October 20, 2017
Seven South Burnett not-for-profit groups are risking fines from the Australian Charities and Not-For-Profits Commission (ACNC).
The ACNC named 339 Queensland groups on Thursday – including the seven in the South Burnett – who have not submitted annual information statements for 2016.
The ACNC warned the organisations risk being fined up to $5250 if they don’t take action quickly and they could also be stripped of their charitable status.
That would mean they would no longer be able to display the ACNC’s registered charity tick, and would lose generous Commonwealth charity tax concessions.
By law, registered charities have an obligation to report information to the ACNC each reporting period by submitting Annual Information Statements.
Generally, all charities must submit their Annual Information Statement within six months of the end of their reporting period.
The ACNC sends reminder letters to each charity prior to their due dates and if charities do not submit on time, will send warning letters after the due dates have passed.
If a charity does not submit its Annual Information Statement and takes no action to try to do so, the ACNC will:
- Issue penalty notices if it finds the charity is deliberately not meeting its reporting obligation, and/or
- Publish a red-mark in the ACNC Charity Register listing if they are more than six months overdue
Charities who do not submit an Annual Information Statement for two consecutive years also risk having their registration revoked by the ACNC, and would lose their Commonwealth charity tax concessions.
The 339 Queensland groups are part of a national list of 2377 charities who have so far failed to lodge their 2016 returns.
The South Burnett charities named by the ACNC are:
- Kumbia Kindergarten Inc
- Nanango Historical Society Inc
- Murgon Meals On Wheels Inc
- Murgon SES Support Group
- St Mary’s Catholic College P&F Association
- St Paul’s Lutheran Church Murgon
- Wondai Kindergarten Association
The complete list can be found on the ACNC’s website
