Push the Senate to Pass the America Gives More Act - Opinion - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

 Via the Chroincle Push the Senate to Pass the America Gives More Act - Opinion - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: ifteen days. That’s about how much time is left on the legislative calendar before Congress adjourns this year. That’s not much, and it could be all the time nonprofit advocates have left to make sure that an important tax bill designed to encourage charitable giving becomes law.

Risk of Aus Charities Financing Terrorism | Pro Bono Australia

Risk of Aus Charities Financing Terrorism | Pro Bono Australia: The charity regulator has warned that charities may be at risk of having their charitable funds that are sent overseas being diverted or otherwise misused, even if their intentions are in line with their charitable purposes.

The ACNC has called on charities sending money overseas to be vigilant and diligent in dealing with their partner organisations overseas.

How can charities comply with the new lobbying act? | Third Sector

How can charities comply with the new lobbying act? | Third Sector: The Electoral Commission's guidance on the subject has not had a warm reception. Sam Burne James reports

Rick Cohen: In a mid-term election year, charity lands on the agenda | Third Sector

Rick Cohen: In a mid-term election year, charity lands on the agenda | Third Sector: Charitable giving incentives are on the federal government's docket this summer. By mid-September, the US Senate will have to decide whether to follow the Republican-dominated House of Representatives and pass the America Gives More Act. The legislation would extend three expired incentives for donations of food, conservation easements and – perhaps most significantly – donations of money from the retirement accounts of individual taxpayers aged 70 and one half or older.

EU data protection proposals would kill fundraisers’ mailing lists, says report

EU data protection proposals would kill fundraisers’ mailing lists, says report: Proposed EU data protection rules could destroy mailing lists relied on by charity fundraisers, and would present “the biggest challenge in fundraising for a generation”, according to a report published this week by marketing agency Medialab.

The EU has announced plans for a comprehensive reform of data protection rules which will require individuals to give explicit consent before a company or charity can process their personal data. The rules could come into force as early as 2017.

thebahamasweekly.com - Impact of VAT on Charities Clarified by Bahamas Ministry of Finance

thebahamasweekly.com - Impact of VAT on Charities Clarified by Bahamas Ministry of Finance: Representatives of the VAT team of the Ministry of Finance emphasized that services provided by local charities and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that directly relate to charitable activities will be VAT exempt and the VAT programme provides for recouping of some taxes paid on goods for the use of such community services.

Taxes: Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) Reporting Options - Press - AFP

Taxes: Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) Reporting Options - Press - AFP

New 1023-EZ Form Released: Streamlines Process for Eligible Small Charities to Apply for IRC Section 501(c)(3) Tax-Exempt Status and Seek Retroactive Reinstatement | Planned Giving Design Center

New 1023-EZ Form Released: Streamlines Process for Eligible Small Charities to Apply for IRC Section 501(c)(3) Tax-Exempt Status and Seek Retroactive Reinstatement | Planned Giving Design Center: On July 1, 2014, the IRS issued Form 1023-EZ (Streamlined Application for Recognition of Exemption Under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code), along with instructions and a detailed Revenue Procedure (Rev. Proc. 2004-40) that sets forth the rules for the use of the form and an Information Release (IR-2004-77). Beginning immediately, certain eligible smaller charities seeking tax exemption under IRC� 501(c)(3) can use the 3-page Form 1023-EZ to see tax exempt tax from the IRS rather than the lengthy and complicated Form 1023, which is a 26-page form that consists of a 12-page “core form” plus eight potentially-applicable schedules and a checklist. The IRS estimates that up to 70% of new charities will be able to use the Form 1023-EZ, and anticipates that the use of Form 1023-EZ for small charities and the existing Form 1023 for larger charities, will enable the IRS to more quickly process all exemption applications. In its news release accompanying the Form 1023-EZ, the IRS indicates that it currently has more than 60,000 exemption applications in its “backlog,” many of which have been pending for nine months or more.