Every year around this time, our team fields a lot of questions from donors who want to give before 30 June but aren’t sure how it all works. This guide is our honest answer to those questions. It covers the basics of EOFY giving in plain English, so you can make a confident decision before the deadline.
End-of-financial-year donations are gifts made to eligible charities before 30 June. Some may be tax-deductible if they meet Australian Taxation Office rules. This usually depends on the charity’s Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) status, the amount donated, and whether you received anything in return.
What Are End of Financial Year Donations?
EOFY donations are charitable gifts made before 30 June, which is the end of the financial year in Australia.
People often make these donations during tax time because eligible gifts may be claimed in that financial year. This makes EOFY a useful time to review your giving, choose a charity, and keep the right records for your tax return.
An EOFY donation may be a one-off gift, a recurring donation, or a workplace giving contribution.
For a donation to be tax-deductible, it must meet ATO rules. In most cases, this means the charity must have DGR status, the gift must be $2 or more, and you must not receive a material benefit in return.
Are EOFY Donations Tax Deductible in Australia?
Some EOFY donations are tax-deductible in Australia, but not every gift will qualify.
In most cases, a donation may be tax-deductible if the charity has DGR status, the donation is $2 or more, you made the donation before 30 June, you kept a receipt or clear record, and you did not receive a material benefit in return.
A material benefit means you received something of value for your payment. Raffle tickets, event tickets, merchandise, auction items, or membership benefits usually do not count as tax-deductible donations.
The safest step is to check the charity’s DGR status before you donate and keep your receipt after payment. If you are unsure how a donation applies to your tax return, speak with your accountant or tax adviser.
What Is the EOFY Donation Deadline in Australia?
The EOFY donation deadline in Australia is 30 June. To claim an eligible donation in the current financial year, you usually need to make the donation on or before this date.
Allow time for the payment to process. If you plan to donate close to 30 June, use the charity’s official donation page and save your receipt as soon as it is issued.
How Do EOFY Tax Donations Work?
EOFY tax donations work by linking an eligible donation to your tax records for that financial year. If you donate before 30 June and the gift meets ATO rules, you may be able to claim it when you lodge your return.
Here’s how the process usually works.
The donation date matters. If the payment is made on or before 30 June, it may count for that financial year. Most charities send a receipt by email soon after payment. Keep this receipt with your tax records. It confirms the donation amount, payment date, charity name, and whether the gift was made to a DGR.
If you make several donations during the year, you may need to add them together when preparing your return. This can include one-off gifts, regular donations, and some workplace giving amounts. Eligible donations usually go in the gifts and donations section of your tax return. The donation does not come back as a full refund. It reduces your taxable income, which may affect the amount of tax you pay.
For larger donations, business gifts, payroll giving, or any uncertain claim, speak with your accountant or tax adviser before lodging your return.
How to Choose a Charity for EOFY Giving
Choosing a charity before 30 June should be simple, but it still pays to check a few details before you donate.
Start by confirming whether the charity has DGR status. You can usually find this on the charity’s website, donation page, or official records. Then look at what the charity does and how clearly it explains its work. A strong charity should make it easy to understand who it supports, what your donation helps fund, how it reports on impact, and how it sends receipts after payment.
EOFY giving is often practical, but it also helps to choose a cause that genuinely matters to you.
Why Donate to Yalari at EOFY?
If you want your EOFY donation to have a clear and lasting purpose, Yalari is worth considering.
Yalari supports Indigenous students from regional and remote communities to attend boarding schools across Australia. We currently have 271 students at 20 schools, and over 700 alumni leading in their careers and communities. Today, we are welcoming a second generation of students as alumni send their own children through the program.
We walk alongside students well beyond their academic studies. By supporting connection to Culture and Country and creating leadership pathways through to graduation and beyond, we walk with young people as they build their own foundations to lead. Your contribution supports the full journey of an Indigenous scholar, helping foster a transition from school to future leadership.
Yalari holds DGR status and donations of $2 or more may be tax-deductible in Australia. If you’re choosing where to give before 30 June, you can donate directly through our website or download our EOFY Giving Guide for a full overview of your options.
End of Financial Year Donation Checklist
Use this before you donate, especially if you want your gift to count for the current financial year.
☐ Have I donated before 30 June? Your donation usually needs to be made on or before 30 June to apply to the current financial year.
☐ Does the charity have DGR status? Check before you give if claiming the donation at tax time matters to you.
☐ Is my donation $2 or more? Most tax-deductible gifts must be at least $2.
☐ Am I using the charity’s official donation page? Use the official website or donation link so your payment goes to the right place.
☐ Have I saved my receipt? Keep your receipt with your tax records. It should show the charity name, donation amount, and payment date.
☐ Did I receive anything in return? If you received raffle tickets, event tickets, merchandise, or another benefit, the payment may not count as a tax-deductible gift.
☐ Do I need tax advice? Speak with your accountant or tax adviser if you are unsure, especially for business donations, large gifts, recurring donations, or workplace giving.
FAQs
What are EOFY donations?
EOFY donations are charitable gifts made before the end of the financial year. In Australia, the financial year ends on 30 June. Many people donate before this date so they can support a charity and keep their tax records ready for their next return.
Are EOFY donations tax-deductible?
Some EOFY donations are tax-deductible in Australia. To qualify, the donation usually needs to be made to a charity with Deductible Gift Recipient status, be $2 or more, and be made without receiving a material benefit in return.
What is the EOFY donation deadline?
The EOFY donation deadline is 30 June. If you want an eligible donation to apply to the current financial year, you usually need to make the payment on or before 30 June. Donations made after 30 June usually apply to the next financial year.
How much do I need to donate to claim a tax deduction?
In most cases, you need to donate $2 or more to an eligible Deductible Gift Recipient charity. The donation must also meet ATO rules.
What does DGR status mean?
DGR stands for Deductible Gift Recipient. A charity with DGR status can receive gifts that may be tax-deductible. You can only claim a deduction for gifts or donations made to an organisation with DGR status.
Do I need a receipt for EOFY tax donations?
Yes. You should keep a receipt or clear record for any tax-deductible donation you plan to claim. A receipt usually helps confirm the charity name, donation amount, and payment date.
Can I claim monthly donations at tax time?
You may be able to claim eligible monthly donations if they were made to a charity with DGR status and meet ATO rules. Keep receipts or annual giving summaries so you can record the total amount donated during the financial year.
Can I claim workplace giving donations?
Workplace giving donations may be claimable, depending on how the program is set up and recorded. Your employer may include the details in your payment summary or income statement. Speak with your payroll team or tax adviser if you are unsure.
Can businesses claim EOFY donations?
A business may be able to claim eligible donations made to a Deductible Gift Recipient charity. The donation must meet ATO rules, and the business should keep clear records. Businesses should speak with an accountant for advice based on their tax position.
How do I check if a charity is tax deductible?
You can check whether a charity has DGR status by looking on the charity’s website, reviewing the donation page, checking your receipt, or searching official records. The ATO recommends checking DGR status before claiming a gift or donation.
What donations are not tax deductible?
Donations are usually not tax deductible if the organisation does not have DGR status, the gift is under $2, or you received a material benefit in return. Payments for raffle tickets, fundraising dinners, event entry, merchandise, or auction items usually do not qualify.
