myTax 2020 Gifts or donations

Complete this section if you made gifts or donations to registered deductible gift recipients (DGRs).

Things to know

Organisations that are entitled to receive tax deductible gifts are called 'deductible gift recipients' (DGRs). You can only claim a tax deduction for gifts or donations to organisations that have DGR status.

You can check the DGR status of an organisation at ABN Look-up: Deductible gift recipientsExternal Link.

You can claim

The amount you can claim as a deduction for a gift or donation to a DGR depends on the type of gift. For gifts:

• of money – you can claim the amount of the gift, but it must be $2 or more. This also includes
  • work-place giving – donations you make during the year through your employer's payroll system
  • a net contribution of more than $150 for a fund-raising event (see Further conditions for a tax-deductible contribution)
  • bucket collections conducted by a DGR for natural disaster victims, you can claim a tax deduction of up to $10 for the total of those contributions without a receipt
• of property or shares – there are different rules depending on the type and value of the property
  • a donation of shares listed on an approved stock exchange valued at $5,000 or less
  • property purchased during the 12 months before making the gift
  • property we value at more than $5,000  
• under the Heritage and Cultural programs – there are special circumstances where donations can also be deductible
  • Donating under the Cultural Gifts Program
  • Claiming conservation covenant concessions 
• to political parties and independents – in some circumstances claiming political contributions and gifts as a deduction is allowable
• to a private ancillary fund.

If you obtained a valuation for a deductible donation of property, you may be able to claim a deduction for the cost of that valuation. Don't show it at this section, go to Cost of managing tax affairs.

See also

• Gifts and donations
• Claiming tax deductions – including information about:
  • gift types, requirements and valuation rules
  • When can I claim?

You can't claim

You can't claim a deduction for a donation if you received a personal benefit or something in return, other than token items with no material value such as lapel badges and stickers that promote the organisation.

Examples where you can't claim because you received a personal benefit include raffle tickets, chocolates, mugs or entry to a fund-raising event.

You can't claim a tax deduction for donations made to social media or crowdfunding platforms unless they are a registered DGR.

For a list of items that you can't claim a deduction for, see Gifts and donations – what you can't claim.

Record keeping

You should keep records of all tax-deductible gifts and contributions you make.

When you make a donation the DGR will usually issue you with a receipt, but they don't have to. Your receipt will usually indicate whether or not you can claim a deduction for the gift.

If you're not issued with a receipt, you can still claim a deduction by using other records. If you:

• used the web or phone to make a donation over $2, your web receipt or credit card statement is sufficient.
• donated through a third party, such as banks and retail outlets, the receipt they gave you is also sufficient.
• contributed through 'workplace-giving', your income statement or payment summary will show the amount you donated.

For more information, see Keeping donation records.

Completing this section

We:

• pre-fill your tax return with gifts and donations information you uploaded from myDeductions
• show your workplace-giving amounts from the Income statements and payment summaries section

Check them, and add any gifts or donations that have not shown or been pre-filled. Your receipt should show whether your donation is tax-deductible.

To personalise your return to show gifts or donations, at Personalise return, select:

• You had deductions you want to claim
• Gifts, donations, interest, dividends, and the cost of managing your tax affairs

To show your gifts or donations, at Prepare return select 'Add/Edit' at the Deductions banner.

At the Gifts or donations banner:

1. For each gift or donation expense not shown or pre-filled in your tax return, select Add and:  
   • enter Your description, To assist in record keeping, add a short description of your expense
   • enter the Amount
     If you made donations in a joint name, only include your share.
2. Select Save.
3. Select Save and continue when you have completed the Deductions section.

See also

• Taxation Ruling TR 2005/13 Income tax: tax deductible gifts - what is a gift
• myDeductions – record-keeping in the ATO app
• Law Administration Practice Statement PS LA 2002/15 Evidence for making of a gift by a taxpayer who participates in a workplace giving program.

These myTax 2020 instructions are about gifts or donations you made.