A client of mine is an ACNC-registered charity. We are hoping to obtain an exemption from paying council rates due to their registered charity status. The local council have requested a "Certificate of Exemption from the ATO" to corroborate their status as a registered charity. Does such a certificate exist and if so, how would I obtain it?
Thank you!
Hi @Dave7,
We (the ATO) don’t issue a ‘Certificate of Exemption’ to confirm charity status. Your client's ACNC registration is the primary evidence of their registered charity status.
The local council can verify your client's charity registration directly through the ACNC's public register. The register shows all organisations registered as charities with the ACNC.
If your client needs to access charity tax concessions from us (like income tax exemption, GST charity concessions, or FBT exemptions), they must be endorsed by us. Once they are endorsed, they can check their entitlement to tax concessions by searching their ABN through the ABN Lookup.
If your client needs confirmation of their ATO endorsement status, you can also contact our NFP advice service to discuss what documentation may be available.
You can check your client's endorsement status on ABN Lookup and contact the council to confirm whether the ACNC registration itself is sufficient for their rates exemption purposes, or if they specifically require ATO endorsement documentation.
15 Apr 2026 · 4 min read time
16 July 2025 · 5 min read time
10 views
1 replies