KATE WALSH (PD) SAYS "NO TO VAT FOR CHARITIES"

PRESS RELEASE FROM KATE WALSH (PD), North Kildare

The Progressive Democrat's candidate for North Kildare, Kate Walsh is urging people to log on to www.vatcampaign.com in a bid to stop the unfair taxing of charities. As it stands all charities are liable to pay VAT on the funds that they have raised. Kate has been involved in fund raising and charity work especially for the elderly for many years and feels that it is most unfair that the hard raised funds are then liable to VAT at 21%. The sector pays up to 63 million Euro in VAT each year.

The Progressive Democrats have given a manifesto commitment to the comprehensive reform of the law relating to charities and Kate is committed to protecting against fraud, waste and the abuse of the charitable status.

As part of this process the Progressive Democrats will examine all issues relating to the tax and treatment of charities, including the payment of VAT by charitable organisations. The Progressive Democrats have committed themselves to ensuring that this question is addressed by the Tax Strategy Group in the run-up to Budget 2003. This is the Expert group which advises government on taxation policy in the months leading up to the delivery of the budget.

After over thirty years of actively supporting charitable organizations and fundraising, Kate has firmly endorsed this campaign and strongly urges others to do the same. Speaking in Celbridge today Kate said that; "I am one hundred percent committed to the abolition of VAT on charities, this levy being forced on charities is crippling and does not indicate fair play. Surely this money would be much better spent on those who need it most!

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