eight foot fence up all round the hall with sharpened defence barbs at the top and at night the place is lit with flood lights and security cameras are running. I have never seen any member of the community able to even approach the building. And have I ever seen them 'help' any member of the community? I'll leave you to answer that one yourself.

Lady Lee

'serve the local community'

~~Most of the time~~ all of the time it is in what they don't say

'serve the local community' (of Jehovah's Witnesses)

Mind you they could argue that all the litterature they leave in Doctor's offices, laundry mats and all those early morning knocks on the doors of people's homes 'serve the local community'

As I wander through old WT litterature I am shocked but not shocked that they live with their own illusions

The WTBTS and Money. Three questions, please!

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