1. Getting your house in order
Preparing your NFP for an ATO audit
For an electronic copy of this presentation with hyperlinks see the Corney & Lind Legal Resource Centre
June 2009 – CMA Conference

2. We’re Endorsed – we’re safe … or not …
Endorsement ≠ entitled to it
Endorsement focus 1 July 2000 – Mid 2007 = getting everyone on the register
Generally => Application = Endorsement (during that period)
Applications were not robustly examined by the ATO
16 February, 2019
Attentive | Careful | Integrity

3. Self Assessment trumps Endorsement
Tax system = Self assessment system
Voluntary Compliance
Being translated = Out-sourcing the cost of compliance
Even if we’ve endorsed you, its up to you to be satisfied that we have got that right
Condition of endorsement = regular self audit => are we still entitled to our endorsement?
16 February, 2019
Attentive | Careful | Integrity

4. Regular / Annual Self-audit
ATO recommends annually
What are your current Endorsements? Business Entry Point
ATO provides self-audit tools
Worksheets Income tax guide for non-profit organisations (NAT 7967)
Worksheet 1 – working out your organisation’s income tax status – do you have the correct endorsement?
Worksheet 2 – reviewing your organisation’s endorsement as an income tax exempt charity – if the correct endorsement – are you still entitled to it?
An online self-assessment tool to help work out if your organisation is still entitled to endorsement as an income tax exempt charity (better to use Worksheet 2)
Records of self-assessment must be kept as they will be called for as part of a review or an audit
16 February, 2019
Attentive | Careful | Integrity

5. Getting your house in order Tip # 1 = Annual Self Audit
Worksheets should be tabled annually to the Board of your NFP organisation
The conclusion of the Worksheets should be noted in the minutes
Advice should be sought if any areas of uncertainty
The date for the next self-audit should be noted and the process repeated at that time
16 February, 2019
Attentive | Careful | Integrity

6. An example of an incorrect Endorsement
Local Church – TCC Charitable Institution
Trustee Property Company ≠ TCC Charitable Institution
Usually the Trust should be endorsed as a Charitable Fund
16 February, 2019
Attentive | Careful | Integrity

7. Why audit the NFP sector?
ATO:
“Some members of the community are questioning how broad the concept of a charity is and the extent to which they can engage in non-charitable activity and still be regarded as solely charitable. As a result, we are seeing an increase in litigation and are looking for guidance from the courts on this point.” (August 2008)
16 February, 2019
Attentive | Careful | Integrity

8. How will an ATO audit start and what will it look like?
Endorsement Review
The ATO will write to you seeking certain information
If that information is promptly provided and the ATO is satisfied that you have the correct endorsement & are entitled to it, generally nothing further happens
Is an annual self-audit still required then? Yes
If you fail the Endorsement Review – a full audit will usually follow
16 February, 2019
Attentive | Careful | Integrity

9. ATO Endorsement Reviews – what will the ATO ask for?
Constitutant documents (Constitution)
Detailed Statement of Activities
Accounts (to be consistent with the Statement of Activities)
Bank Account details (and statements)
Group Structure Summary
Summary of how funds move within the Group (esp. in relation to DGR funds)
Copies of your annual self-audit Worksheets
16 February, 2019
Attentive | Careful | Integrity

10. Attentive | Careful | Integrity
Getting your house in order Tip # 2 = Have Endorsement review info ready to go
Does your Constitution reflect how you are operating?
Do the “objects” in your Constitution adequately describe your purposes?
Do you have a Group Structure Summary?
Do you have a policy about the movement of funds within the group? (esp. DGR funds)
16 February, 2019
Attentive | Careful | Integrity

11. Areas of ATO focus (for NFP’s)
“… [A]rrangements that seek to abuse the concessional status of charities and DGR’s, including arrangements that seek to manipulate access to the GST concessions.” (e.g. use of charities for private benefit)
“… [C]omplaints by employees and contractors concerning insufficient superannuation guarantee contributions or not being offered a choice of superannuation fund.”
School or College Building Funds (TR 96/8)
Changes in activities after endorsement. “In we expect to review 145 targeted cases to determine if the organisations remain eligible for [Endorsement] ….”
Commercial Activities (post Word Investments)
Institutional test
16 February, 2019
Attentive | Careful | Integrity

12. Getting your house in order Tip # 3 = Have and follow DGR fund rules
Esp. regarding School or College Building Funds
Maintaining the Gift Fund & limits on use (for purposes of gift fund only)
Separate bank account
Record keeping
Receipts
Responsible committee
Winding up
If there are internal group payments (e.g. rent) – make sure they are on commercial terms
16 February, 2019
Attentive | Careful | Integrity

13. Commercial activities – post Word Investments
ATO – Decision Impact Statement (26 May 2009)
An entity can be a charitable institution even if it does not directly carry on the charitable activities, but careful analysis of objects is required
Activities in Australia? Amending legislation is coming.
Watch this space – “The Government intends to await the outcome of the Henry Review into Australia’s future tax system and the Productivity Commission’s inquiry into the contribution of the not-for-profit sector before responding further to the Courts decision.” (Assistant Treasurer, 12 May 2009)
16 February, 2019
Attentive | Careful | Integrity

14. Attentive | Careful | Integrity
Getting your house in order Tip # 4 = Take advice if commercial activities are in a separate entity
Consider objects
Consider connection with Australia
Consider consolidation (re-adoption of orphaned activities)
16 February, 2019
Attentive | Careful | Integrity

15. Institutional test – for smaller organisations / ministries
Factors to determine if an “organisation” is an “institution”:
The legal structure, including the constitution clothes it with the character of either an unincorporated association or a corporation.
Even incorporation, on its own, is not enough for an organisation to be an institution.
Its governance and legal control is sufficiently broad-based to provide a notion of public accountability.
An organisation established, controlled or operated by family members and friends would never normally be an Institution.
A broader membership group with some from of legal accountability by its Board of Governance would be involved.
An analysis of the activities of the organisation including the way in which expenditure is authorised and general control in decision making is exercised.
16 February, 2019
Attentive | Careful | Integrity

16. Attentive | Careful | Integrity
Getting your house in order Tip # 5 = if small, take advice on how to get more squarely in the “institution” space
Broaden board outside family and close friends / associates
Broaden membership outside family and close friends / associates
Rule of thumb = principal promoter has to loose control
Develop and follow policies for the Executive to follow in the authorisation of expenditure
16 February, 2019
Attentive | Careful | Integrity

17. Getting your house in order Tips
Tip # 1 = Annual Self Audit
Tip # 2 = Have Endorsement review info ready to go
Tip # 3 = Have and follow DGR fund rules
Tip # 4 = Take advice if commercial activities are in a separate entity
Tip # 5 = if small, take advice on how to get more squarely in the “institution” space
16 February, 2019
Attentive | Careful | Integrity

18. Attentive | Careful | Integrity
Contact details
Andrew Lind Ph
For an electronic copy of this presentation with hyperlinks see the Corney & Lind Legal Resource Centre
Our areas of practice:
Not for Profit | Commercial | Property | Employment | IP
Estate Planning | Wills | Trusts | Estate Litigation
Dispute Resolution | Litigation
16 February, 2019
Attentive | Careful | Integrity