Charities and social enterprises

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Services

1. Send a charity's annual return

   You must send an annual return if your charity’s income is more than £10,000. All charities must keep their registered details up to date.

2. Claim Gift Aid online

   Submit a claim for Gift Aid, the Gift Aid small donation scheme (GASDS) and other income; schedule spreadsheets; registering and enrolling for a Charities Online account; activation codes

3. Set up a charity

   To start a charity you need trustees, to choose a business structure, decide suitable charitable purposes and you may have to register with the Charity Commission

4. Claiming Gift Aid as a charity or CASC

   What Gift Aid is, who can claim, what donations are eligible for Gift Aid, Gift Aid declarations for your charity or community amateur sports club (CASC), how to claim

5. Tell the Charity Commission about a change to your charity

   Change your charity's details with the Charity Commission online

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Guidance and regulation

1. Prepare a charity annual return
   • Detailed guide
   • 10 January 2019
   • The Charity Commission
2. Charity types: how to choose a structure (CC22a)
   • Detailed guide
   • 4 November 2014
   • The Charity Commission
3. The essential trustee: what you need to know, what you need to do (CC3)
   • Guidance
   • 3 May 2018
   • The Charity Commission
4. Schedule spreadsheet to claim back tax on Gift Aid donations
   • Detailed guide
   • 11 December 2014
   • HM Revenue & Customs
5. Setting up a charity: model governing documents
   • Guidance
   • 1 January 2012
   • The Charity Commission

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News and communications

20 February 2019 — News story

Charity art auction for Mind West Cumbria

Sellafield Ltd

1. Charity Fraud Awareness Week wins award
   • 20 February 2019
   • The Charity Commission
   • News story
2. Community Interest Companies: The New Online Incorporation Process Webinar – 06 March 2019 12:00pm – 1:00pm
   • 20 February 2019
   • Office of the Regulator of Community Interest Companies
   • News story
3. Jeremy Wright's speech at Doteveryone's Responsible Tech conference
   • 31 January 2019
   • Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport and Office for Civil Society
   • Speech
4. Bognor Regis business saves lives with UK aid
   • 17 January 2019
   • Department for International Development
   • Press release

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Research and statistics

1. Community Interest Companies registered in February 2019
   • 5 March 2019
   • Office of the Regulator of Community Interest Companies
   • Official statistics
2. Supporting Papers - Growing a Culture of Social Impact Investing
   • 13 February 2018
   • Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport and HM Treasury
   • Research
3. Taken on Trust: awareness and effectiveness of charity trustees in England and Wales
   • 13 November 2017
   • The Charity Commission
   • Research
4. Social enterprise: market trends 2017
   • 15 September 2017
   • Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport, Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy, and Office for Civil Society
   • Research
5. Advisory panel to mission-led business review: final report
   • 5 December 2016
   • Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport and Office for Civil Society
   • Independent report

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Policy papers and consultations

1. The Eco Larder CIC
   • 15 February 2019
   • Companies House
   • Case study
2. How the Charity Commission appoints Interim Managers
   • 17 January 2019
   • The Charity Commission
   • Policy paper
3. Bear Pit Theatre
   • 15 November 2018
   • Companies House
   • Case study
4. Increases to charities’ small trading exemption limits
   • 29 October 2018
   • HM Revenue & Customs
   • Policy paper
5. Gift Aid Small Donations Scheme changes
   • 29 October 2018
   • HM Revenue & Customs
   • Policy paper

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Transparency and freedom of information releases

1. Dealing with wrongdoing and harm 2017-18
   • 29 January 2019
   • The Charity Commission
   • Corporate report
2. Charity reserves policies: demonstrating and building resilience
   • 21 November 2018
   • The Charity Commission
   • Transparency
3. Accounts monitoring review: assessing the standard of charity financial information
   • 25 September 2018
   • The Charity Commission
   • Transparency
4. Joint Committee on Human Rights: Charity Commission evidence and response
   • 14 May 2018
   • The Charity Commission
   • Transparency
5. Accounts monitoring: concerns highlighted by auditors in their audit reports 2017
   • 15 March 2018
   • The Charity Commission
   • Transparency

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Organisations

1. Cabinet Office
2. HM Revenue & Customs
3. Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport
4. Office for Civil Society
5. HM Treasury

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1. Companies House
2. Department for International Development
3. Department for Education
4. Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street
5. Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy
6. Department for International Trade
7. Department for Work & Pensions
8. Home Office

1. The Charity Commission
2. Office of the Regulator of Community Interest Companies
3. Sellafield Ltd
4. Innovate UK
5. Nuclear Decommissioning Authority

Explore sub-topics

1. Charity money, tax and accounts
2. Community interest companies
3. Fundraising
4. Trustee role and board