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Eligibility for a refund

Last updated 9 February 2017

Endorsed charities that are eligible

To be eligible for a refund of franking credits, an entity must meet all of the following requirements:

  • have an Australian business number (ABN)
  • satisfy the residency requirement
  • be a charity registered with the ACNC and endorsed by us as exempt from income tax

Deductible gift recipients that are eligible

To be eligible for a refund of franking credits, a DGR must meet all of the following requirements:

  • have an ABN
  • satisfy the residency requirement
  • the entity must be income tax exempt and endorsed by us as a DGR in its own right or be a DGR listed by name in the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997.

A DGR must be endorsed in its own right. It is not sufficient if your DGR is only endorsed in relation to a fund, authority or institution that it operates, such as a school building fund.

Residency requirements

Endorsed charities and endorsed DGRs will satisfy the residency requirement if, at all times during the income year for which organisation is applying for a refund, it meets both of the following requirements:

  • it has a physical presence in Australia
  • to the extent that it has a physical presence in Australia, it incurs its expenditure and pursues its objectives principally in Australia.

Check if your organisation is eligible

Use the Australian Business Register's ABN LookupExternal Link tool or phone us on 1300 130 248 to check if your organisation is:

  • a DGR
  • endorsed as a charity exempt from income tax

Developing country relief funds

An entity is eligible for a refund of franking credits if it is a public fund declared by the Treasurer to be a developing country relief fund, and it has not been prescribed by regulation as an entity ineligible for the concession.

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