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