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GST Manual for Uniting Church Treasurers & Lifeline

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A note from the Assembly General Secretary, Terence Corkin

In March 2000, the Commonwealth Government, through the GST Start-Up Assistance Office, contracted the Uniting Church in Australia (in co-operation with the various Synod offices) and Lifeline Australia, to deliver GST Start-Up Assistance to the Uniting Church and Lifeline. The assistance focused on business skills and other arrangements necessary to operate in the new tax system - A New Tax System (Goods and Services Tax) Act 1999.

A Uniting Church GST Assistance Project Team was appointed to provide information services and undertake an extensive education program in all states and territories of Australia prior to completion of the project on 30 June 2000. This project team consisted of a National Co-ordinator and a number of State Co-ordinators based in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth. The project was co-ordinated from the Victorian Synod office where the National Co-ordinator was based.

Presbyteries, congregations, community service agencies, other organisations of the Church and Lifeline centres participated in seminars and workshops throughout the country.

This Manual was initially designed to complement these seminars arranged by the GST Assistance Project Team. It is not an exhaustive reference on the GST, but rather a guide to assist with the introduction and ongoing application of the GST. The Manual is being continually updated as the GST legislation is refined and Australian Taxation Office Rulings are issued.

I am indebted to our Church and Lifeline treasurers for the way that you have met the challenges presented by The New Tax System and are keeping up to date with the many changes which are still taking place. On behalf of the Church, I want to acknowledge the tremendous amount of time and effort you have put in. I trust that this Manual will be a very useful resource to you.

Now that the new tax system has settled down a little, we all need to be mindful of our tax reporting responsibilities to the Government from an ethical and compliance point of view. This Manual will provide assistance with completing all the required returns.

The GST Start-Up Assistance Office and the Australian Taxation Office have released a number of publications to assist churches and charities with the application of the GST. A list of resources is included in this Guide.

The Queensland Synod of the Uniting Church also has a very useful resource on tax reform. It has developed a Tax Reform Forum Web Site that contains a wealth of information - http://taxforum.ucaQld.com.au. This site contains questions and answers on tax reform issues as well as an electronic version of this Manual.

The Assembly acknowledges the financial contribution made by the Commonwealth of Australia in assisting us to develop a 'tailor made approach' to GST within the Uniting Church and Lifeline.

Terence Corkin
General Secretary
National Assembly

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