Charities on Final Notice

A group of 159 charities that have two overdue  Annual Information Statements will have their charity status revoked next month if they fail to submit their paperwork, the national regulator has warned.

The charities, known as double defaulters, have until 10 May to respond to the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC).

Charities that fail to submit their overdue statements will lose their ACNC registration, as well as Commonwealth charity tax concessions, including deductible gift recipient status, income tax exemption, fringe benefits tax rebates, and goods and services tax concessions.

ACNC Commissioner Susan Pascoe AM said that submitting Annual Information Statements  was a legal obligation, and also helped ensure the charity register is complete and up to date.

“The information charities provide the ACNC via the Annual Information Statement is used to populate the Charity Register, which accessed by the public to make decisions about donating,” Pascoe said.

Pascoe encouraged those within the sector to check the list of charities at risk to ensure their charity or others in their community were not revoked.

“We have been unable to contact this group, despite repeated efforts to do so,” she said.

“I encourage you to check the list to make sure your charity isn’t at risk.

“If you happen to know someone that works or volunteers for a charity listed, please ask them to contact the ACNC immediately.”

In February more than 2,400 double defaulter charities were put on notice for failing to submit their paperwork. In March, more than half of these charities lost their registration.

Since it was established in December 2012, the ACNC has removed from the Charity Register or revoked the registration of more than 13,000 charities.

The charities at risk of revocation and the notice of intention to revoke registration is available here.