There are many worthy causes trying to help vulnerable South Africans in this time of national crisis. Supporting these initiatives is of course absolutely the right thing to do, and the only note of caution to be sounded before you make a donation is this – if you are approached by an organisation claiming to be a genuine NPO (Non-Profit Organisation) or PBO (Public Benefit Organisation), undertake some due diligence before committing to anything.
We show you how to check that anyone soliciting donations is on the level, we discuss the question of tax-deductibility (with a special mention of The Solidarity Fund’s enhanced PBO status), and we share some thoughts on creating a formal “giving policy”.
There is usually an upsurge in giving when there is a severe crisis. COVID-19 is no exception – witness the outpouring of help for vulnerable people who face lockdown without income or food.
This reaction is to be admired as it affirms our humanity, but it is worth doing some due diligence on who you are giving to, especially considering the sudden spate of NPOs (Non-Profit Organisations) and people soliciting donations and assuring you that whatever you give is either tax exempt or tax–deductible as they are a PBO (Public Benefit Organisation).
It is easy to verify these claims
Although it is not mandatory to register as an NPO, virtually all non-profit organisations do so as it shows a commitment to the spirit of altruism and good governance required of such organisations. NPOs are under the jurisdiction of the Department of Social Development (DSD) and it is a quick process to check if an NPO is registered here by typing in the box the name of the NPO.
Many of these NPOs are also PBOs which are usually registered with SARS to enable you as donor to claim the tax allowances available, and can be verified on the SARS website.
Other due diligence
Ask the NPO to give you proof that the money you are giving is going to where the NPO promises. This is a standard requirement – Foundations that give to NPOs require that they report back verifying not only that the money was correctly spent, but also showing the impact this giving has had on the targeted individuals and communities.
When you make a donation to a section 18A registered PBO, they must issue you with a prescribed certificate that SARS will require you to submit when you claim the deduction in your tax return. The certificate also verifies that the donation will only be used for certain purposes as prescribed by law and approved by SARS.
Formalise your giving
Instead of donating to causes on an ad-hoc basis, why not have a “giving policy”? Establish how much you are prepared to donate and the causes you want to support. Many companies are now encouraging their staff to donate to good causes.
To do this, an understanding of tax legislation is important –
Donations tax
A company will not incur donations tax for the first R10 000 per annum in donations and an individual R100 000 per annum – any amounts over the company or individual limit are taxed at 20%.
Note that you cannot claim a tax deduction for any donations tax you pay in this regard.
PBOs
Over and above this, SARS allows both registered and non-registered NPOs that meet the legal criteria in the Income Tax Act to register as a PBO. One advantage of being a PBO is that individuals or companies will not be subject to donations tax on their donations to the PBO even for amounts over the limits set out above.
To also get a tax deduction, check that the PBO is registered in terms of section 18A of the Income Tax Act – only those PBOs which are additionally approved by SARS in terms of section 18A can also issue donation tax receipts for donations received. Donors can then deduct up to 10% of their taxable income (for individuals, adjusted for retirement lump sums and severance pay) from donations to PBOs on assessment of their taxes. Note that SARS will require presentation of a valid donations tax receipt from the donor to claim the deduction. Should the individual or company have given more than 10% of their taxable income in one year, then the excess over 10% can be carried over to the next year. Thus, you get favourable tax treatment by donating to PBOs.
Staff can also get tax relief on their PAYE through “payroll giving” whereby the employer donates on their behalf up to 5% of the employee’s remuneration (adjusted for pension and RAF contributions) to qualifying section 18A PBOs. The donation will then be reflected on the employee’s IRP5 at the end of the year and the PBO will issue a section 18A receipt to the employer as proof.
Having a company–wide giving campaign will forge closer links with employees, as this is something all the staff can be involved in and buy into.
There are intricacies to this aspect of tax, so consult your accountant.
The Solidarity Fund
This fund has been set up as a COVID-19 relief fund and has PBO and section 18A status which has been enhanced to allow taxpayers donating to it to claim 20% of their taxable income as a deduction. There will thus be a limit of 10% for any qualifying donations (including donations to the Solidarity Fund in excess of its specific limit) and an additional 10% for donations to the Solidarity Fund. Where staff elect to do “payroll giving”, employers can deduct up to either 33% for 3 months during 1 April to 1 July 2020 or 16,6% over 6 months during 1 April to 1 September 2020 for the 2021 tax year, of employees’ remuneration, when staff donate to the Solidarity Fund. The same rules apply in terms of section 18A certificates as covered above – make sure that you will get a section 18A receipt.
Having a policy of giving leads to more consistent and larger flows of funds to non-profit entities. Not only does this help the less fortunate communities, but it makes our society (and therefore our businesses) more sustainable.
This article is a general information sheet and should not be used or relied upon as professional advice. No liability can be accepted for any errors or omissions nor for any loss or damage arising from reliance upon any information herein. Always contact your financial adviser for specific and detailed advice. Errors and omissions excepted (E&OE)
