Is the WT really a charity?

by The Song Remains The Same 6 Replies latest watchtower scandals

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  The Song Remains The Same

  Further to my enquiries here about the Red Cross, and also in noticing the Autralian financials posted in this thread by JWleaks, I took a look at the UK financial statements helpfully posted at JWleaks here.

  There is a lot of good information related to the income and expenses of the WT in the UK over a number of years. Well worth digging into if you are of a business mind for sure. I will focus on the 2011 statements, found here and here since there seems to be two, one for the Watchtower and one for the Int'l Bible Students. All figures are in GBP.

  Can anyone tell if these are totally seperate, or if they move funds between them? i.e. is an expense in one equal to an income in the other?

  They have some impressive net assets, added together they total over GBP 110mio (71 + 40 pages 8 & 9)

  Income was over GBP 60mio (33.2 + 30.4 page 7 both)

  Expenses were 55.7 (18.1 + 37.6 page 7) but this is where it gets interesting, and I get a little out of my depth...

  Look at the Resources Expended and then refer to the Notes that are referenced.

  For the Int'l Bible Students, Notes 5 & 6 on pages 15 - 17 show that they sent a considerable amount abroad, but very little of was cash, and even then the cash appears to be supporting WT regional activites, nothing about 'real' charitable work? They spent 18mio on charitable activities and 12.4mio on 'grants'?

  Then on the WTBTSB, Notes 7 & 8 on pages 14 & 15, again there are listed quote some amounts related to literature, building, etc, but little again that might fall into proper charity work? This part made 37.2mio in charitable activities, 24.3mio in 'grants'.

  So a very considerable amount of the expenses is going abroad, supporting other WT operations either with literature (although I though other countries mostly printed their own?), but not really anything about what I consider 'charitable works' saving lives (debatable point with the JWs I know, they consider giving out tracts is saving lives...) or helping poor or homeless populations. It is all admin and literature, not much cash or aid-relief.

  Does anyone have a better insight than my high level observations, and even actually know some of the details behind these figures? Or maybe just share some thoughts when you take a look into the numbers?

  TSRTS
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  Amelia Ashton

  The WTBTS has charitable status which means they are entitled to certain favourable tax criteria and exceptions but are they a charity, that opens up an entirely different line of reasoning!

  IMHO they do more harm than good and their charitable status should be revoked
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  Phizzy

  They are no more a real charity than they are a real religion, they pose as both, but it is subterfuge and lies.

  I do hope they get their status revoked here in the U.K, and elsewhere.
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  Think About It

  The words Watchtower Society and charity should never appear in the same sentence together, unless the words "NOT a" is between them. The tax free status enables the WTS to be a cult that is subsidized by at least 99.98% of taxpayers who disagree with the WTS's kooky teachings. It is well time to withdraw the Watchtower's tax free status.
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  The Song Remains The Same

  I'm hoping too... but in the meanwhile I am getting some info for my various discussion points with the edler I'm communicating with

  You have to wonder if the heat will get turned up on the likes of the WT and their tax-free status given all the pressure in the past months about Big Companies not paying corporation taxes by legally (perhaps not morally) moving income and expenses to low tax environments. I do hope the WT and etc get the same treatment!!!
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  edmond dantes

  It seems to me that they operate a very neat little trick by transfering to themselves very large amounts of money from each country and calling it charitable donations thus avoiding tax.

  Materially they help no one and the quailty of the so called spiritual help is to say the least very dubious.
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  punkofnice

  No!

  But I wager it'd be a battle to get it revoked. Too much paperwork at the 'ministry of silly walks'.

  The WBT$ seems to carry some sort of clout.

  Revoke their status and a whole can of worms is opened on other religions and cults.

  Oooooh, the paperwork!