Caritas warns: deductibility of donations endangers social cohesion!

Caritas warns: deductibility of donations endangers social cohesion!

On February 8, 2025, Caritas expressed concern in a press release about the possible abolition of tax deductibility of donations and church contributions. The organization sees this not only as a threat to social cohesion, but also as a massive attack on the financial basis of religious communities and non-profit organizations in Austria. The move, as demanded by the FPÖ as part of the coalition negotiations, could have serious consequences for the entire non-profit sector. “If these restrictions come about, it would have a massive impact on the entire non-profit sector,” warned Caritas General Secretary Anna Parr to the *Kleine Zeitung*.

Parr stressed that nonprofits do vital work in areas such as social services, care, homeless services and culture, and a decline in donations would significantly weaken this sector. She also pointed out the risks associated with a decline in volunteer work. Walter Schmolly, director of Caritas Vorarlberg, also supported these assessments and made it clear that both donations and volunteer work are crucial for social cohesion. Ernst Sandriesser, director of Caritas Carinthia, is already planning talks with FPÖ mayors to emphasize the need to maintain donations deductibility.

Important tax information for donors

In addition, Caritas has clarified the tax deductibility of donations. As explained in further information, donors can ensure that their donations are correctly reported to the tax office by providing Caritas with their complete details. Even if a donation is made using a payment slip, it is essential that the correct contact details are provided in order to avoid possible errors when transferring the bank details. Caritas has decided to only use payment vouchers in exceptional cases to ensure that all donations are properly recorded, which is crucial for donors to benefit from tax advantages. In its communication, Caritas advised providing the necessary information by email or telephone.