Notice Board - News

How non-profits can help donors claim their tax credits

Office for the Community and Voluntary Sector (OCVS),

Anyone who makes a donation of $5 or more to an approved ‘donee' organisation can claim a tax credit from Inland Revenue - provided the claim is supported by a valid receipt.

If you're a donee organisation, now is a good time to consider how your receipts measure up. Will your contributors be able to quickly make a successful claim at the end of the financial year?

You can help them by issuing valid receipts. These must have:

• the date the receipt is issued
• the donor's full name
• the amount donated
• confirmation that the payment was a donation
• the signature of an authorised person
• the official stamp of the donee organisation (not needed if the receipt is printed on the organisation's official letterhead).

It's a good idea to make sure the name of your organisation appearing on your receipts matches the name recorded in Inland Revenue's list of donee organisations. Consistent use of your name will help Inland Revenue's checking process, and may result in your contributor getting their tax credit sooner.

Including your organisation's IRD number and/or Charities Commission registration number on the receipt will also help speed the process up. (An example receipt is pictured in the document below.)

See more guidance from IRD, including tips for schools: http://www.ocvs.govt.nz/documents/work-pragramme/promoting-generosity/ird-advice-on-donor-receipts.doc (Word document, 328 Kb).

Contact person	OCVS
Postal address
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Website address	http://www.ocvs.govt.nz/
Submitted by	Ns