10 April 2012
Responding to the Chancellor’s comments about tax relief in
today's
Telegraph, John Low, Chief Executive of the Charities Aid
Foundation, said:
“Whoever is advising the Chancellor is quite wrong to equate tax
relief on major donations to charity with tax avoidance.
“This is not a ploy to save tax. Philanthropists who make large
donations give away far, far more than they could ever claim in tax
relief. That money goes to fund projects for the public good, such
as medical research and help for the most vulnerable in
society.
“If there are specific problems with the current system we would
naturally be delighted to work with the Chancellor to ensure tax
reliefs are used for the purpose intended.
“But imposing a blanket cap on tax relief will cost charities
millions of pounds by making it more difficult for philanthropists
to make major donations and undermine the idea of the Big Society
which the Government is trying to promote.
“We should recognise and celebrate today’s great
philanthropists, not brand them as wealthy tax dodgers.”
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