Not-For-Profits - Getting ready for 31 December 2023 Reporting Season

The Annual Information Statement (AIS) is an online form that asks a range of questions about a charity's operations and finances over a 12-month period.

Annual Information Statement Due Dates

A charity's Annual Information Statement and financial report (if required) must be submitted within six months of the end of the charity’s reporting period.

The two most common reporting due dates are:

• 31 December for charities that report to a standard financial year (1 July to 30 June – Although the Commissioner has extended the deadline to submit the 2023 Annual Information Statement to 31 January 2024.)
   
• 30 June for charities that report to a calendar year (1 January to 31 December).

Some charities are exempt from submitting part or all of their Annual Information Statement. These include Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander corporations, Basic Religions Charities and Non-government schools. More information about the criteria can be found here.

If your charity has an overdue Annual Information Statement, you must submit it immediately in the Charity Portal.

Different reporting periods

If your charity uses a different reporting period (also called a substituted accounting period), you need to formally request to use this for the charity's Annual Information Statement. This request needs to be approved by the ACNC.

You only need to request a different reporting period once. You do not need to submit a new request each year. You can request a different reporting period in the Charity Portal.

The Annual Information Statement for newly registered charities

Charities are only required to report to the ACNC in the Annual Information Statement from the date that they became a registered charity.

This means that charities start reporting from the registration decision date on which the ACNC registered the organisation as a charity, rather than from any earlier date that the charity may have been entitled to registration.

If your charity applied to backdate its registration with the ACNC, it will still only need to report in the Annual Information Statement from the registration decision date.

Medium and large charities

Medium and large charities are also required to submit an annual financial report with their Annual Information Statement. Small charities can choose to submit a financial report, but it is not mandatory.

How we can help

TaxAssist Accountants is here to help with all of your tax, accounting and advisory needs. We offer a free, initial consultation as well as face-to-face and online appointments. Call 03 8594 1811 or contact us here and we can put you in contact with your local TaxAssist Accountant.

Date published 7 Dec 2023 | Last updated 7 Dec 2023