Tax Deductibility of Cross-Border Giving : Australia Gives No Quarter

Australia’s tax law concerning deductibility of gifts to charities imposes one of the highest barriers to cross-border philanthropy in the world. All countries impose some restrictions on tax concessions for foreign donations or activities of charities. However, Australia’s approach is strict compared with the approach of many other countries especially in the European Union. A Bill currently before the Parliament will codify and tighten the existing restrictions. This Working Paper applies Australian tax law to a Case Study prepared for the International Fiscal Association 66th Congress, Boston, 2012 and considers the policy for the strict Australian approach