ATO to take 4 additional DGR registers
If the reform of the deductible gift recipient register passes parliament it will bring four auxiliary lists in line with the 48 already under the Tax Office.
The ATO will be responsible for four additional deductible gift recipient (DGR) registers if a recently introduced reform passes parliament.
The reform, which was introduced as legislative amendments as part of the Treasury Laws Amendment (Refining and Improving Our Tax System Bill), would see four auxiliary categories of DGRs come under the responsibility of the ATO in line with the other 48 categories.
Treasury released draft legislation for public consultation in late January, which included the Deductible Gift Recipient Registers Reform measure.
The four registers involved:
- Register of Cultural Organisations, currently administered by the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts.
- Register of Environmental Organisations, administered by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.
- Register of Harm Prevention Charities, administered by the Department of Social Services.
- The Overseas Aid Gift Deductibility Scheme, administered by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
If the reform is enacted into law the ATO would have the responsibility for assessing eligibility for these four unique DGR categories.
Treasury said the intention was to make all DGR categories consistent in administration, reduce red tape and simplify the application process for those organisations seeking DGR status.
This amendment was originally proposed in December 2017 when the government announced reforms of the administration and oversight of organisations with DGR status.
At the time it aimed to strengthen governance arrangements, reduce administrative complexity and ensure trust and confidence in the sector.
The two major elements of the reform included requiring non-government organisations that wished to be endorsed as a DGR to be registered as a charity with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) and transferring the administration of four DGR registers to the ATO and ACNC.