[Gayle]

Originally Posted by garinda

Although our government have said they will do everything in their power to help to find Madeline McCann, they have decided not to give the trust set up in her name charitable status, thus meaning that thousands of pounds will go into Treasury coffers, instead of helping the cause. This is in the country that allows all private schools to have charitable status, and the tax breaks that come with it.

Disgraceful.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/new...cle1814156.ece

The trust can have charitable status if it applies to be a charity. It is not currently a charity from what I understand. Should it apply there is absolutely no reason why it would be refused a charity status. Once it becomes a charity it will then automatically have tax relief. If however, the trust decides not to apply to make it a charity then there is no reason why the government should arbitarily just award it tax relief. What the government has actually said is that it will not give it charitable status without it being a charity.