Registered charity
A registered charity is an organisation set up for charitable purposes and registered with the Commissioner of Charities under the Charities Act 1994.
For more information on registered charities, please visit the Charity Portal.
Institution of a Public Character (IPC)
An IPC is a registered charity approved by the Commissioner of Charities to receive tax deductible donations. This means donors get tax deduction for donations made to these charities.
For more information on registered IPCs, please visit the Charity Portal.
Income tax for registered charities
From Year of Assessment 2008, registered charities enjoy automatic income tax exemption under Section 13(1)(zm) of the Income Tax Act 1947. They do not need to file income tax returns.
Goods and Services Tax (GST) for registered charities
Registered charities are required to register for GST if their annual taxable supplies exceed $1 million, even if they are mostly engaged in non-business activities.
Once registered for GST, charities must charge and account for GST on their taxable supplies. Taxable supplies may include grants, donations and sponsorships where the charity provides direct benefits to the giver/donor in return for the contribution.