1. The accounting framework at a glance

This section explains the main requirements for charities which apply for financial years (accounting periods) beginning on or after 1 November 2016 to produce:

an annual report

a set of accounts

submit an annual return to the Charity Commission

For requirements that applied for previous financial years please refer to the Commission’s guidance Charity reporting and accounting: the essentials (CC15c).

This guidance is intended to help trustees and their advisers know what should be prepared in terms of an annual report and accounts, whether an external scrutiny is needed for the accounts and the separate requirement to submit an annual return to the Commission.

It is not a legal document but an overall summary of the reporting and accounting framework for charities. It also details the deadline for submitting accounts and returns to the Commission, and when an external scrutiny in the form of an independent examination or professional audit of a charity’s accounts is required. More details about these requirements are given in the sections which follow.