ATO ID 2005/243: GST and the timing of choice to treat a fund-raising event as an input taxed fund-raising event
Date of decision: 12 April 2005
Business line: Indirect Tax

Issue
Is the entity, an endorsed charitable institution, required to make its choice to treat supplies made in connection with a fund-raising event as input taxed under section 40-160 of the A New Tax System (Goods and Services Tax) Act 1999 (GST Act) prior to making the first supply in connection with the event?

Decision
Yes, the entity is required to make its choice to treat supplies made in connection with a fund-raising event as input taxed under section 40-160 of the GST Act prior to making the first supply in connection with the event.

Facts
The entity is an endorsed charitable institution. The entity intends to conduct a fund-raising event. The event will satisfy the meaning of a fund-raising event for the purposes of section 40-165 of the GST Act. The entity will make supplies of goods and services in connection with the fund-raising event which it wishes to treat as input taxed.

Reasons for decision
Summary: Section 40-160 of the GST Act enables a charitable institution, a trustee of a charitable fund, a gift-deductible entity and a government school to choose to treat all supplies it makes in connection with certain fund-raising events as input taxed. Where the entity does not make this choice, the supplies relating to the event will be treated under the general goods and services tax (GST) principles. Section 40-160 of the GST Act stipulates the conditions that must be satisfied for a supply made in connection with a fund-raising event to be treated as input taxed. One of the conditions that must be satisfied is that 'the supplier chooses to have all supplies that it makes in connection with the event treated as input taxed' (paragraph 40-160(1)(c) of the GST Act). The GST is a transaction based tax. The operation of the GST Act requires that the supplier determines whether there is a GST liability associated with the supply when that supply occurs. Therefore, where a choice is provided under the GST Act which affects the GST treatment of a particular supply, that choice must be made prior to making the supply. Consequently, the entity must choose to have all supplies that it makes in connection with the fund-raising event treated as input taxed prior to the first supply being made in connection with the event.

Legislative references: A New Tax System (Goods and Services Tax) Act 1999 Division 19 section 40-160 paragraph 40-160(1)(c) section 40-165
Other references: Non-Profit Organisation and Fundraising Guide (NAT 13095 - 03.2005)
Subject references: Goods and services tax GST non profit GST charities GST supplies & acquisitions GST supply Input taxed supplies