What is the ACNC?

The Commonwealth Government has established a regulatory body to oversee the charity and not-for-profit sector in Australia. This body is known as the Australian Charities and Not-for-profit Commission (ACNC). It commenced its operations in 2013 and automatically registered entities that the Australian Tax Office classified as having not-for-profit or charity status.

ACNC requires all registered charities to lodge an Annual Information Statement and to provide additional information concerning “responsible persons”.

Most parishes are classified as a “basic religious charity” and accordingly do not have to provide financial reports to the ACNC. They are also exempted from compliance with governance standards imposed on other charities.

If you would like to know more about the ACNC, you can refer to their website. For information on how the ACNC affects parishes, please see our Frequently Asked Questions.

If you require assistance with registration or other ACNC matters, please contact us.