Under professional standards legislation, associations that apply for or operate a professional standards scheme are required to pay certain fees. These fees are payable to the Professional Standards Councils.
For further information refer to the Guidance Note on Fees Payable and Assurance Reporting.
A $5,000 fee is payable when your association submits its application for a professional standards scheme.
You will also need to pay an application fee if your association applies:
- to amend its professional standards scheme before it expires
- to revoke its current scheme before it expires
- for a new professional standards scheme when its current one expires
- for a new professional standards scheme if its current one is revoked.
Associations are required to pay annual fees for each person to whom their professional standards scheme applies, who is a member of the association at any time during the annual fee period. This fee is currently set at $50 per member.
The fee is calculated per annual fee period – that is, each period of 12 months starting on the date your professional standards scheme commences, and on each anniversary of that date.
The annual fee is payable for all scheme members as at the scheme commencement or anniversary date. This is payable in the relevant calendar quarter. For example: if you have 1,000 participating members on the day your professional standards scheme starts, your annual fees would be $50,000.
In addition, you must pay the annual fee for each new or additional member of the association who becomes subject to your professional standards scheme during the relevant annual fee period.
New South Wales and Victorian associations
In New South Wales and Victoria, the annual fee is payable for new additional members added during the relevant annual fee period. This is payable in the quarter in which the next scheme commencement or anniversary annual fee is due (an ‘annual adjustment’). For example, if you had 100 new members added during the relevant annual fee period, you would need to pay an annual adjustment of $5,000.
In total, you will make two payments each year - one payment for scheme members on your scheme commencement/anniversary date, and one annual adjustment payment. Both payments are due by the same date.
All other state and territory associations
In all other states and territories, the annual fee is payable for new or additional members added during the relevant quarter periods. This is payable in the calendar quarter (a ‘quarterly adjustment’). For example, if you had 10 new members added during a particular quarter, you would need to pay a quarterly adjustment of $500.
In total, in these jurisdictions you will make at least five payments each year - one payment for scheme members on your scheme commencement/anniversary date, and at least four quarterly adjustment payments. The scheme commencement/anniversary and first annual adjustment payments are due by the same date.
Annual fee due dates
Annual fees are payable to the Councils by 31 January, 31 March, 30 June and 30 September for the applicable quarter and relevant annual fee payments. Fees paid after the due date may incur interest.
Please note:
- No refunds are payable on fees for members who leave the scheme before your annual fee period ends.
- No discounts apply on adjustment fees. The full $50 fee is payable for each new or additional member regardless of when they become subject to your scheme in the annual fee period.
- Fees must be paid for all scheme participating members, including individuals and companies, and employees, partners, officers (such as directors) who are also members.
- To avoid counting members twice during the annual fee period, you should only adjust for new or additional members who are added after your schemes’ commencement or anniversary date.
All associations with a professional standards scheme must provide us with an Annual Membership Assurance Report that details the number of scheme members, fees payable and fees paid for each annual fee period.
If your association has 100 or more scheme members, you will need to provide an Annual Membership Assurance Report signed by a member of a professional accounting body.
If your association has less than 100 scheme members, you will need to provide an Annual Membership Assurance Report signed by your Chief Executive Officer and Finance Officer.
To access the Annual Membership Assurance Report refer to the template.
The Assurance Reports must be provided within two months of the date the scheme anniversary annual fee is due. For example, if your anniversary annual fee is due by 30 September, you must provide your Assurance Report for the prior annual fee period (prior full scheme year) by 30 November each year.