GEN004.2—Relief of poverty

1. The various state taxation statutes¹ administered by the Office of State Revenue each provide exemptions, in certain specified circumstances, from the relevant state taxes for organisations, which qualify as exempt institutions. For the Payroll Tax Act 1971 and the Land Tax Act 1915 the term used is exempt charitable institution.
2. Each relevant statute defines exempt institutions² (or exempt charitable institutions for the payroll tax and land tax purposes) with reference to a number of specific categories of organisations covering educational, religious and public benevolent activities. Also an institution may qualify if its principal object or pursuit is the fulfilling of a charitable object or promotion of the public good³ (not being an object or pursuit that is a sporting, recreational, leisure or social pursuit or object or an object or pursuit declared by a regulation).
3. This Public Ruling explains the Commissioner’s view of when organisations are exempt institutions (or exempt charitable institutions) on the basis that their principal object or pursuit is the relief of poverty.
4. The terms of each relevant statute must also be satisfied if an institution which qualifies as an exempt institution (or exempt charitable institution) is to obtain exemption from the relevant state taxes.
5. Public Ruling GEN003—Exempt institutions and exempt charitable institutions sets out the Commissioner’s approach to determining whether an institution qualifies as an exempt institution (or exempt charitable institution). This Public Ruling should be read in conjunction with that ruling.

Relief of poverty

6. Relief of poverty is not confined to the relief of destitution by providing the mere necessities of life but relates to relieving distress occasioned by lack of money, that is, of those who would otherwise go short.
7. Relief of poverty may be achieved in more than one way. The method of providing relief is immaterial. Examples range from the direct gift of money to the provision of soup kitchens and nursing homes for persons of moderate means. A direct cash contribution is not required.
8. Relief connotes need of some sort such as the need for a home.
9. There must be an element of bounty but it does not follow that the recipients must not be obliged to contribute to what is provided.
10. Poverty is a relative concept and regard may be had to the status in life of the beneficiary.
11. An institution devoted exclusively to those who cannot be classed as poor will not qualify.
12. No specific reference to poverty is necessary. If the conclusion is that the relief of poverty is meant, an institution may qualify.
13. Relief of poverty may be restricted to a locality. This includes the poor of particular towns, religious denominations or specified institutions as well as classes of groups within the community such as victims of a disaster and employees of a specified firm.
    

Provision of housing as relief of poverty

14. The provision of long term or short term housing to persons who are, by community standards, of limited means and receive low income may qualify the institution as being engaged in the relief of poverty or qualify the organisation as a charitable organisation.⁴
15. The following factors are not disqualifying factors:
    1. the possibility those persons given leases might stay on the premises after acquiring more substantial means
    2. the fact that not all tenants meet the criteria for public housing.
       

16. This Public Ruling takes effect from 30 June 2009. 

 

David Smith
Commissioner of State Revenue
Date of issue 3 July 2009

Public Ruling	Issued	Dates of effect
		From	To
GEN004.2	3 July 2009	30 June 2009	Current
GEN004.1	24 February 2009	24 February 2009	29 June 2009
Supersedes Revenue Ruling G 3.3	1 July 2005	1 July 2005	23 February 2009