LDS Charities Australia sees over 63% drop in donations

[Craig Speechly]

The LDS Charities Australia report was just released. Last year the 2021 year report, reported donations of $93 million the newly released 2022 report shows an extremely large decline of over 66% down to $30 million in total donations and an 85% drop in humanitarian donations from $94 million in 2021 to $19 million in 2022.

Late last year the church was caught in a scheme wherein funds from SLC were funneled through LDSCA to make tithing donations fully tax deductible for Australian members. But it appears that since the laundering scheme was exposed the church is no longer funneling funds through Australia leaving Australian member holding the bag. 
 

Australian Tithing donations will now only be partially deductible 

This is a developing story

https://www.acnc.gov.au/charity/charities/30f0a550-3aaf-e811-a963-000d3ad24077/

 

Edited July 1, 2023 by Craig Speechly

[webbles]

I think the tithing goes through L.D.S Charitable Trust Fund - https://www.acnc.gov.au/charity/charities/357ae4a8-38af-e811-a962-000d3ad24a0d/documents/

The 2021 report shows $99,474,019.00 and the 2022 report shows an increase to $104,867,491.00.

[Pyreaux]

I recall the story. I don't recall it being a "scheme", one would think tax loopholes exist to be used. You want to take half our donations; you shouldn't complain when that works out with us only giving half. Thought you were getting a huge pay day Australia Gov?

Edited July 1, 2023 by Pyreaux

[Craig Speechly]

29 minutes ago, webbles said:

I think the tithing goes through L.D.S Charitable Trust Fund - https://www.acnc.gov.au/charity/charities/357ae4a8-38af-e811-a962-000d3ad24a0d/documents/

The 2021 report shows $99,474,019.00 and the 2022 report shows an increase to $104,867,491.00.

See pg 6 of Financial Report

[webbles]

17 minutes ago, Craig Speechly said:

See pg 6 of Financial Report

I'm not sure what you mean by that.  Yes, the LDS Charities Australia shows the numbers you posted.  The L.D.S Charitable Trust Fund shows the number I posted.  Per some of the exposes, it would appear that members' tithing first goes to L.D.S Charitable Trust Fund and then that donates some of its money to LDS Charities Australia to make the tithing fully tax deductible.  So, yes, it looks like L.D.S Charitable Trust Fund is sending less money to LDS Charities Australia.  But has there been any indication that Australian members are now paying taxes on the tithing?

[webbles]

To make things more confusing, there appears to be another charity in Australia called "The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-day Saints Australia" - https://www.acnc.gov.au/charity/charities/df8937d2-38af-e811-a95e-000d3ad24c60/profile

I came across it by looking more closely at the financials of the L.D.S Charitable Trust Fund which recorded that it received contributions from this other charity.  This charity had an increase in donations from 2021 to 2022: $35,108,544 vs $40,156,155.

So, we have three charities:

• The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Australia - Increased donations from $35,108,544 to $40,156,155.  States that the contributions are "non-reciprocal contributions from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and members of the Church"
• L.D.S Charitable Trust Fund - Increased donations from $99,474,019 to $104,867,491.  Doesn't have a section defining where the contribution comes from but does say in the revenue section: "Revenue from Fast Offering Donations, Humanitarian Donations and Tithing Donations by members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints"
• LDS Charities Australia - Decreased donations from $93,000,000 to $30,000,000.  States that the contributes are "non-reciprocal contributions from the LDS Charitable Trust Fund"

Edited July 1, 2023 by webbles

[webbles]

Just noticed that the L.D.S Charitable Trust Fund yearly report shows the amount it sends to LDS Charities Australia and two other charities: The L.D.S. Educational Building Fund (https://www.acnc.gov.au/charity/charities/4ebff745-38af-e811-a960-000d3ad24282/profile) and The L.D.S. Fast Offering Fund (https://www.acnc.gov.au/charity/charities/d6e7cd3e-38af-e811-a95e-000d3ad24c60/profile)

Oddly, the amount that it sends to LDS Charities Australia doesn't match what LDS Charities Australia says it receives.   No idea why.  The other two do match.

• LDS Charities Australia was sent $116,000,000 (but only received $93,000,000?) in 2021 and was sent $60,000,000 (but only received $30,000,000?) in 2022
• The L.D.S. Educational Building Fund was sent $10,969,069 in 2021 and was sent $5,067,115 in 2022
• The L.D.S Fast Offering Fund was sent $4,635,407 in 2021 and was sent $5,069,246 in 2022

[JustAnAustralian]

Yes, tithing in Australia goes into the charitable trust fund. 

The message at the bottom of our donation form says 

"I direct that tithing, fast offering, and humanitarian aid donations go to the LDS Charitable Trust Fund, to be used at its discretion in accordance with its qualified purposes."

[Dario_M]

We may be lucky that this is only happening in Australia. Thank the Lord. ✝️

[CV75]

I would say relatively very few members are able to take tax deductions for tithing in he USA. The few that can, should tithing donations be disallowed, would find other ways to manage their wealth.