Snail farm in Liverpool office sparks tax avoidance probe
Snail farm in Liverpool office sparks tax avoidance probe
City leaders claim the "agricultural use" of the office is a "tactic" to avoid paying business rates.
A city centre office building has been home to a snail farm for more than a year, in what council bosses allege is an attempt to avoid tax.
About 15 covered crates - containing as few as two snails each - have been kept on the lower ground floor of 9 Dale Street, in Liverpool, since 2023.
Under current law, this could qualify as "agricultural use" and this part of the building would arguably be exempt from business rates.
The firm renting the space said it was a legitimate snail farming operation.
The company, Snai1 Primary Products 2023 Ltd, shares its sole director, Terence Ball, with a company called BoyceBrook based in Ribchester, Lancashire.
BoyceBrook’s website says its team "has a proven track record of minimising the liability for empty property rates" and describes the company as the "Canceller of the Exchequer".
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Each crate contains two snails, according to L’Escargotiere, another company operated by Mr Ball, also based in Ribchester.
Its website says the number of snails per crate is kept to a minimum to avoid "cannibalism, group sex and snail orgies".
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Shouls be easy to prove: If the earnings from selling snails is lower than the costs, it should be quite clear that this is just tax avoidance.
Can't help but wonder why there is a probe. Tax avoidance is perfectly legal.
And honestly, running a negative profit company is not really an effective solution. It's basically giving money away, so avoiding tax by not having any money.
Unless the person has some personal interest in snails. And in that case. Cool for him that has no moral issue. Non-profit companies are a common way of funding a charitable(ish) venture and perfectly legal.
It is more likely to be an evasion/criminal activity probe. IE, snails ain't what he is really selling.
Because doing crap like this is how the rich avoid paying their fair share of taxes.
And yes running it a loss is a legitimate thing:
- Open up subsidiary company that you know/think will operate at a loss or near loss
- Use the negative profit to offset positive profit from another subsidiary (main operations for example)
- Parent company now has lower NET Profit!! Thus paying less in taxes since your "income" is now much lower than it was before.
- Laugh at the taxman because you just got away with stealing from your countrymen
That's just an off the cuff example, obviously it can be a little more complicated depending on the jurisdiction
In the UK it is not a crime to avoid tax. Nor most places.
The fact the tittle says its a.probe for avoidebce. Is the question im asking.
Evation is a crime.
Definition wise Avoidence is what every britt with a IRA style savings account is doing.
This company is claiming openly and legally that running a snail farm is a way to avoid paying local buisness rates. As they do not apply to farming.
My comment about morals was based on the comment claiming it not being profitable is evidence. There is no crime in running an unprofitable company. And theor are many moral reasons to do so.
The reson for this is identified in the article. And is def avoidence.
Ill also add. While I have no sympathy for commercial landlords. The companies are in danger atm as UK high streets are not able to rent property.
Buisness rates are not based on profit. They are based on the building.
If a company has loads of empty not earning buildings. At a time where they are not renting or selling well(at all)
Its really not imoral for that comany to look at ways to reduce fuxed costs.