Annual returns for third-party campaigners
You are a third-party campaigner if you or your organisation is not:
- a registered political party (RPP)
- a candidate at an election or an elected member
- an associated entity
- a nominated entity of a political party
and you receive political donations or incur political costs equal to or above the general cap in a financial year.
Annual returns
An annual return is a summary of money received, spent and owed by a political participant in a financial year. For third-party campaigners your annual return relates to your state campaign account kept by the third-party campaigner. More information about state campaign accounts.
We use annual returns to check that third-party campaigners 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 I need to submit a return?
Yes, all third-party campaigners must submit an annual return. To qualify as a third-party campaigner you must have received political donations or incurred political costs equal to or above the general cap in a financial year. This is information all political participants must submit to us in an annual return.
Your agent must submit the return on behalf of the campaigner. More information about agents.
A return is required for the whole financial year. If you only met the conditions to be a third party campaigner for some of the year you must submit a return for that period.
When are annual returns due?
20 October each year.
Submissions open 1 July each year.
How do I submit an annual return?
On VEC Disclosures. You must create an account before you can submit your return.
User guides:
- Third-party campaigner (individual) - annual return user guide (PDF, 1.5MB)
- Third-party campaigner (organisation) - annual return user guide (PDF, 1.5MB)
What information is required?
Relating 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.
You must have your annual return audited and include a certificate of audit from an independent auditor.
Explanation of requirements
Audit requirements
Your annual return must be audited and include a certificate of audit from an independent auditor. This certificate must state the return has been audited in accordance with the Australian Accounting Standards as specified in s. 334(1) of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth).
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.
You can use this audit certificate template (PDF).
Can the public see my return?
Yes. We are required to publish annual return summaries 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 a return?
If you do not submit an annual return you may be fined.
The fine is 200 penalty units.
Can I get help to complete my return?
Yes. Follow this checklist (Word).
If you have any questions email disclosures@vec.vic.gov.au or call 131 832.