News of interest to charities in New Zealand
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Lesa's Message
Tēnā koutou, talofa lava and warm greetings,
We are busy getting ready for the Annual Meeting on
14 November 2016. The Annual Meeting is part of our requirements under the Charities Act 2005. However, more importantly, it is an opportunity for you to hear from us about what we have been up to over the last year, what’s ahead, and to ask questions about the work that we are doing. This year the Chair of the independent Charities Registration Board, Roger Holmes Miller, and our Minister, Hon Jo Goodhew, will be speaking.
I’m really looking forward to the conversations that we will have, and I urge you to speak up if you have something you would like to ask, either at the meeting, or by emailing us your question in advance. You don’t have to be attending the meeting to submit a question. These conversations are vital in assisting us to develop resources to support you to continue your good work.
This year we will be recording the Annual Meeting. Our intention is to make it available on our website for those who can’t attend.
General Manager Lesa Kalapu with Financial Accounting
Specialist Julia Fletcher
Where to Start with the New Reporting Standards
We have been helping charities to understand the new reporting requirements, and guiding them to find the information they need to be able to prepare their Performance Report. Over the last six months, we have gathered a significant amount of information about the areas of the new reporting standards that people have found challenging. In response, we have provided more information where needed in the form of updated website content, newsletter articles and blogs.
We have lots of really useful material on the new reporting standards on our website for you to look at before starting to prepare your report. This is where you can find it all:
Step 1: Get familiar with the New Reporting Standards
This three minute video explains what the new reporting standards require, and how these requirements relate to the Annual Return that you file with Charities Services each year. There is also explanatory material on our website which provides an overview of the new reporting standards.
Step 2: Select your reporting tier
Charities now need to report under one of four tiers. Knowing your tier unlocks all the relevant information you need to report. Have a read through this information on our website to help you decide which tier is most suitable for your charity to report under.
Step 3: Find information and tools relevant to your tier
Our website is organised so that most information for each tier can be found in one place. Charities reporting under Tier 3 and Tier 4 will find “Getting Started” videos, example Performance Reports, the standard, template and guidance notes, and videos on how to use the template. There is also information about specific aspects of the standards that need some extra explanation. We recommend you work through this material in the order that it is presented on the website to get the maximum benefit.
Step 4: Review additional information about tricky areas if needed
If you have found that you have gotten stuck on a particular area of your Performance Report, chances are someone else has as well. Click here to access a table that summarises the areas that we get asked about the most, and the additional resources that you can access to find the answers you need.
Step 5: Still stuck?
If you still have questions after looking through the material above, then please contact us for help on 0508 CHARITIES or email us.
Annual Return Payments
Your charity may need to pay a fee when filing its Annual Return with Charities Services. The amount your charity needs to pay will depend on your charity's gross income for the previous financial year, and whether you are filing the Annual Return online or on paper. Your Annual Return will only be displayed on the Charities Register when the correct fee is received (if applicable).
Please note that we do not issue invoices for this fee, so please make payment by internet banking as soon as you've submitted your charity's Annual Return. A receipt will be sent to your charity's primary contact once your payment is processed.
Paying the incorrect amount results in longer processing times and there may be a delay before your Annual Return details are displayed on the Charities Register. Refunding of over-payments can also take up to six weeks to process.
Please check the table below and ensure that your charity pays the correct amount as soon as it has submitted its Annual Return. Please do not send payment before you have filed your charity's Annual Return.
Please note that it is cheaper to file your Annual Return online and upload your documents during the process than it is to post/email a paper form and/or supporting documents.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Annual Meeting
We still have limited spaces available for our Charities Services' Annual Meeting in Christchurch. The meeting will be held at the Rydges Latimer Hotel on the 14th of November from 9.30am. If you would like to attend, please click here and register your details.
LINKS TO RESOURCES
Have you read our blog? Check out our recent blog posts. You can also sign up to receive our blog posts by email.
Are you currently preparing your charity's Performance Report to file with the Annual Return?
Check out the examples on our website for Tier 3 and Tier 4 charities to get an idea of the type of information included in
the Performance Report.
There is also extensive information on our website for Tier 3 and Tier 4 charities to help them prepare their report.
Did you know that you can update your charity's details online? All you need to do is log into your charity's account (using your charity's CC registration number and password) and click on the "Update Charity Details" button at the top of your charity's dashboard.
Here, you'll be able to update your charity's contact information, officer details, and other information such as its purpose and structure.