Rates Exemption/Loophole N.Ireland

declanmcc

pipraider wrote: »

Hi all,

Just curious.. Was once mentioned to me that on certain religious grounds if one from an ethnic minority religious group in N.Ireland were to construct a place of worship/altar within their home this may bear significance overall on how property is viewed from rates perspective..ie exempt or partially exempt.... No! and I'm not a devil worshipper.. :-)

Anyone can assist on this it would be greatly appreciated

-d-
derry

I've heard of someone trying to do this in Derry before (!). Apparently there has to be no other place of worship within a certain radius (and I think it's a big radius) in order to qualify for a rates exemption!!

IvanOpinion

pipraider wrote: »

Just curious.. Was once mentioned to me that on certain religious grounds if one from an ethnic minority religious group in N.Ireland were to construct a place of worship/altar within their home this may bear significance overall on how property is viewed from rates perspective..ie exempt or partially exempt.... No! and I'm not a devil worshipper.. :-)

The altar must be made of solid gold before it works ... therfore if you invest approximately £3.4 million rates can be avoided

BTW, whats wrong with devil worshippers, they have feelings too you know

Ivan

jamminjamaica

there is a house between Downhill and Coleraine which has a place of worship ans is exempt from rates. you should talk to your local rates office.

Robothell

Colin_Kee wrote: »

Sorry No Beer but we could get the Ewoks to bring some Juggernaut Juice. Man that stuff makes Buckfast seem like Mineral Water..

Or you can B.Y.O.

Lets make sure the Venue is near a Curry House in case we get peckish

Beer is an essential to all quests to find the Force!!! Only when you have experienced both the light side (lager) and the dark side (stout) can you be truly enlightened!!!! If you then master this, you'll find you can move things mysteriously (eg. light sabres, traffic cones, all the money from your wallet/purse/attack utility belt) but your proficiency at mind tricks may suffer greatly!

nadnad

wow thats one way to avoid the rates! im building a new house and although the rates wont be terrible this time - by the time they get round to doing the next valuations we will be sunk because the house will be worth around £400k when its finished!

leftieM

Perhaps you could put in en-suite alters to qualify for the rates exemption.

nadnad

def. gonna have to look into making up new religion - maybe for worshippers of shoes and bags like me. or beer and snacks for hubby. if enough people joined it could become real!

pipraider

Thank you jamminjamaica 04-04-2007, 12:22 PM

I have been doing some research myself and yes with proper approach this is acheivable!
I must admit I was surprised. Most gov'ment bodies will not flaunt a loophole within their system that will cost them money since we are viewed as sheeple, their source of income/only source of income.
I feel strongly that this will become more evident in N.Ireland in coming years when we have to stand on our own two feet, I am expecting rates to double,even treble over next 10 year period in sync with purchasing power on the pound sterling taking a continued battering here in the province.

Do I have a problem paying rates to local authorities for services they provide???
In recent years YES!

There is no accountability,absolutely none,we are viewed as a bottomless pit for their funding and foolish spending. If local authorities were to be run like any other business having to return a profit year on year then we would all benefit with better services.For now its just spend spend spend and guess what..no accountability.

Too many laws designed around their fleecing of their citizens to protect their own asses.They tax you when you earn it and they tax you when you spend it!


Save yourself a few bob where you can I say. Time to fight back!

Off altar shopping!

maccaz

declanmcc wrote: »

I've heard of someone trying to do this in Derry before (!). Apparently there has to be no other place of worship within a certain radius (and I think it's a big radius) in order to qualify for a rates exemption!!

Declan is right, as far as I know.
You can save on your rates by having an altar in you house, but it has to be open to the public and there can't be another one in the local area that is also open to the public.

Eg you can't have a Catholic / Protestant altar because of there being one in your area, but you can have, as nickcardwell says, a Jedi Knight temple and claim rates redemption for it. I also think that it'll only be for the room the altar is in, and not the whole property, so the saving's won't be massive.

IvanOpinion

maccaz wrote: »

Eg you can't have a Catholic / Protestant altar because of there being one in your area, but you can have, as nickcardwell says, a Jedi Knight temple and claim rates redemption for it. I also think that it'll only be for the room the altar is in, and not the whole property, so the saving's won't be massive.

Good points... I could use it to slaughter doves and the odd goat or two in my satanic rituals (hope you don;t mind a bit of blood being daubed on the walls ... an important part of the process ... I am sure you won't mind all the running around naked and wild orgies with nubile young females .. some say it helps summon the powers of Behelzebub ... can't say I have noticed)

Also once the altar is installed you will need to inform NIE etc.

Ivan