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The Charitable Purpose

ACNC monthly e-newsletter

January 2025

Commissioner's Column

With the start of a new year, I want to remind you of the upcoming deadline for lodging your Annual Information Statement. If your charity has a 30 June financial year, this statement is due by 31 January 2025. Timely submission is important because the data you provide helps us update the ACNC Charity Register. The public uses the register to verify which groups are real, registered charities and to get any extra information they might want before they decide who to donate to.

Read more [[link removed]] Charity news and updates Guidance and resources for charities

Online learning: ACNC reporting obligations and charity finances

Charities are required to report annually to the ACNC in order to maintain their registration. They also have an obligation to manage their finances responsibly. Our online learning content can help you boost the skills and expertise you need to effectively run a charity. You can also test your knowledge and download a certificate to demonstrate your learning.

Learn more [[link removed]]

Winding up, merging or changing legal structure?

Charities can change over time, meaning they may need to wind up, merge with another charity or

continue operations with a different legal structure. See the guidance for more information about the processes your charity needs to follow, how to notify the ACNC of any changes, and other obligations your charity may have.

Learn more [[link removed]]

2024 Annual Information Statement

Charities that operate on a standard financial year (1 July to 30 June) must submit their 2024 Annual Information Statement by 31 January 2025.

Remember that there are questions requiring you to report your charity's dealings with related parties. You can learn more about the questions, and what you need to know before completing your charity's AIS on the AIS Hub [[link removed]].

Get in early, beat the rush and submit via the Portal now

Submit via the Charity Portal now [[link removed]] Answering your questions

A few of the most common questions we have been hearing from charities recently...

Q. My charity was sent a reminder saying it’s time to submit our Annual Information Statement – what do we do now?

Charities that operate on a financial year basis (1 July to 30 June) need to submit their 2024 Annual Information Statement (AIS) by 31 January 2025.

Submit it in the  ACNC Charity Portal [[link removed]]. If you have trouble logging in or creating an account, or can’t see your charity listed, there are  instructions [[link removed]] on our website. In the Portal, click on your charity’s name, then go to ‘Manage reporting’ and click ‘Start 2025 AIS’.

If you need any help completing your AIS, please visit our  2024 Annual Information Statement Hub [[link removed]]. It has a checklist of all the information you need to have on hand, and a detailed guide that explains how to answer each question.

Q. I'm new to a charity. How do I sign up to the Charity Portal?

The  Charity Portal [[link removed]] is where a charity's Responsible and Authorised People can update their charity's details and submit the Annual Information Statement.

This video shows how to sign up to the Charity Portal [[link removed]], step-by-step.

Please make sure that you have been added as a Responsible or Authorised Person before you create your Portal account. The personal email you use for your account needs to be the same email address that was listed for you when you were added as a Responsible or Authorised Person for your charity. This will ensure you are automatically linked to your charity when you sign up.

Each Charity Portal account is linked to a specific person’s name and email address, not to the charity as a whole. Your account should not be shared with other people at your charity.

Q. I’ve read that charities must report on their related party transactions in their Annual Information Statement. How do I know what our charity needs to report?

Our  guidance on related party transactions [[link removed]] outlines the obligations charities have in reporting their related party transactions. The definition of a related party and the transactions charities need to report will depend on whether they are classed as  small, medium or large [[link removed]] in the period covered by the 2024 AIS.

Resources for newly-registered charities

Charities must meet ongoing obligations to retain registration. You must notify us each time a Responsible Person (a committee or board member or trustee) commences or resigns from a position. Learn more [[link removed]].

Holding an annual general meeting is a good way to be accountable to your members. Read more about AGMs and view our free resources [[link removed]].

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The ACNC acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respects to them and their cultures and elders past and present.

Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission

GPO Box 5108

Melbourne VIC 3001

© Commonwealth of Australia

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