[OSGeo Oceania] [Oceania-Board] ASIC Industry Funding Levy - OSGeo Oceania Ltd

Tue Mar 16 22:19:32 PDT 2021

Thanks for the additional context John/Alex.

Do you remember when the decision was made on charitable status? Sounds
like I should review some of that work first so I don't ask questions that
have been answered already.

Companies/individuals spend a lot of money optimising company structure for
financial gain, so it can get quite complicated. The allure of saving
~>$1000 and encouraging tax deductible donations is appealing.

On Mon, 15 Mar 2021 at 23:20, Alex Leith <alexgleith at gmail.com> wrote:

> Hey Folks
>
> We did look into charitable status, and I was talking to someone else
> about this the other day.
>
> The issue with being a charitable organisation is that it does enable
> people to donate money to us without them paying tax on it (tax deductible
> donations), but it limits what we can spend that money on. For example, we
> could not spend the money on travel grants.
>
> So it was agreed that it's not worth getting charitable status. We can
> look into it, and I have a colleague who is doing a leadership program with
> me who has more experience, so I can talk to him more about it. I am not
> convinced that it's worth the effort, though.
>
> Cheers,
>
> On Tue, 16 Mar 2021 at 17:06, John Bryant <johnwbryant at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Hi Ed, responding here because I can't post to the board list, but I can
>> provide a bit of background that may help.
>>
>> In March 2019, we did a review of options for forming an entity [1],
>> comparing the pros & cons of an association vs a company limited by
>> guarantee, and some other options as well.
>>
>> The key disadvantage of registering as an incorporated association was
>> that it meant registering in a single state, which would require that at
>> least one officer/director live in that state, which felt problematic for
>> an org that aims to operate internationally.
>>
>> There were also concerns about whether we could undertake activities
>> outside Australia as a state-based association, but I believe there are
>> some organisations similar to OO that operate like this, so it may be
>> possible.
>>
>> At the time, I met with someone who was involved in setting up GovHack
>> and he strongly recommended the CLG model, based on their experience.
>>
>> Our recommendation was (in part): "A CLG is better suited to our
>> requirement to operate, and draw membership & leadership from, across
>> Oceania."
>>
>> We underestimated the annual filing fee by quite a bit... we hoped that
>> we could gain Special Purpose Company status, with the intent of reducing
>> annual fees. We revived the discussion about SPC status in May 2020, when
>> the annual fee came due, but were advised by Macquarie Accountants that we
>> wouldn't be eligible.
>>
>> The question of charitable status also came up at the same time. There
>> was a suggestion that the Finance Committee could follow up on this but I
>> don't know if that ever happened.
>>
>> Anyway, the March 2019 proposal doc is worth a read, it has a fairly
>> detailed breakdown of the options, based on what we knew at the time.
>>
>> Cheers
>> John
>>
>> [1]
>> https://docs.google.com/document/d/1LCoaNY9xACkpE_E1pTn3pGkNV41rqmoK5QkKl2FAfwY
>>
>>
>>
>> On Tue, 16 Mar 2021 at 12:37, Edoardo Neerhut <eneerhut at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>> That's crazy Greg. Checking Xero and it seems we paid a similar amount
>>> last year. ~$1,450.
>>>
>>> Looking at this very superficially, it looks like an incorporated
>>> association
>>> <https://www.consumer.vic.gov.au/clubs-and-fundraising/incorporated-associations/fees-and-forms>
>>> is a far cheaper option. Do any of you recall some of the merits of
>>> registering as a company limited by guarantee and why this was chosen as
>>> our preferred model?
>>>
>>> On Mon, 15 Mar 2021 at 20:11, Greg Lauer <gregory.lauer at gmail.com>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>> I think it is time that we review our legal structure. We are now
>>>> paying $1500/year just in admin fees to ASIC. That is before accounting
>>>> costs etc.
>>>>
>>>> Greg
>>>>
>>>> On 3/16/2021 1:02:50 PM, Belinda Hippel <bhippel at macqacc.com.au> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> Hi Directors
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Please find attached the ASIC Industry Funding Levy, which is due for
>>>> payment on 23rd April 2021.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Regards
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> *Belinda Hippel*
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> [image: MA Letterhead_Temp Art 2012-05-30.png][image:
>>>> xero-certified-advisor-logo-hires-RGB]
>>>>
>>>>        Level 2, 18 Elizabeth Street Hobart Tasmania 7000
>>>>
>>>>        Postal:          GPO Box 92 Hobart Tasmania 7001
>>>>
>>>>        Telephone:   (03) 6224 6400
>>>>
>>>>        Facsimile:    (03) 6224 6401
>>>>
>>>>        Email:           bhippel at macqacc.com.au
>>>>
>>>>        Web:             www.macqacc.com.au
>>>>
>>>>        [image: facebook] <http://www.facebook.com/macquarieaccounting>[image:
>>>> LinkedIn] <http://au.linkedin.com/company/macquarie-accounting-pty-ltd>
>>>>
>>>> WARNING - This email and any of its attachments may be confidential. If
>>>> received in error, please delete immediately and notify Macquarie
>>>> Accounting by return email.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>
>> _______________________________________________
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>>
>
>
> --
> Alex Leith
> m: 0419189050
>
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