Tax Return: Norval, ON Assembly Hall

by expatbrit 6 Replies latest jw friends

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  expatbrit

  Here's a bit of info for the "WT Financial" file.

  Here are a couple of pages from the latest filed tax return of the Norval Assembly Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses. The second page gives the financial details required on the return.

  The Norval Assembly Hall is located on the north-west outskirts of Toronto. It is a fairly typical assembly hall, used mainly for circuit assemblies.

  You will note from the return that the assembly hall has a value of approximately Cdn$3.73 million (US$2.52million). It also has cash and other investments totalling approx Cdn$339,000 (US$229,000). These will be derived from accumulated excesses of income over expenditure from assembly hall operations.

  For this particular year, the income from donations was approx Cdn$205,000 (US$138,500). Most of this is indicated as coming from other registered charities. Since the contributions made at the assembly halls are for the worldwide work, it is reasonable to assume that the money is stated as coming from the WTB&TS of Canada, and these amounts simply represent the actual takings from the assembly hall boxes. Investment income was a further Cdn$12,200 (US$8,250).

  Expenditure for the year totalled approx Cdn$176,000 (US$119,000), therefore for this year the assembly hall had a surplus of approx Cdn$42,000 (US$28,500). This is not a gigantic sum, however when you consider the constant pleas for cash at assemblies, and the misleading manner of reading the accounts when they are always in a deficit position, it provides another indication of the society's avarice. They have after all built up more than a 1/3 of a million dollars in investments just from this one assembly hall.

  Expatbrit
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  Moxy

  thx expat. youll have to help me with interpreting the financial stuff here but i can correct one thing. the donations at assemblies (at norval at any rate) are not made to the worldwide work, they are made to the individual circuit. so from one assembly, the same circuit will carry their own balance to the next assembly, 6mo later. i believe it is administered similar to the KHs, with the principle accounts belonging to the individual congregation rather that the KH, with a smaller account belonging to the KH to cover small common expenses.

  at norval this very weekend, the account report was read for our circuit. we had a positive balance of some $3000 or so from our last assembly, "so the elders got together... and disposed of it," annouced the accounts coordinator with a smile. chuckles all around. this seems pretty standard. any excesses are usually donated to some other society fund. why would they accrue a large fund for the assembly hall over the course of the year anyway? the money's just sitting there doing nothing, isnt it?

  mox
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  expatbrit

  Mox:

  Thanks for the correction. See what happens when you don't go to assemblies?

  Since each circuit is a charity, they are separate entities from the assembly hall they use.

  Given that, presumably the assembly hall charges each circuit for the privelege of using the facilities. So it seems there is a "mark up" put onto the price to create a surplus for the assembly hall (and put the squeeze on the publishers who hear about deficits).

  Expatbrit
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  RunningMan

  The receipts from other charities could be payments made by the congregations in the circuit. For example, in our circuit, every congregation that uses the assembly hall pays around $50 per month to the assembly hall fund. This helps pay for upkeep, etc. It also builds a renovation fund, so that in 15 or 20 years, there is enough in the fund to remodel the place. We also do the same thing with the three congregations that use our double KH.

  Actually, I've filled out this form for our congregation. Whenever we write a cheque to another congregation, circuit, or whatever, it is considered a transfer to another registered charity.
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  Scully

  I found the disbursement section at the bottom of the form quite interesting:

  Line 120: $169,130 for "expeditures on charitable work the charity itself carried out" - I'd like to see what that includes, I imagine it has to do with CO and DO expenses and money sent to the WTS.

  Line 121: $0.00 for "gifts to qualified donees", I think that makes it clear that the tendency is not to help individuals in need, otherwise we'd be seeing an amount in that slot.

  Love, Scully

  
  
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  Scully

  bttt for more exposure!

  
  
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  MadApostate

  You folks should consider making some inquiries with Canadian Local Governments and CVBs to see if any DC venues are rent-free such as many are in the U.S.

  I haven't been to a DC in so many ears that I don't even remember the gist of the accounts reports, except that typically on Sunday morns it would be hinted that more $$$ was needed to pay the bill.

  Now that food is not an issue, what bills are left if the locals are picking up the Venue Rental tab? I suspect that the WTS still charges the District for the Rental Bill???

  . http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/forum/thread.asp?id=16702&site=3&page=2