ACNC urges charities to complete their reporting requirements
7 August 2019 at 5:16 pm
More than 2,000 Australian charities are at risk of losing their charity status for failing their annual reporting requirements, the charity regulator warns.
The Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission said registered organisations must submit an Annual Information Statement to the ACNC every year.
If a charity fails to submit two Annual Information Statements – which contain information about their activities and operations – it will have its charity status revoked and will lose Commonwealth tax concessions.
ACNC commissioner Dr Gary Johns said charities have a responsibility to demonstrate transparency and accountability.
“The vast majority of charities registered with the ACNC have done the right thing, and met their obligations,” Johns said.
“However, a small percentage of charities have failed to meet their requirements under the ACNC Act.
“These organisations will lose their registration as a charity if they do not submit their outstanding Annual Information Statements by 26 August 2019.”
Data provided to Pro Bono News reveals 10,644 organisations have lost their charity status for “double defaulting” since the ACNC started the process in 2014-15.
More than 5,000 organisations lost their status in the first year alone, because many defunct charities were automatically transferred from the Australian Taxation Office when the ACNC was formed.
Since then, the number of charity revocations for double defaulting has dwindled, affecting only 196 organisations in 2017-18.
Johns said charities on the list should take action immediately, by logging in to the ACNC Charity Portal and completing their reporting requirements.
He said the ACNC has made multiple attempts to contact charities directly, but noted some organisations seemed to have incorrect contact details listed.
“We are now trying to share the message more broadly and reach as many of the affected charities as possible, to avoid unnecessary revocations,” he said.
Information from an AIS is published on the ACNC Charity Register. A full list of organisations at risk of losing their charity status can be seen here.
