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Charities Commission, Wellington
In brief: Website Up & Running, Wider Consultation on Draft Registration & Related forms, General Timings for the Registration Process, Key Milestones.
For those who haven’t already had the opportunity to do so, we recommend that you check out the Commission’s website, which is now up and running. It is still very much a work in progress, with new information being added regularly.
The Commission’s website www.charities.govt.nz is the best place to check for the latest information regarding registration requirements and the registration process, assistance with registering and information about such issues as group registration. The website address is www.charities.govt.nz.
Within the next week, the draft registration and related forms will be placed on our website www.charities.govt.nz for feedback from the charities sector. What we are interested in is;
Those wishing to provide feedback will have until Monday 7 November to do so.
Feedback we have received suggests that organisations would find it helpful if we provided a broad outline of the registration process in terms of key milestones.
Key Milestones
April 2005 Charities Act 2005 passed
July 2005 Charities Commission established
August 2005 Initial feedback on form content obtained from workshops
Guide to the Charities Act published
October 2005 Revised draft forms placed on website for wide feedback from the Charitable sector on form content
End of 2005 Registration check list available on Commission website so organisations can start preparing for registration
End of March 2006 Final content of forms established by Regulation and forms become available on the Commission website
Guide to registration/glossary available to aid completion of forms
Organisations wanting to start the registration process can call 0508 242 748 to gain assistance
Fact sheets on different registration topics become available (topics to be determined by feedback from sector and the final form of the Registration forms)
April/May 2006 Workshops on form completion start. Details on where these workshops will be held and how many are being finalised
On-line tutorial available to guide people through the registration process
Mid-2006 Register opens to receive applications to register from charitable organisations.
April 2007 It is expected that organisations will have until at least April 2007 to register before their tax status is affected
2007 onwards Filing of annual returns
Over the next few months, information aimed at assisting organisations with their preparations for registration will become available from the Commission, or downloadable from the Commission’s website.
Throughout the registration process the Commission’s monthly updates will also contain information on the registration process and the resources available.
Guide to the Charities Act: this is now available either electronically from the Commission’s website or by ringing the Commission’s free line 0508 242 748. (Please remember that registration will not commence until mid-2006.)
Registration checklist: a checklist of the things an organisation will need to have, or have done, prior to registration is currently being prepared and will be available before the end of the year.
Trevor Garrett (pictured right) is keen to meet as many people from organisations within the charitable sector as possible. Like Board members he is accepting speaking engagements and welcomes the opportunity these engagements will provide to meet people from the charitable sector; to provide information about the commission and to gain feedback.
Further information is at: /HotTopics/TaxCharities/
Full information is at: www.charities.govt.nz
Free phone: 0508 242 748
These updates will be provided monthly.