ACNC Grants Charities Reporting Extension
1 October 2015 at 12:06 pm
Registered charities have been given an extension on the deadline for reporting to the national charity regulator.
The Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) has announced that charities that use a standard reporting period of 1 July to 30 June will have until 31 January 2016 to submit their 2015 Annual Information Statement (AIS), a one month extension.
ACNC Commissioner, Susan Pascoe, said the approaching busy Christmas period was behind the decision to grant an extension to charities.
“The extension provides charities an extra month to take into account the ACNC’s closure during the Christmas and New Year period, when our Advice Services team will be unavailable to assist,” Pascoe said.
“Charities that use a different reporting period are required to submit their 2015 Annual Information Statement within six months. For example, registered charities that report on a calendar year will be required to submit by 30 June.”
Pascoe recommended that charities submit their AIS early.
“I would like to encourage charities to submit their Annual Information Statement as soon as they can,” she said.
“As the due date nears, the system can experience slowness caused by the increased traffic. This can be avoided by submitting the Annual Information Statement in the weeks and months before the 31 January 2016 due date.
”We find that searches of the Charity Register, available to the public at acnc.gov.au/findacharity, spike around Christmas time.
“Submitting early means that donors searching the Charity Register around the Christmas period will have access to the most up-to-date information about a charity.”
The ACNC has published guidance to help registered charities meet their reporting obligations. Charities can visit acnc.gov.au/2015AIS, or call 13 ACNC or email advice@acnc.gov.au.
While the 2015 Annual Information Statement reporting period is getting underway, the ACNC has begun work on the 2016 Annual Information Statement, holding consultations on proposed changes.
“My colleagues and I have been meeting with charities and sector stakeholders across the country,” Pascoe said.
“I invite all charities to complete our online survey, or provide general comments about the proposed 2016 Annual Information Statement and how it could be improved.”
The consultation period will conclude on 27 November 2015. Click here for more information.
