The annual return should be prepared on a cash basis – no accruals should be included.

A donation has the same meaning as a gift under the Electoral Act.

A gift is defined as any disposition of property made by a person to another person, being a disposition made without consideration in money or money's worth or with inadequate consideration, and includes the provision of a service (other than volunteer labour) for no consideration or for inadequate consideration, but does not include:

1. a payment under Division 3; or
2. an annual subscription paid to a political party, to a State branch of a political party or to a division of a State branch of a political party by a person in respect of the person's membership of the party, branch or division; or
3. any visit, experience or activity provided for the purposes of a political exchange program.

Employee provisions (for example, provision for annual leave) are not considered debts for the purposes of disclosure and should not be included.

Funds held ‘at call’ in investment accounts in the name of the entity are considered to be controlled by the entity and should be disclosed (ie included in total receipts and payments, and receipts above the threshold if applicable).

The annual return should be prepared GST inclusive.

GST refunds should be included in total receipts and if applicable, in amounts received above the threshold.

Tax debts such as GST, PAYG and FBT, should be included in total debts and if applicable, in outstanding debts above the threshold.

Transfers between bank accounts controlled by the entity should not be included in the annual return.

Reporting internal transfers will result in double counting of amounts received and will overstate the total receipts of the entity.

Loans received by an entity should be included in total receipts and if applicable, in amounts above the threshold.

The Electoral Act has specific record keeping requirements for amounts received as a result of a loan.

A party unit, in relation to a candidate or group, means a body of persons appointed or engaged to form a committee to assist the campaign of the candidate or group in an election.

A party unit could be a local branch, an electorate/election committee or a campaign committee.