Non-Profit News Service No. 0316 - Support for victims of Western Australian bushfires and Victorian floods

The Assistant Treasurer has declared the recent Western Australian bushfires and the Victorian floods as disasters for the purposes of establishing Australian disaster relief funds.

An extract of the Assistant Treasurer's press release No. 029 dated 14 February 2011 is below. The full press release can be viewed on the Assistant Treasurer's website.

Western Australian bushfires and Victorian floods in February declared disasters for tax purposes

The Assistant Treasurer, the Hon Bill Shorten MP, today declared the Western Australian bushfires a disaster for the purposes of establishing Australian disaster relief funds, effective from 6 February 2011.

The Assistant Treasurer has also declared the February 2011 Victorian floods a disaster for the purposes of establishing Australian disaster relief funds, effective from 5 February 2011.

These declarations satisfy a legal requirement that ensures qualifying existing funds, established for the relief of people in communities affected by the floods in Victoria and the bushfires in WA, and new funds in both states, can receive tax deductible donations.

The January floods in Victoria, as well as the floods and cyclone in Queensland, have already been officially declared disasters for tax-deductible disaster relief fund status.

Funds still need to apply to the Tax Office for formal endorsement, and the Tax Office has established a fast track process for this purpose.

Donations to Australian disaster relief funds, established to provide relief in the aftermath of the fires and floods, will be tax deductible for a period of two years from the date of the respective declarations.

For more information about: collecting and making donations, refer to Assisting victims of disasters Australian disaster relief funds and applying for endorsement as a deductible gift recipient, refer to Australian disaster relief funds and tax deductible gifts.

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