Trump hit in pocket as Scottish golf resort loses its tax break

Tycoon: Donald Trump A SCOTTISH golf resort owned by US President Donald Trump will no longer qualify for a controversial tax break, it has emerged.

A change in the Scottish Government’s recent budget will remove Trump Turnberry in South Ayrshire from a business rates relief scheme, The Sunday Herald stated.

Finance Secretary Derek Mackay introduced new measures in February to help businesses in the hospitality sector.

The move was in response to growing pressure to intervene to help struggling restaurants and hotels cope with the first revaluation of the rateable value of businesses since 2010.

He faced calls to reform the transitional business rates relief scheme after it emerged in August that Trump Turnberry had benefited to the tune of £109,530 for 2017/18.

In response to a wider review of the business rates system, Mr Mackay announced in September that the transitional scheme would continue next year for “all but the very largest hospitality properties”.

Documents published alongside the draft Scottish budget earlier this month state it will only apply for hospitality properties with a rateable value up to £1.5 million.

According to the Scottish Assessors Association website, Trump Turnberry is now above the cut-off point with a rateable value of £1,650,000.

The Turnberry luxury golf resort, which has staged the Open four times, was bought for £34m in 2014 and renamed by Trump.

Although his son Eric runs the business, the President is the ultimate owner.

His other Scottish golf course in Aberdeenshire did not qualify for relief because it is defined as a golf course rather than a hotel.

A Scottish Government source said: “Companies like the Trump Organisation are well able to manage — and these changes mean the budget is prioritising support for smaller firms which most need help in tough economic conditions.”