Second-Hand Bookshops in Britain: 2024 Report

Post by nobodywillobsrv » Sun, Jan 19, 2025, 7:05 PM UTC

RobotToaster wrote: post #7

jdietrich wrote: post #2

The proliferation of charity and community bookshops is substantially the product of tax policy. Commercial property is taxed at ~50% of the nominal rental value, but charities are substantially or wholly exempt from this tax. Importantly, this tax is owed regardless of whether the property is occupied; for a commercial landlord, it is therefore preferable to lease a unit to a charity at a peppercorn rent if the unit…

I don't see how encouraging charities can be seen as harmful? It would be good if it was extended to organisations like CIC however.

Post by jermaustin1 » Mon, Jan 20, 2025, 12:51 PM UTC

kristianp wrote: post #32

jdietrich wrote: post #2

The proliferation of charity and community bookshops is substantially the product of tax policy. Commercial property is taxed at ~50% of the nominal rental value, but charities are substantially or wholly exempt from this tax. Importantly, this tax is owed regardless of whether the property is occupied; for a commercial landlord, it is therefore preferable to lease a unit to a charity at a peppercorn rent if the unit…

In my country (Australia), charity shops have only a poor book selection and there are no charity book shops. 2nd hand book shops are for profit, although I doubt the profit is very large. Charity shops benefit the shoppers and the donators, who benefit from how easy it is to get rid of their stuff, compared to the alternatives that are time consuming or difficult.