One of the ways public trust and confidence in charity is maintained is by the fact that charities are transparent and accountable. All charities must, by law, maintain accounting records and prepare publicly accessible reports of their accounts.

Over 85% of registered charities count as small and are able to take advantage of simpler reporting and accounting arrangements. The links below set out a checklist of what you need to do each year, depending on yoor charity's annual income.

• My charity's annual income is £25,000 or less
• My charity's annual income is more than £25,000 and less than £500,000 

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My charity's annual income is £25,000 or less

Every year you must do these things:

• Keep accounting records
• Prepare accounts each year and allow the public to see them on request.
• If your charity has a gross income of £250,000 or less and is not a company then you may be able to prepare a simpler form of accounts called receipts and payments accounts
• If your charity is a company, prepare accrual accounts
• If you prepare accrual accounts, these must meet the requirements of the SORP for charities
• Write a trustees’ annual report
• Your trustees’ annual report must show how your charity provides a public benefit
• Update the information we hold about your charity in our records

More detail

• What information must trustees send us this year?
• Guidance for small charities about the SORP
• Preparing your accounts
• Charity accounting and reporting 

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