The Treasurer announced in the 2008 Budget that the Government will legislate guidelines to improve the integrity of Prescribed Private Funds (PPFs) and to provide the trustees of PPFs with greater certainty as to their philanthropic obligations. A discussion paper has now been released.

A PPF is a trust to which businesses, families and individuals can make tax deductible donations, for the purposes of disbursing funds to a range of deductible gift recipients.

The proposed PPF guidelines will ensure regular valuation of assets at market rates and increase the size of compulsory distributions. The Commissioner of Taxation will also be given greater regulatory powers. This measure will have effect from 1 July 2009.

Interested parties are invited to comment on the paper by 14 January 2009.