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