ScanIAm wrote:
bishfish wrote:
Cybermagellan wrote: If I am correct...the B&M Gates Foundation has a value of $20 Billion....that's $20 Billion less Bill has to claim at the end of the year.


This sort of reasoning is just so much nonsense - Bill either gives $20Billion to charity or pays $20Billion to the rapacious jaws of the taxman - either way Bill is down $20 Billion - which option has the greatest benefit to the world at large?


1) he didn't donate $20Bil this year. 
2) there is a limit to how much you can donate to offset taxes. 
3) even though it sometimes seems opposite, taxes are actually used for good things. 

Using charity to 'not pay taxes' is quite a selfish choice.  You are essentially saying that the general welfare of society is less important than some random cause you came up with.  Tax money is used for a number of things that you could not do without.

I can't stand it when people complain about paying too much tax.  As if they don't deserve to do their fair share for society.

Donate money, but don't do it for the tax reasons.


I agree with you, which is why I finished with a question mark.

I agree especially and specifically with your final comment. I believe that Bill, and too many other large donors are labelled as donating for tax dodging. My piont was if they were doing it for that reason the money outlayed is much the same, so why bother?

Yes we need taxes for the all that Govts spend money on (good and bad Smiley , but donations can help fill in the gaps in  Govt spending.

I think all people who donate to good causes deserve our congratulation, not depracation, whether it is $2 or $2billion.