Further to my email about ads on Wikipedia, I want to point out some concerns I have about the current Wikimedia fundraising drive too.
Why haven't tax professionals been consulted to specify exactly what the tax-deductibility status donations to Wikipedia have in the top donor countries? It should be found out and explictly specified on the home page. I for one won't donate without knowing my donation is tax-deductible in Australia. And if, for instance, it did say "tax deductible in Australia" Aussies *would* notice it instantly seriously consider donating!
In fact, if the answer for Australia or Canada or Sweden or whatever is "not deductible" then Wikipedia should make a request for Wikipedians in those countries to form local chapters to obtain the NGO/charity status. This wouldn't just help Wikimedia out by generating more revenue, but create a stronger Wikipedian community outside US and central Europe.
Lisa
Lisa Thurston wrote:
Further to my email about ads on Wikipedia, I want to point out some concerns I have about the current Wikimedia fundraising drive too.
Why haven't tax professionals been consulted to specify exactly what the tax-deductibility status donations to Wikipedia have in the top donor countries? It should be found out and explictly specified on the home page. I for one won't donate without knowing my donation is tax-deductible in Australia. And if, for instance, it did say "tax deductible in Australia" Aussies *would* notice it instantly seriously consider donating!
In fact, if the answer for Australia or Canada or Sweden or whatever is "not deductible" then Wikipedia should make a request for Wikipedians in those countries to form local chapters to obtain the NGO/charity status. This wouldn't just help Wikimedia out by generating more revenue, but create a stronger Wikipedian community outside US and central Europe.
We discussed this on foundation-l in August. See this post and the rest of the thread:
http://mail.wikipedia.org/pipermail/foundation-l/2005-August/003884.html
If my reading of the ATO website is correct, donations to Wikimedia are not tax deductible in Australia. In fact, donations to any entity which primarily aims to maintain an international website will not be considered tax-deductible in Australia, whether the organisation is based in Australia or not. This is because the activities being supported are not "in Australia", and they don't qualify under either of the exception categories. See http://tinyurl.com/c3rdc under "What does in Australia mean".
Sorry to disappoint you, but you'll have to pay your taxes even if you do give money to Wikimedia.
-- Tim Starling
Tim Starling wrote:
Lisa Thurston wrote:
Why haven't tax professionals been consulted to specify exactly what the tax-deductibility status donations to Wikipedia have in the top donor countries? It should be found out and explictly specified on the home page. I for one won't donate without knowing my donation is tax-deductible in Australia. And if, for instance, it did say "tax deductible in Australia" Aussies *would* notice it instantly seriously consider donating!
In fact, if the answer for Australia or Canada or Sweden or whatever is "not deductible" then Wikipedia should make a request for Wikipedians in those countries to form local chapters to obtain the NGO/charity status. This wouldn't just help Wikimedia out by generating more revenue, but create a stronger Wikipedian community outside US and central Europe.
We discussed this on foundation-l in August. See this post and the rest of the thread:
http://mail.wikipedia.org/pipermail/foundation-l/2005-August/003884.html
If my reading of the ATO website is correct, donations to Wikimedia are not tax deductible in Australia. In fact, donations to any entity which primarily aims to maintain an international website will not be considered tax-deductible in Australia, whether the organisation is based in Australia or not. This is because the activities being supported are not "in Australia", and they don't qualify under either of the exception categories. See http://tinyurl.com/c3rdc under "What does in Australia mean".
Sorry to disappoint you, but you'll have to pay your taxes even if you do give money to Wikimedia.
From what you quote from the ATO there is certainly plenty of room for Australian tax deductibility. It all depends on getting the homework done correctly, particularly in how the Australian chapter(s) is legally structured. Having funds spent in Australia instead of sending the funds to the US would be important.
That's probably not very different from our situation in Canada. Don't expect the deductions to be available quickly in either country.
Ec
Lisa Thurston wrote:
Why haven't tax professionals been consulted to specify exactly what the tax-deductibility status donations to Wikipedia have in the top donor countries? It should be found out and explictly specified on the home page. I for one won't donate without knowing my donation is tax-deductible in Australia. And if, for instance, it did say "tax deductible in Australia" Aussies *would* notice it instantly seriously consider donating!
In fact, if the answer for Australia or Canada or Sweden or whatever is "not deductible" then Wikipedia should make a request for Wikipedians in those countries to form local chapters to obtain the NGO/charity status. This wouldn't just help Wikimedia out by generating more revenue, but create a stronger Wikipedian community outside US and central Europe.
The natural preumption in regards to tax deductibility is that unless it is clearly stated that something is deductible it isn't.
I can speak foor the Canadian situation. In current circumstances these donations are not now deductible except to the extent that the person has US source income. Even if we were to to have a formal Canadian shapter, it will be a couple of years befor the donations can be made tax deductible.
Ec
Lisa Thurston wrote:
Further to my email about ads on Wikipedia, I want to point out some concerns I have about the current Wikimedia fundraising drive too.
Why haven't tax professionals been consulted to specify exactly what the tax-deductibility status donations to Wikipedia have in the top donor countries? It should be found out and explictly specified on the home page. I for one won't donate without knowing my donation is tax-deductible in Australia. And if, for instance, it did say "tax deductible in Australia" Aussies *would* notice it instantly seriously consider donating!
Why have not tax professional been consulted?
Who says they have not ? In the current situation, it is pretty simple. The Foundation is a USA based organisation. We are working in being registered in all USA states. Having funds given to a *USA* organisation leading to tax exemption in say Spain... is a bit of a dream I fear...
Several local chapters have already been set up, so that tax exemption of donations to some of these local chapters is now possible (such as in Germany and France).
In fact, if the answer for Australia or Canada or Sweden or whatever is "not deductible" then Wikipedia should make a request for Wikipedians in those countries to form local chapters to obtain the NGO/charity status. This wouldn't just help Wikimedia out by generating more revenue, but create a stronger Wikipedian community outside US and central Europe.
I see not how *Wikipedia* should make a request for a local chapter in say Canada. Who is Wikipedia here ? On the other hand, several chapters are currently under discussion : one in netherlands, one in switzerland, one in England and I saw other discussions (I think in Canada is the case). But this is to Wikipedians to take their future in their hands and to create associations. This is not a top down decision. *Wikipedia* can not say "please, guys, create a chapter in China". Only local editors can decide this.
The Foundation is helping this however, first in setting up an official position, chapter Coordinator, who is Delphine Ménard (notafish) who you can contact anytime to help, second in setting up a budget and rules to help start new chapters (I proposed myself these rules for chapter creation budget), third in having a internal mailing list and internal wiki as well as OTRS email address to try to handle chapter creation.
You are welcome any time to get involved in this; this is totally open. Just contact us to see how we can help. And this is correct, local chapters will help much to sustain our goals.
cheers
ant
Lisa _______________________________________________ WikiEN-l mailing list WikiEN-l@Wikipedia.org To unsubscribe from this mailing list, visit: http://mail.wikipedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikien-l