Created: August 23, 2013 at 3:06 PM | Updated: February 4, 2025 | By Community Resource Kit
The Charities Act 2005 requires all registered charitable entities (organisations registered with Charities Services after 1 February 2007) to submit an annual return to Charities Services. This annual return outlines their charitable purpose and activities and provide basic financial data, such as an organisation's income, outgoings and net worth. This means:
The reporting standards (in place since 1 April 2015) have four different reporting tiers that were developed to allow smaller charities to prepare financial statements on a simplified basis, using specially designed templates and guidance notes.
An overview of the tiered system and the criteria for reporting can be found here https://charities.govt.nz/reporting-standards/which-tier-will-i-use/.
Resources for each tier include a reporting guide, get started videos, and links to download the standard, template and guidance notes.
Tier 3 charities (under $2 million annual expenses - accrual) and Tier 4 charities (under $140,000 annual operating payments - cash) submit a 'Performance Report' rather than a 'financial statement'. Along with financial results, the Performance Report includes non-financial information. Read more in this guide.
This is the name for the information charities file in addition to their Annual Return. It is called a 'Performance Report' rather than 'financial statement' as it also includes non-financial information in the form of a 'statement of service performance'. A Performance Report is a set of statements that collectively tells a charity’s story over the past financial year.
[From 1 January 2022, Tier 1 and Tier 2 charities need to include non-financial information alongside the financial statements they file with Charities Services. Together, the financial and non-financial information produced by Tier 1 and Tier 2 charities is referred to by Charities Services as a 'Financial Report' - read more here.]
Remember that all Charities still need to complete an Annual Return and attach financial statements but these must now be completed in line with the new standards.
You can keep up to date with reporting requirements and other news from Charities - either sign up or download their newsletters here https://charities.govt.nz/news-and-events/newsletters/
Tip: For more on reporting standards for non-profits visit: Charities Services | Reporting standards
Every incorporated society not registered with Charities Services must file its annual financial statement with the Registrar of Incorporated Societies. Read more about this here.
Societies registered under the 2022 Act must also complete an annual return at the same time. There is more information in an information overview Life after registering under the Incorporated Societies Act 2022 that you can download here.
The annual financial statement will include the income and expenditure of the society for the previous financial year and the assets and liabilities, mortgages and secured loans affecting the society's property as at the end of the financial year. The accounts do not need to be audited unless the rules of the society specify this.
Annual financial statements can be filed online at: https://www.societies.govt.nz.
To file your society's financial statements you must have:
Tip: Make sure you file an annual financial statement. Failure to do so may mean you are struck off the Incorporated Societies Register.
Trusts and societies registered under the Charitable Trusts Act 1957 that are NOT registered with Charities Services, do not have to file annual returns.
Tip: For more information on filing annual returns and financial reporting requirements, refer to:
- Societies and Trusts Online https://www.societies.govt.nz