Landlords Are Trying to Avoid Taxes by Raising Snails in Office Buildings to Get Them Registered as ‘Farms’

At some level, I respect the audacity.

By Braden Bjella

Published 3 weeks ago in Wtf

There’s a new scam in the U.K. being run by landlords. I know what you’re thinking, “Isn’t being a landlord already kind of a scam?” Sure, but I promise you, this is somehow worse.


In short, different types of land are taxed at different rates, and some property owners have tried to exploit that by reclassifying their buildings as farms — specifically, snail farms.


Police in London say that businesses are attempting to avoid paying commercial taxes by designating their buildings as “fish farm / agricultural use” properties, which are exempt. To do this, they’ve placed boxes filled with snails around their building. “Commercial office space? No, this is where I raise my escargot!”


Not only is this problem happening, but it’s becoming more popular. Police have already busted four companies attempting the snail tactic, and they’re currently breaking up two more.


To be clear, officials say that this strategy does not work, and the local city council is currently weighing punishments for those who attempt it. If you really want to be designated as a farm, you’ve got to try harder than snails. Might I suggest bees?

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