Treasury’s charity tax plan splits wealthy families

Joshua Peach and Fiona Buffini

Updated Jul 11, 2025 – 1.25pm, first published at 9.00am

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Australia’s wealthiest families will be forced to distribute the $11 billion locked in their private foundations at a faster rate to charities each year, under a proposal being considered by federal Treasury.

Assistant Minister for Charities and Treasury Andrew Leigh said the government would adopt a Productivity Commission plan requiring the country’s 2200 private foundations to distribute more than 5 per cent of their net assets each year.

correction —

An earlier version of this story incorrectly included Australian Philanthropic Services Foundation in the private ancillary fund database. It has been removed as the foundation is a public ancillary fund.

Joshua Peach is a data journalist at The Australian Financial Review

Fiona Buffini is editor of Premium Content and Features. She is the former Editor of The Australian Financial Review, digital editor and news director.