Please note: Kickstarter cannot provide advice about taxes, including how to provide tax deductions to backers. Creators should contact a lawyer or financial professional for any tax-related questions.
US-based creators: All the names on all accounts (including the Kickstarter account and bank and credit card accounts) must be in the organization’s name.
If you're not running the project as a nonprofit, but instead working with a 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsor, be sure that your account details (specifically, the 'Account' tab of your project) is set up by the 501(c)(3). You must also include details about the organization on the project page.
If your account is registered by a confirmed 501(c)(3) organization, you may have the ability to offer full or partial tax deductions to backers.
UK-based creators: In general, CICs and other UK nonprofits will not be able to offer tax relief to backers.
For questions about Gift Aid, creators should contact a lawyer or financial professional.
Canada-based creators: Project creators in Canada may be able to offer tax deductible pledges if certain requirements are met (e.g., the funding goes to a registered Canadian charity).
Australia-based creators: Project creators in Australia may be able to offer tax deductible pledges if certain requirements are met (e.g., the funding goes to a registered Deductible Gift Recipient, endorsed by the ATO or listed by name in the income tax law).
New Zealand-based creators: Project creators in New Zealand may be able to offer tax deductible pledges if certain requirements are met (e.g., the funding goes to a registered Donee organization).
EU-based creators: For tax deduction questions or other specifics, please contact a lawyer or financial professional.
Hong Kong-based creators: For the purposes of Personal Assessment, Salaries Tax and Profits Tax are subject to certain limitations, a deduction is granted for donations of money to charitable institutions or trusts of a public character which are exempt from tax under section 88 or to the Government for charitable purposes.
If you’re part of a nonprofit organization that’s considering using Kickstarter, we’ve outlined a few case studies and best practices over on our blog.
You can also explore how other nonprofits are using Kickstarter to bring their ideas to life here.