Reporting related-party transactions

In 2023 annual information statements, all but basic religious charities will be required to report their related-party transactions to the ACNC due to changes announced in November 2021.

The commission has defined a ‘related party’ according to charity size – a simplified definition for small charities, and for medium and large charities the definition used in AASB 124 Related Party Disclosures.


For a small charity, a related party is a person or organisation that is connected to the charity and has significant influence over it. The definition includes:

  • A charity’s responsible people and their close family members
  • A charity’s senior management and their close family members, and
  • Other people or organisations that can influence a charity’s decision-making.

ACNC commissioner Sue Woodward said: ‘The ACNC collecting information about related-party transactions is an important part of our work to support good governance and transparency by registered charities. Keeping a record of related party transactions is also part of how charities should manage any conflicts of interest’.

Reportable related-party transactions include:

  • Fees paid to a related party for providing goods and services to the charity

  • Loans from or to a related party
  • Salary or wages paid to a related party’s relative
  • Transfer of charity property or assets to a related party
  • Charity goods or services provided at a discount to a related party
  • Significant use of charity property by a related party, and
  • Investment in a related party.

The commission recommends that each charity has a policy and procedure for dealing with related-party transactions. It would help ensure that the charity records and discloses related-party transactions appropriately.

It would also clarify who should be involved in making decisions about related-party transactions and what criteria should be met before entering into a related-party transaction.

The policy should also clarify how a charity can demonstrate that entering a related-party transaction was the best decision, and how it managed the conflict of interest that accompanied the decision.

ACNC guidance on related-party transactions has been updated and outlines how the new obligations apply to charities of different sizes. The commission has also developed a template for related-party transactions.