Hi ceili,

In the UK it is not uncommon to hear any donations being asked to include a charity tax relief statement with them. It entitles the normal sales taxes to be claimed back on donations.

I have several times sat through service meetings where they ask for donations to be paid in a direct debit!!! Every month so they only have to sign one tax exempt donation letter.

They called it "taking advantage of Satan's unrighteous riches"

Everyone laughed of course :-\

Curiously enough, after an amazing service I went to at St Paul cathedral in London, they passed the plate around. I had heard a world class choir and been amazed at the opulence of the place. No mention of tax relief, just a donation. A few people had money in bags with a tax relief statement pinned to it, but it wasn't preached from the pulpit.