Annual returns for independents and groups

An annual return is a summary of money a political participant receives, spends, and owes in a financial year (1 July to 30 June inclusive). For independent candidates, independent elected members and independent groups your annual return relates to your state campaign account.

We use annual returns to check political participants – including independent candidates, elected members and groups – are complying with funding and disclosure laws. This includes disclosing relevant political donations. Part 12 of the Electoral Act 2002 (Vic) (Electoral Act) outlines the annual return requirements.

The following information will help you understand your obligations. Please refer to the legislation for the full requirements or seek independent legal advice.

Who must submit a return

You must submit an annual return if you received political donations from any single donor that (cumulatively) were equal to or above the disclosure threshold during a financial year. Political donations include self-contributions to your own election campaign.

Declaration that annual return is not required

If you did not receive donations equal to or above the disclosure threshold (including contributions to your own election campaign) during the financial year, you are not required to submit a return.

You must declare this in writing to us by completing the declaration form (PDF) and emailing it to disclosures@vec.vic.gov.au by 20 October each year.

Due date for annual returns

Annual returns must be submitted no later than 20 October each year.

Submissions open 1 July each year.

We do not have the power or discretion to extend due dates prescribed in Part 12 of the Electoral Act. This includes when dates fall on a weekend or a public holiday.

How to submit a return

Independent candidates and independent elected members

You must submit your annual return through VEC Disclosures. You need to set up an account before you can submit your return.

Read how to submit an annual return for instructions and help.

You may complete your annual return over more than one session. You can export and print your annual return for your records.

Independent groups

Groups cannot create an annual return on VEC Disclosures. Please contact the Funding, Disclosure and Registration Team by email at disclosures@vec.vic.gov.au and we will send you an annual return form with instructions about the submission process.

Information you must submit

In relation to your state campaign account for the financial year, you must submit (including GST):

  • Total disclosed political donations

    The total dollar value of disclosed political donations received during the financial year that (in aggregation) are equal to or above the disclosure threshold.

    You must check you have correctly disclosed these donations before starting your annual return, as this information will be automatically populated in the annual return and cannot be edited. If any auto-populated details are incorrect, please contact us at disclosures@vec.vic.gov.au.

    This figure will not include donations disclosed in VEC Disclosures that (in aggregation) are less than the disclosure threshold. You must manually enter these in the 'Total undisclosed political donations' field.

  • Total undisclosed political donations

    Total dollar value of all political donations under the disclosure threshold received during the financial year that are not included in the 'Total disclosed political donations', including small contributions.

  • Number of donors for undisclosed political donations

    The number of individual donors that made a political donation under the disclosure threshold for the financial year.

    • Audit requirements

    Independent candidates, elected members and groups are not required to have their annual return audited.

    Political donations

    Donations must be up to date before you start your return

    You must disclose all donations received that are equal to or greater than the disclosure threshold in VEC Disclosures. The disclosure threshold applies to the cumulative amount donated by a donor. Political donations include self-contributions to your own election campaign.

    The field 'Total disclosed political donations (inc. GST)' auto-populates with donations disclosed in VEC Disclosures. If you start your return before ensuring your donation disclosures are up to date, it may include incorrect data and you will have to request to resubmit your return.

    Political donations are not just money

    Political donations may be money, services (including paid labour), loans, guarantees, or property (including a loan of assets). A payment made on your entity's behalf by another person or organisation for a service provided to it may also constitute a gift.

    When an item is donated to independent candidates, independent elected members and independent groups for auction at a fundraiser, 2 political donations arise:

    1. the initial donation of the item itself to the independent candidates, independent elected members and independent groups
    2. the amount paid above market value by the bidder.

    Each of these is subject to the applicable requirements for political donations.

    Silent electors

    We publish address details in your annual return as follows:

    • organisation: full address details
    • natural person: suburb and state
    • silent elector: no address details.

    We check silent elector status to ensure we do not publish suppressed addresses. You must provide full and accurate name and address details in your annual return to enable these checks.

    State campaign accounts

    Under section 207F(1) of the Electoral Act, you must keep a state campaign account for state elections. These accounts must be separate, with an authorised deposit-taking institution. This separation helps identify relevant transactions that must be disclosed.

    Offences

    It is a serious offence to breach the Electoral Act. Consequences for breaches of Part 12 may include, but are not limited to:

    • fines
    • prison sentences
    • forfeiture of prohibited donations to the state.

    A person who:

    • fails to provide an annual return as required under Part 12 of the Electoral Act is guilty of an offence under section 218A(1), with a penalty of 200 penalty units
    • provides an annual return that contains particulars that are, to the knowledge of the person, false or misleading in a material particular is guilty of an offence under section 218A(2), with a penalty of 300 penalty units or 2 years imprisonment or both.

    See Division 4 of Part 12 for a full description of offences and related penalties.

    Our role

    We provide information in relation to the operation of the Electoral Act. This information does not constitute legal advice, an indication of liability, or an exemption of liability for offences under the Electoral Act. We take no responsibility for decisions made by recipients, donors, agents, or other entities with obligations under the Electoral Act. The VEC lawfully cannot and will not exempt any person from prosecution for any offence under the Electoral Act.

    What happens after you submit your annual return

    We will check you have supplied all the information required by the Electoral Act. We may contact you or your auditor for more information or clarification.

    If you have made an error in a submitted return, please request an amendment in VEC Disclosures or by contacting us at disclosures@vec.vic.gov.au. If we grant the request, we will email you to submit an amended return.

    We publish all annual returns by 31 December on our website. This information is available to the general public.

    Contacting us

    If you have any questions, please email us at disclosures@vec.vic.gov.au or call 131 832.