To think the royal family should pay proper tax?

[marmaladeandpeanutbutter]

I think the RF should pay corporation, capital gain tax and personal tax, like every other family and company.

I was watching the channel 4 Despatches programme tonight, and was so astounded I
rewound and took notes. Yes, I should get out more! But in case you didn't watch it:

◦	£132 million is to be paid by government (ie tax payers )  to the Royal Family in 2025

◦	The RF also have extensive land estates (Duchies of Cornwall and Lancaster). 

◦	How the RF make their millions has been kept secret from us and parliament for centuries

◦	Over 5000 of their undeclared properties were discovered by Channel 4 despatches. 

◦	We pay, for example £1.5  million for Dartmoor prison every year, although it’s empty and not usable because of radon gas. We must also pay for any repairs

◦	The RF say they aren’t funded by the tax payer, but channel 4 says that in fact they are, and that they make many millions from us.

◦	Several state schools have to pay the family rent

◦	The family charge us for training our own troops to defend our country on their land. Despite the King being the head of the armed forces, they are cashing in. They refuse to say how much they charge.  They even charge for use of jetties on their shores, eg from where naval vessels set sail

◦	Even the NHS is  not exempt-they say they are “helping the NHS”  . Yes, but it turns out that it is by renting out land eg at Guys and St Thomases for lucrative amounts. All free of corporation tax, naturally, unlike any other company.

◦	Even some local charities and community groups pay them, all the while the RF is promoting them.: “Millions of pounds in rent”, including for MacMillan and Comic relief, of which the former has earned the RF £22 million. 

◦	They have new mining interests, often at odds with environmental campaigners, with potential risks to land, water and animals . 

◦	Many of the homes they rent out are amongst the lowest 14% in the uk in  terms of condition eg mould, cracks, no insulation. They say it “may not be feasible” to comply with UK environmental legislation, even though all other landlords must.

All whilst exempt from the corporation or capital gains tax paid by every other company. They pay some income tax, but they won’t divulge details.

The greed is shocking and breathtaking. I don’t want to hear another word on helping the environment, fixing the climate or eradicating homelessness from their mouths.

No wonder they are so astoundingly, breathtakingly rich.

I think this programme will become a big talking point in coming days.

The PP said that all we have is the RF. Germany etc have places as part of their history, as a nice decoration. Japan has innovated and had a strong economy despite their completely stuck in the past Monarchy.They have other things if they destroyed all their palaces, like technology, industry and innovation. They may be on a downward trajectory as is much of the West but they have moved on since the days of Empire Their palaces aren't their entire existence, as claimed by the PP ( not me). Just because we have a RF doesn't mean we have to be so backward looking and subservient. I dont know how many tax free estates and secret deals to exempt themselves from legislation the Swedish Royals have. I bet it's not thst many.

Agrred @seasmoke
There is certainly a cohort who believe that the UK would be nothing without the Windsors leeching off us . They tend to be people who cling to the ‘ rich man in his castle poor man at his gate’ worldview and who don’t unthinkingly accept the propaganda they’ve been fed since birth .

In reality , the royals are making more from the Firm ( I mean come on - they are telling you what they are !) now than they have for centuries. Previous monarchs paid income tax - even inheritance tax . Once the threat a fate like that of their cousins the Romanovs , faded , they set to ripping off the UK population with gusto .

The people who think all we have are the royals are on to some nugget of truth I think . Because we at some level know we are being made fools of, we know the royals mock us , we know the queen dgaf and paraded Andrew for example while racking in money that would help our poor or aged. All of this makes us less innovative less creative more trapped in our place

The medieval system we still have and which royalists are so proud of leads directly to William being a slumlord and the ripping off of the NHS and other charities - activities which took years of research by a team of journalists to uncover

Think of the ludicrous coronation - those ugly crowns encrusted with jewels stolen from
other countries - two elderly creaky people tottering under their weight. Peaceful protesters arrested .
That’s the UK
Thats why we need reform - start with opening the book on the royal rip offs

I really hate all this criticism and vitriol that seems to have raised its ugly head since the death of the Queen.
Whose is this agenda of encouraging envy, malcontent and jealousy?

Labour would be able to stop attacking working people and businesses if they taxed the royal family. This is absolutely what should be happening. They are essentially a business that is failing to pay anything of any relevance

Here we go it’s the Russians ! Hide !

For Gods sake - this vitriol. As you put it is a result of the Windsors own actions!
you just don’t like the fact that now we know The same things were happening under Elizabeth - people tried to point it out - more are listening now
Nok e forced William to be a slumlord .
No one forced Charles to rip off the very charities he’s ‘ patron ‘ of
And PS there is a lot more to come out

@Womblewife
Yes - a business . They tell us that in plain sight ‘ the firm ‘ what a lark ! How they must laugh

@Ukisgaslit Great post, totally agree. The Royal Family work very hard at raking in more money and holding on to it by omitting paying taxes that their public pay.
I think what really hit home with me was when the Queen applied for a poverty grant to heat the palaces. It was only turned down because Ministers (for once) knew the public backlash would be great. The Queen was told it was for schools, hospitals and housing associations to help low income families. What right minded billionaire would even think of this? That, to me, describes a mindset of the Royals... out for every penny they can get and hanging on to it.

What I do know is... money grows money. Their wealth is spiralling out of control. Every time a Monarch dies, the bulk of their wealth is sent on down to the next one tax free. And so it grows.

Why choose such a negative way of characterising a serious campaign for change?

Republicans want a head of state who embodies accountability, equality and democratic values, which are all very positive characteristics.

Ah. What a shame Queen Camilla has a chest infection this week and can't get out and about.

I have very little time for Camilla but I wouldn't wish ill health on anyone.

I'm not sure why it's a headline news story though.

The story should be that one section of society gets to see a doctor the same or next day, or gets a home visit, but most people have to wait a fortnight or longer for an appointment.

I'm a republican but I wouldn't wish ill health on anyone. That's a nasty comment to make.

I agree

Absolutely infuriating. I have known this for ages but the guardian / ch4 have budlrd up the info really well. Unfortunately many U.K. residents have a bizarre fawning attitude to RF and this will contusion, being eclipsed each time mistress Camilla (a longtime smoker) gets a cough, or some other distraction.

Rest and recuperation. For a chest infection. I guess one might argue Camilla needs to isolate in terms of family members having undergone cancer treatments.

What gets my goat is we, the “subjects” just carry on. We don’t get quick diagnosis and treatment. We have to go to work and get on with it, even with major injuries and ailments. It sickens me, especially in view of the revelations this week about Charles and William taking in money from the NHS and various charities.

I don't think the pp was wishing ill health on her, isn't the point that this "news" is clearly a cynical attempt at deflection?

Again, who would the Royal Family pay tax to? His Majesty's Revenue and Customs?

I don’t think it’s the complexities of working out the payment process that is stopping them
paying tax Oona. If they can’t work it out then I volunteer to join a working group to facilitate their payment.

I see the Royal PR machine is using emotional targeting at us again, trying to negate the response to the C4 Dispatches programme

”William’s Hardest Year”

So predictable and the more they do it, the more we can see through it

It's appalling, but entirely on brand, for them to use cancer as a distraction. They are awful people.

It's a joke that they're trying to play the "we've only just taken on these roles and don't know what's happening" card. They're not a new government, this is the family business.

The whole justification for the lot of them being funded in this lifestyle is that they need to learn it all from the cradle. So which is it? Do they all need to live in palaces so that they can spend decades learning the incredibly complex job of Monarch / Prince of Wales / Duke of York etc, or do they know nothing until the previous one pops their clogs? If the latter, what are we funding these lifestyles for? They can all get jobs and pay for their own private jets until the Monarch slot opens up.

Absolutely. They like to call it 'the family firm' so what are they doing whilst they are waiting for the CEO to pop off? Don't get it.

I don't understand why some people hate the Royals so much.

beacuase we as the public give them millions of pounds each year and can't see what actual use they are ( unless you're happy to give billionaires money so you can coo over their pretty dresses)

Why do you think anyone hates them? I don't hate them as human beings, I dislike the Institution that is the Monarchy and everything it stands for. And they represent that and are shown to be very greedy. That is very different to hating on a personal level.

Yes. I smell,if not panic, at least fear.