The Methodist Church in Fiji and Rotuma plans to submit a request to the Fijian Government seeking tax exemptions for non-governmental organizations (NGOs), including churches. Lako Yani Management Pte Limited, which manages and oversees the development of church properties, reported a profit of $2.9 million for the 2023 financial year, marking a $1.7 million increase from the previous year’s net profit of $1.2 million.
However, Ms. Qoro noted that despite this profit increase, overall income decreased, attributing this to the decline in revenue from the Navuso Agricultural Technical School. She emphasized that the Methodist Church operates not for profit, but to serve its members and carry out its mission work, indicating that any profits earned are reinvested into the church’s activities.
In 2016, tax law reforms led to the imposition of taxes on the net income—such as earnings from investments and rental properties—of organizations classified as charities, arguing that these entities competed with for-profit companies and a level playing field was necessary. The Fiscal Review Committee stated last year that this taxation approach undermines effective charities by limiting their available funds, especially during times of heightened need. The committee also expressed concern that such policies deter NGOs from making necessary investments to secure stable and independent funding sources.