bridge too far

I'm amazed by all these perks I should have worked in the private sector!

Or by cute construction companies engineering RFIs, Compensation Events etc. etc.

I can't find anything so far. I did find this, however - it tells you about the process to contract out of the political levy should you want to: http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/TradeUnions/Tradeunionmembership/DG_179239 I've just looked at the BECTU website and it seems that, if you contract out, you still have to pay the same subscription but the 'political' part is kept by the Union rather than being donated to any political party or other organisation: http://www.bectu.org.uk/about/political-fund

Apparently Inheritance Tax has been around for centuries! http://www.inheritanceissues.co.uk/hisotry-inheritance-tax-uk.html I have too much time on my hands

Well there used to be a door furniture shop called 'Knobs and Knockers'.

I think it's OK to rent out a room at £70 per week and not pay tax on it. But to receive a rental of £600 pcm on a second (i.e. not occupied by the owner) home is an investment returning an income. So tax applies as it does on any other form of investment / income. Here you go: "Surprising though it may be, the income from renting out a room in your home is usually tax free, thanks to a government incentive to encourage people to take in lodgers. This is the deal: - The rent-a-room scheme allows you to let part of your home and generate a tax-free income of up to £4,250 a year. This equates to a monthly rent of just over £350." from: http://www.findaproperty.com/displaystory.aspx?edid=00&salerent=0&storyid=10078

Saved himself a tax bill of c £3M!!!!

Avoiding tax by putting money in Trust for your children has been undertaken by Lord Ashcroft, it seems http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11415870

I rather think it is - that's what comes with retirement lol. And. being an NHS pensioner, I can't afford the expensive brain food any more

Doctors don't do so badly either. You'd find it really difficult to get any sort of planned procedure done in January because a huge number of (particularly orthopaedic) surgeons go to 'conferences' run by drug companies that are handily located in skiing resorts.

Oh JB - you're the bane of my life I couldn't find anything more up-to-date although, in my defence, I didn't say WHICH election Well done you for finding more recent info. I don't have the patience to read the information from the electoral commission but, if anyone wants to, here's a list of donations registered: http://registers.electoralcommission.org.uk/regulatory-issues/regdpoliticalparties.cfm?ec=%7Bts%20%272010%2D09%2D26%2022%3A40%3A16%27%7D

If that's the case (and I'm not arguing - I just don't know), then why is that if two people, who own their own houses, get married and sell one property, they have to pay CGT if they sell the property outside the current tax year. Ah here's the definitive answer: http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/cgt/property/basics.htm#6 "If you sell, give or otherwise dispose of a property (that's not your main home) to any other family member - or to a spouse or civil partner that you haven't lived with during that tax year - you'll have to work out the gain or loss made and any Capital Gains Tax due." "If you sell, give or otherwise dispose of a property to your husband, wife or civil partner you don’t pay Capital Gains Tax as long as you've lived together for at least part of the tax year in which you made the disposal"

I know of a woman who did just this. She bought a second home for £100K that she then sold to her son 3 years later for £1 although it was by then worth £120K. She had to pay CGT on the difference between the £100K and the £120K .

Yes that's true. But, as anyone who has ever worked on a multi-million pound construction contract will tell you, it's exceptionally hard work getting it in on time / budget. Even more so on a bloody PFI contract

If his mum has another home then she would be liable for CGT on the other house she sells to her son. And I think she would also be liable to income tox for the rent she receives from him.

The lists were of donors to the General Election fighting funds only. Try as I may, I can't find a list of donors to the parties rather than the fighting funds. I did, however, find this news report interesting: http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010/aug/29/tory-donors-audit-commission

No - you can contract out of paying the political levy.

morris

1975

You would think so, wouldn't you. However, I WAS management but certainly didn't get an easy ride from my directors, unimaginable pressure to perform (to deliver 2 hospitals on time and on budget), no job for life (once the projects had finished), I took very little sick leave and my pension is about £4K a year. But hey ho - you carry on with your misconceptions

I've never had a perk in my working life beause I've always worked in the public sector (apart from a few years when I was self-employed).

I think this article is quite interesting - it lists the top 10 donors to the Labour and Conservative parties during the last General Election campaign: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/tory-campaign-funding-twice-that-of-labours-751467.html#list

end

straw

car