A taxing definition — a comment on the industry commission's draft proposals for defining community social welfare organisations

Abstract

The draft report of the Industry Commission's charitable organisations inquiry introduces a new term for nonprofit organisations delivering human services. The new term is "community social welfare organisation" or "CSWO". The report recommends that tax deductibility of donations be extended such organisations. It then hints at making the definition of CSWO a standard criteria for state taxation exemptions. This paper examines the definition of the new term community social welfare organisation and charts its possible consequences if adopted by the federal government. The promise of tax deductibility status to previously shunned organisations is largely illusory. The Commission's aim of simplification through clarification of the definition is flawed and will not reduce the administration costs for the Australian Tax Office (ATO) or organisations.