Annual returns for nominated entities
Registered political parties (RPPs) can appoint an organisation as its nominated entity. Parties cannot have more than one nominated entity.
Gifts between a party and its nominated entity are not considered political donations.
To be a nominated entity, an organisation must be:
- an incorporated body that operates for the benefit of a party, but does not have voting rights in it
- appointed by a party by submitting a Nominated entity form to us.
Annual returns
An annual return is a summary of money received, spent, and owed by a political participant in a financial year. For nominated entities the return relates to your state campaign account. More information about state campaign accounts.
We use annual returns to check that nominated entities are complying with all funding and disclosure laws. This includes disclosing relevant political donations.
Division 3C of Part 12 of the Electoral Act 2002 (external link) outlines the annual return requirements.
Do nominated entities need to submit an annual return?
Yes. Your registered agent (the party's registered officer) must submit a return regardless of whether the entity received any political donations or incurred any political expenditure.
Only information about your state campaign accounts is required. More information about state campaign accounts. You must submit a nil return if you have nothing to report about your state campaign account.
When are returns due?
20 October each year.
Submissions are open from 1 July.
How do I submit a return?
On VEC Disclosures. You need to set up an account before you can submit your return.
Help with VEC Disclosures
Expand the accordion below for instructions on how to submit your return. You can click the pop-out icon in the bottom right corner to open the instructions in a new window.
If you have any questions email disclosures@vec.vic.gov.au or call 131 832.
What information is required?
In relation to your state campaign accounts for the financial year (including GST):
- total income
- total disclosed political donations
- total undisclosed political donations (under the disclosure threshold)
- the number of undisclosed political donors for the total undisclosed political donations
- total amounts received other than political donations
- total expenditure
- outstanding debts.
See explanation of requirements below for details about each of these items.
Your annual return must be audited and include a certificate of audit from an independent auditor. See audit requirments below.
You must supply copies of the following documents with your annual return:
- a loan, grant or donation statement under section 237 of the Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Act 2009 (Cth) (Fair Work (RO) Act)
- a general-purpose financial statement under section 253 of the Fair Work (RO) Act
- financial statements under section 102 of the Associations Incorporation Reform Act 2012 (Vic)
- a financial report under section 319 or 320 of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) (Corporations Act)
- any financial report prescribed by the regulations.
If these documents are not available when you submit your return you must provide them as soon as possible once they are ready.
Explanation of requirements
Audit requirements
Your return must be audited and include a certificate of audit from an independent auditor. This certificate must state the return has been audited according to Australian Accounting Standards as specified in s. 334(1) of the Corporations Act.
The certificate must state the auditor:
a) was given full and free access at all reasonable times to all accounts, records, documents and papers relating directly or indirectly to any matter required to be specified in the statement; and
b) examined the material referred to in paragraph (a) for the purpose of giving the certificate; and
c) received all information and explanations that the auditor requested in respect of any matter required to be specified in the statement; and
d) has no reason to believe that any matter stated in the statement is not correct.
We encourage you to give your auditor this audit certificate template (PDF).
Can the public see our annual return?
Yes. We are required to publish an annual return summary on VEC Disclosures by 31 December each year.
We do not publish donor addresses as they are confidential.
What happens if I don’t submit an annual return?
If a political party does not submit an annual return for its nominated entity, the registered officer may be fined.
The fine is 200 penalty units.