[talk-au] OSM representation in Australia

[Matt White]

John Smith wrote:
> --- On Wed, 12/8/09, Matt White <mattwhite at iinet.com.au> wrote:
>
>   
>> But it's a lot of organisation/hassle etc so whoever is
>> taking charge 
>> will need a fair bit of time. However, there's nothing
>>     
>
> Apart from the exact wording on the rules submitted to the DFT or other state body, all it takes is about $110 and about 10-30 minutes in line at the local DFT office.
>
>   
I was more referring to the ongoing requirements - taxation/finance 
reporting (BAS statements are applicable to non-profits, but not sure 
about IAS statements), plus the yearly ones (GST, FBT amongst others - 
perhaps the ASIC registration).

Plus potentially public liability and other insurance, and as if the org 
was to pay anyone for work (and I guess iwe should probably aim have a 
viable enough operation to require at least part time employees), you 
get into PAYG, super and the like.

It doesn't cost much to start a non-profit, but it does cost money to 
operate one. Not 100% on this, but for companies, things like the end of 
finacial year tax stuff has to be signed off by an accountant, plus all 
the other incidentals.

(I'm not trying to be negative here - just speaking from having spent 
the last decade dealing with all this stuff after registering a company 
13 years ago cos it was cheap and seemed like a good idea at the time...)

However, any money we donated to the chapter would be a tax deduction, 
which would be awesome.... I've always wanted a tax deductible hobby - I 
can't seem to write off buying guitars as an expense with my current 
companies...

It would be good to have a proper place for the couple of domain names 
that a few of us own as well - I felt a little sheepish registering 
osmaustralia.org when I did - it kind of didn't seem right...

Matt