Thank you Barbara,
When I read of the tax issue in France, i.e. JW's in France had not paid tax and argued if they paid their bill it would empty their coffers and therefore they could not continue as a religion. They claimed it would negate their european right to freedom of worship if they paid ceasers things to caeser! Amazingly, they were allowed to forego their tax bill and shamelessly declared a victory on satan's perescuting world...
That aside, your article reminded me of my thoughts when this happened in France. The tax bill would not at all wipe out the true financial status of Watchtower, and immediatly I realised why they seperate the religion into charities and companies throughout the world. The french branch of the JW religion is quite a seperate identity to that oF the American according to the tax man.....
Watchtower
Watch Tower
International Bible & Tract Society NY
International Bible Students Association UK
etc etc etc.....
Not only do they reduce liability, by being a seperate company to these sister organisations, but the real money all sits in one pot in the USA safe from the sources of the money. I read the UK tax report on IBSA in 2012 and was intrigued to read how they worded their financial arrangement with Brooklyn. The UK bethel admitted to sending 90% of it's income to an american charity (Watchtower) as the board believed it was what it wasyhe most beneficial use of the money and that it supported the goals of the charity it supported.
Then I heard about how the society send money around the world, clearly laundering it via congregation and bethel accounts. It was raised following the congregation take over in the USA (menlow park?).
So these legal entities and names are no accident. I have no doubt they are breaking laws all over the place too. When I was in the UK bethel, they had charity status and tax exemptions but were stopped from selling literature. But at night were printing literature, that they sold, in Africa.