Thanks for the additional context John/Alex. Do you remember when the decision was made on charitable status? Sounds like I should review some of that work first so I don't ask questions that have been answered already.
Companies/individuals spend a lot of money optimising company structure for financial gain, so it can get quite complicated. The allure of saving ~>$1000 and encouraging tax deductible donations is appealing. On Mon, 15 Mar 2021 at 23:20, Alex Leith <alexgle...@gmail.com> wrote: > Hey Folks > > We did look into charitable status, and I was talking to someone else > about this the other day. > > The issue with being a charitable organisation is that it does enable > people to donate money to us without them paying tax on it (tax deductible > donations), but it limits what we can spend that money on. For example, we > could not spend the money on travel grants. > > So it was agreed that it's not worth getting charitable status. We can > look into it, and I have a colleague who is doing a leadership program with > me who has more experience, so I can talk to him more about it. I am not > convinced that it's worth the effort, though. > > Cheers, > > On Tue, 16 Mar 2021 at 17:06, John Bryant <johnwbry...@gmail.com> wrote: > >> Hi Ed, responding here because I can't post to the board list, but I can >> provide a bit of background that may help. >> >> In March 2019, we did a review of options for forming an entity [1], >> comparing the pros & cons of an association vs a company limited by >> guarantee, and some other options as well. >> >> The key disadvantage of registering as an incorporated association was >> that it meant registering in a single state, which would require that at >> least one officer/director live in that state, which felt problematic for >> an org that aims to operate internationally. >> >> There were also concerns about whether we could undertake activities >> outside Australia as a state-based association, but I believe there are >> some organisations similar to OO that operate like this, so it may be >> possible. >> >> At the time, I met with someone who was involved in setting up GovHack >> and he strongly recommended the CLG model, based on their experience. >> >> Our recommendation was (in part): "A CLG is better suited to our >> requirement to operate, and draw membership & leadership from, across >> Oceania." >> >> We underestimated the annual filing fee by quite a bit... we hoped that >> we could gain Special Purpose Company status, with the intent of reducing >> annual fees. We revived the discussion about SPC status in May 2020, when >> the annual fee came due, but were advised by Macquarie Accountants that we >> wouldn't be eligible. >> >> The question of charitable status also came up at the same time. There >> was a suggestion that the Finance Committee could follow up on this but I >> don't know if that ever happened. >> >> Anyway, the March 2019 proposal doc is worth a read, it has a fairly >> detailed breakdown of the options, based on what we knew at the time. >> >> Cheers >> John >> >> [1] >> https://docs.google.com/document/d/1LCoaNY9xACkpE_E1pTn3pGkNV41rqmoK5QkKl2FAfwY >> >> >> >> On Tue, 16 Mar 2021 at 12:37, Edoardo Neerhut <eneer...@gmail.com> wrote: >> >>> That's crazy Greg. Checking Xero and it seems we paid a similar amount >>> last year. ~$1,450. >>> >>> Looking at this very superficially, it looks like an incorporated >>> association >>> <https://www.consumer.vic.gov.au/clubs-and-fundraising/incorporated-associations/fees-and-forms> >>> is a far cheaper option. Do any of you recall some of the merits of >>> registering as a company limited by guarantee and why this was chosen as >>> our preferred model? >>> >>> On Mon, 15 Mar 2021 at 20:11, Greg Lauer <gregory.la...@gmail.com> >>> wrote: >>> >>>> I think it is time that we review our legal structure. We are now >>>> paying $1500/year just in admin fees to ASIC. That is before accounting >>>> costs etc. >>>> >>>> Greg >>>> >>>> On 3/16/2021 1:02:50 PM, Belinda Hippel <bhip...@macqacc.com.au> wrote: >>>> >>>> Hi Directors >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> Please find attached the ASIC Industry Funding Levy, which is due for >>>> payment on 23rd April 2021. >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> Regards >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> *Belinda Hippel* >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> [image: MA Letterhead_Temp Art 2012-05-30.png][image: >>>> xero-certified-advisor-logo-hires-RGB] >>>> >>>> Level 2, 18 Elizabeth Street Hobart Tasmania 7000 >>>> >>>> Postal: GPO Box 92 Hobart Tasmania 7001 >>>> >>>> Telephone: (03) 6224 6400 >>>> >>>> Facsimile: (03) 6224 6401 >>>> >>>> Email: bhip...@macqacc.com.au >>>> >>>> Web: www.macqacc.com.au >>>> >>>> [image: facebook] >>>> <http://www.facebook.com/macquarieaccounting>[image: >>>> LinkedIn] <http://au.linkedin.com/company/macquarie-accounting-pty-ltd> >>>> >>>> WARNING - This email and any of its attachments may be confidential. If >>>> received in error, please delete immediately and notify Macquarie >>>> Accounting by return email. >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> _______________________________________________ >>> Oceania-Board mailing list >>> oceania-bo...@lists.osgeo.org >>> https://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/oceania-board >>> >> _______________________________________________ >> Oceania mailing list >> Oceania@lists.osgeo.org >> https://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/oceania >> > > > -- > Alex Leith > m: 0419189050 >
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