Tax-deductibility and chaplaincy donations from 1 July 2023

With effect from 1 July 2023, SU Australia will no longer be able to issue tax-deductible receipts for donations made to support the in-school hours of chaplains in public schools.

Prior to this, SU Australia was a named entity in the tax law, which allowed donations to support individual chaplaincy services and specific camps and missions in Queensland to be tax deductible. Following the latest federal budget, the government has advised SU Australia that our specified Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) status will end on 30 June, 2023.

This means that from 1 July 2023 SU Australia will no longer be able to issue tax-deductible receipts for donations made to support a chaplain’s in-school hours. Please note, this does not affect gifts made before this date. It will only apply to gifts made from 1 July 2023 onwards. 

This news does not change the very real need for ongoing financial support for your chaplains who continue to faithfully serve their communities. In fact, in recent years the need for support has only grown more urgent as families have been forced to face such rapid change and ongoing uncertainty. 

It’s in these difficult times, your support has shone the brightest – thank you!

Through your support, together with the wider SU Australia community, you are helping to ensure that your chaplains serving on the frontlines are supported and equipped to journey with children, young people and families in need – thank you!

If you wish to continue receiving a tax-deductible receipt, you can give to the work of SU Australia, including:

• providing special religious education/religious instruction, ISCF groups and SUPA clubs in public schools
• the training and equipping of Christian youth and ministry workers, including new chaplains through our Registered Training Organisation (30548)
• protecting vulnerable children and young people from harm through ChildSafe, and
• building work at SU’s Camp Coolamatong site, where children, young people and families experience Christian community and connection.  

We are exploring other avenues too for the future.

Thank you once again to all our faithful SU community for your heartfelt generosity in helping more children, young people and families discover life!

1. What is the change concerning chaplaincy donations from 1 July 2023 and why? 

From 1 July 2023, donations to support the in-school hours of a chaplaincy service are no longer tax deductible. Please note, this does not impact donations made prior to 1 July 2023. 

The federal government has chosen not to extend SU Australia’s named entity Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR)  status beyond 30 June 2023. This previously allowed us to issue tax deductible receipts for donations to support the in-school hours of chaplains in public schools. 

2. If I give to the overall work of SU Australia will I still get tax deductibility?

Yes, your donation will be tax deductible. SU Australia has a variety of ministry areas and your donation will be used where it is most needed. 

3. What happens to a chaplaincy service if they don’t get enough donations?

If a chaplaincy service currently receives government funding, school contributions or revenue from fundraising, then the chaplain’s hours will reduce to the maximum hours that this funding allows for. If the chaplaincy service is 100% community funded, then the amount of hours of that chaplaincy service will be provided through school contributions, fundraising and non tax-deductible donations.

4. How do I give to a chaplaincy service in need? I want to give to a chaplaincy service/chaplain in need? 

Your donations are still gratefully received to support your chosen chaplaincy service, and they are very much needed. If you wish to support the in-school chaplaincy hours of any chaplaincy service, you can make a non tax-deductible donation through our website to a specific school chaplaincy service.  

5. What happens to the funds we have on hand in our Local Chaplaincy Committee (LCC)/ School Chaplaincy Committee (SCC) or combined LCC/SCC? 

All funds you have on hand that were received prior to 1 July 2023 are available for you to use. Please note that your LCC/SCC can continue to receive donations for your chaplaincy service, but as of 1 July 2023, these donations are no longer tax deductible. 

6. What happens to donations made to a combined LCC/SCC from 1 July 2023?

Your Combined LCC can continue to receive donations for its schools chaplaincy services, but from 1 July 2023, these donations are no longer tax deductible. 

All funds you have on hand that were received prior to 1 July 2023 are available for the Combined LCC/SCC  to use as before.

7. Our LCC/SCC wants to support another LCC/SCC, can we still transfer some of our funds to them? 

Yes, as all donations come under the SU Australia banner. This change has no effect on contributing previously donated funds on hand to support other LCCs/SCCs/chaplaincy services.

8. Does this change affect exempt fringe benefits to chaplains?

No. This change only involves the end of tax deductibility for specific donations for chaplaincy and has no effect on tax-exempt fringe benefits for chaplains.

9. Chaplaincy Fundraising Dinner donations : how are these affected? 

Donations at Chaplaincy Fundraising Dinners are still gratefully received to support your chosen chaplaincy service, and they are very much needed. If you wish to support the in-school chaplaincy hours of any chaplaincy service, these donations will not be tax-deductible from 1 July 2023.

10. Donations for Camping and Missions in Queensland: how are these affected by this latest change? 

Your donations are still gratefully received to support your chosen camp or mission, and they are very much needed. If you wish to support SU’s camping ministry,  or sponsor a child to attend camp, as of 1 July 2023, these donations are no longer tax deductible.