A partnership is a business structure where two or more people share income or losses. There are three main types:
- general partnerships
- limited partnerships
- incorporated limited partnerships.
How partnerships are identified
If your organisation is a partnership and a relevant employer, specific reporting requirements apply. Partnerships must identify themselves correctly.
| How identification works: |
|---|
| If your ABN is linked to a partnership entity type on the ABR, the registration form will automatically classify your organisation as a partnership. |
| If the ABR does not show a partnership but your organisation operates as one, manually select 'Yes' to the question: ‘Is this organisation a partnership and/or are there partners in its governing body?’ |
Already registered but need to update your entity type to a partnership?
- Lodge a support request via the Employer Portal or refer to Support & contact us if you are unable to access it.
Why correct identification matters
Correctly identifying as a partnership ensures your organisation:
- completes the partnership-specific version of the Workforce Management Statistics
- accurately reports the composition of equity and non-equity managers.
Lodging your report as a partnership
Partners are included in your reporting requirements. Refer to the below table for how to report partners.
| Partners without an employment contract | Partners with an employment contract | |
| Eligibility (headcount) | No, not part of headcount | Yes, part of headcount |
| Questionnaire – governing bodies section | Yes, reported if part of governing body | Yes, reported if part of governing body |
| Questionnaire – paid parental leave utilisation | No, not reported | Yes* |
| Workforce Management Statistics – Questions 1–8 | No, not reported | Yes* |
| Workforce Management Statistics – Question 9 | Yes, reported | Yes |
| Workplace Profile | No, not reported | Yes* |
Note: Partners with an employment contract are reported as per their employed role, not in reference to their partnership role or any fees or payments associated with that partnership role or agreement.
Special cases
Managing partners as CEO equivalents
If the managing partner is a CEO or equivalent, their remuneration data must be reported as if they were an employee (i.e. held an employment contract).
When an organisation has been identified as a partnership:
- Answer an additional question in the Workforce Management Statistics sheet relating to the number of equity and non-equity partners.
- Include employed partners in the Workplace Profile as if they are employees. Make sure to categorise and report payments that relate to their employed position only.
If a partnership structure is covered under the Act, it must report on:
- the number and gender composition of any partners sitting on governing bodies in the Questionnaire
- the number and gender composition of full-equity partners and non-equity partners who are on partnership terms and agreements (no salary) in the Workforce Management Statistics
- full- or part-salaried partners in the Workplace Profile (as their salaried position) and the managing partner, as CEO, in the Workplace Profile.