Charity Commission Annual Return: Step-by-Step Guide (2026)
How to complete your Charity Commission annual return. Deadlines, what information you need, common mistakes, and what happens if you're late.
Every registered charity in England and Wales must file an annual return with the Charity Commission. It's not optional, and being late has consequences. Here's how to get it right.
What is the Annual Return?
The annual return is a summary of your charity's finances and activities for the year. It updates the public record on the Charity Commission register. It's how the Commission monitors the charity sector and it's how the public checks whether charities are being run properly.
Who Must File?
Every charity registered with the Charity Commission, regardless of size. The complexity of the return depends on your income:
| Annual Income | What You File |
|---|---|
| Under £10,000 | Basic annual return only |
| £10,000 - £25,000 | Annual return + receipts & payments accounts OR accruals accounts |
| £25,000 - £1 million | Annual return + accruals accounts + trustees' annual report |
| Over £1 million | Annual return + audited accounts + trustees' annual report |
Deadline
Your annual return must be filed within 10 months of the end of your financial year.
Example: If your financial year ends on 31 March 2026, your annual return deadline is 31 January 2027.
What Information You Need
- Financial summary — total income, total expenditure, assets, liabilities
- Trustee details — names, dates of appointment/resignation
- Activities summary — what the charity did during the year
- Serious incidents — any serious incidents that should have been reported
- Contact details — updated address, email, and phone
- Banking details — which bank(s) you use
How to File
- Log in to the Charity Commission online portal
- Select your charity and click "File Annual Return"
- Complete each section (the form pre-fills some information)
- Upload your accounts if required
- Submit
Common Mistakes
- Filing late — the most common issue. Set a reminder 2 months before the deadline.
- Trustee details not updated — if trustees have joined or left during the year, update the register before filing
- Accounts not prepared — don't leave accounts preparation to the last minute
- Not using SORP format — if your income is over £250,000, accounts must follow the Charities SORP
- Forgetting to report serious incidents — these should be reported at the time, but the annual return asks again
What Happens If You're Late?
- Your charity will be marked as overdue on the public register — visible to anyone searching
- After persistent failure, the Commission may open a regulatory case
- In extreme cases, charities can be removed from the register
- It damages trust with donors and funders — many check the register before giving
Being on time is one of the simplest ways to demonstrate good governance.
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