More than 30 ACT charities and not-for-profit organisations risk losing their tax concessions unless they provide information to the regulatory body about their activities over the past two years.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Charities and Not-for-profit Commission has published the list of all Australian charities at risk of double defaulting, otherwise known as failing to submit annual information statements twice in a row.
Of more than 2000 at-risk organisations, 31 were based in the ACT, while four more were listed as Canberra-based but with NSW street addresses.
The charities include religious bodies, disability support services, Aboriginal service providers, cultural groups, and school P&Cs.
Commissioner Susan Pascoe said most charities reported on time, but the double defaulting was a safeguard against organisations either no longer operating or failing to disclose up-to-date information.
"Revocation of charity status is serious and will result in the charity being deregistered by the ACNC and losing access to Commonwealth charity tax concessions, which are administered by the Australian Taxation Office," she said.
"An accurate and up-to-date profile on the ACNC charity register demonstrates to the public a commitment to accountability and transparency. This also provides donors and grant-makers confidence the charity is well-governed with good financial management."
A warning was first issued in January to 3200 organisations across the country at risk of double defaulting on their 2014 and 2015 annual information statements.
The 2015 statements were required by January 31 for all charities operating on a standard financial year reporting period.
The number of at-risk double defaulting charities dropped to 2100 by the time the commission's next public warning came on February 18.
If the organisations do not supply the necessary information, a notice of revocation will be sent out and posted publicly, after which the affected charities and not-for-profit groups will have 60 days to lodge a correction or objection to the decision.
Charity status has been withdrawn from more than 13,000 organisations since the commission was established in late 2012.
Ms Pascoe said the revocations were necessary to provide a reliable register of operating charities in Australia.
In past instances of deregistration, many of the affected charities had been either inactive or failed to respond to the commission's requests numerous times.
There are about 500 charities and not-for-profit organisations either registered or operating in the ACT.
Of the 120 new charities registered in January only one, the African Gospel Band, came from the territory.
