On 13 May 2020 the STEP Philanthropy Special Interest Group (SIG) in partnership with Philanthropy Impact hosted the first of its 2020 Philanthropy Programme series of events with a webinar entitled ‘Core Components of a Professional Philanthropy Advisory Practice’. The event attracted a number of delegates from 18 different jurisdictions, and discussed a range of… Read More The COVID-19 crisis prompts a rash of philanthropic giving
HMRC hosted another Charities CRS working group on 16 January. The following issues were on the agenda for discussion: Anti-Avoidance Rules HMRC would like to refine its currently broad regulation regarding anti-avoidance. It is scheduled to discuss it with the compliance team shortly. It will also be reviewing the anti-avoidance issues surrounding donations channelled through… Read More CRS and Charities: January 2017 update
HMRC hosted another Charities CRS working group on 12 October. The following issues were on the agenda for discussion: Human Rights Guidance HMRC has been collecting examples from the working group to increase transparency and address concerns where the exchange of information could put individuals at risk. Its new guidance has addressed some of these… Read More CRS and Charities October update
On 18 October, my colleague Beatriz Brockhurst (STEP News Editor) and I attended the launch of Legacy Giving and Behavioural Insights – a research report which examined how will writers discussed charitable giving with their clients. Bridging the gap The research illustrates the gap between clients expressing an interest in leaving charitable gifts (35 per… Read More Legacy giving: the role of the practitioner
On 18 August, I attended the latest Charities CRS Working Group meeting, hosted by HMRC. The main issues discussed were as follows: HMRC confirmed that CIOs (charitable incorporated organisations) will be treated in the same way under CRS as other corporate bodies and this will be incorporated into the new guidance. HMRC confirmed that collection of Taxpayer Identification Number… Read More CRS and charities continued…
The UK government has recently formed the Independent Commission on Dormant Assets which is investigating a revised scheme in order to identify new pools of dormant or unclaimed assets. The existing scheme was formed in 2008, after the Dormant Bank and Building Society Accounts Act 2008 was passed, which deems bank and building society accounts… Read More What’s happening to dormant assets?
HMRC has posted its international automatic exchange guidance on the government website, following another meeting held with STEP and charity advisors: International Exchange of Information Manual. The charity guidance will be posted within a week, the HMRC working group promises. Attendees at the meeting discussed the mechanics of the due diligence process of charities in more… Read More CRS and Charities continued…
The OECD Common Reporting Standard (CRS) is probably going to impact directly every STEP member outside of the US – the only major international financial centre not so far committed to joining the CRS. Even STEP members in the US, however, are likely to have to consider CRS’ implications for any clients they have with… Read More CRS and charities: watch out for reporting obligations
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