Annual returns for registered political parties
An annual return is a summary of money received, spent and owed by a political participant in a financial year. We use annual returns to check that political parties and other entities are complying with 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 I need to submit an annual return?
Yes. Registered officers of a registered political party must complete and lodge an annual return on behalf of the party. You must do this even if you did not receive any political donations or incur any political expenditure.
You must also submit an annual return for the party's nominated entity, if it has one.
When are returns due?
20 October each year.
Submissions open 1 July each year.
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 do I need to include?
These details are required for all registered political parties 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 more information about these items.
You must have your party's annual return audited and include a certificate of audit from a registered company auditor. See audit requirements below for more information.
Explanation of requirements
Audit requirements.
Your return must be audited and include a certificate from a registered company auditor within the meaning of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth).
The audit certificate must state that 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 my 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 you do not submit an annual return you may be fined.
The fine is 200 penalty units.