About our services

Find out how to contact us, get a password or log into Charity Commission online services.

Change password for online services (request new or replacement)

If you are an established, registered charity you can request a new or replacement password online.

You’ll need to enter your charity number and the password will be emailed to the address we have on file.

This password gives people in your charity access to detailed information about your charity and individuals connected with it. In giving access to this password you need to have measures in place to make sure that the system is used only for proper purposes, and that the information accessed through the Commission’s services will be treated carefully and sensitively and in accordance with legal requirements including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

If you are applying to register a charity and need a new password, you can request it through the registration service.

Charity annual return service

Find out how to prepare and complete your annual return online. Charities must submit a return no later than 10 months after the end of their financial year.

If you want your charity’s accountant or other adviser submit accounts on behalf of your charity, find out how to authorise this.

Charity registration certificate

This document proves that your organisation is a registered charity. You may need a registration certificate when opening a bank account or applying for a grant.

Read our guidance about charity registration certificates and how to apply for one.

Change or update your charity details (including contact details and email addresses)

Use this service to change charity details such as:

  • contact details
  • email addresses
  • trustee details
  • website address
  • financial year end
  • where your charity operates
  • the charity’s classifications - what it does, who it helps and how it operates
  • the description of your charity’s activities
  • bank or building society account details

Change your financial year

Read the guidance and use our online service to change your charity’s financial year or period.

Change your governing document

Read the guidance and use our online service to request a change to a governing document.

Change your charity name

Read the guidance and use our online service to change a charity name.

If your organisation isn’t a charity you need to apply for permission to use the word ‘charity’ in a company name. Our policy about names explains what you should consider and how to apply.

If your organisation is a charity, we have separate guidance to help you choose a charity name.

Close your charity

Read our guidance to find out how to close a charity.

You’ll also need to complete the closure form on the guidance page to remove a charity from the register.

Complain about a charity (including serious incidents and whistleblowing)

There are several ways to complain about a charity depending on whether you are a member of the public, charity trustee or charity employee.

If you are a charity trustee, you must report a serious incident as soon as possible after it happens, or immediately after you become aware of it.

If you are a charity worker or volunteer you can also report serious wrongdoing at a charity.

Convert a charitable company to a CIO

From 1 January 2018 charitable companies with a yearly income of under £12,500 can use a simple process to change to a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO).

The process will become available to larger charities in phased stages, you can read more about these changes and view the timetable in our legislative changes guide.

We have also updated our guidance about changing your charity structure to explain how to convert a charitable company to a CIO.

Make a moral (ex gratia) payment

Charities can only spend their money on projects or activities that support the aims stated in their governing documents. But there may be times when trustees feel they should make a payment out of a moral obligation.

Read about how charities can make moral (ex gratia) payments.

We have detailed guidance about how to merge or link charities. The guidance page also has a link to our form to submit your request to the Charity Commission.

Paying charity trustees

Read about the rules for paying charity trustees and how to request permission from the Charity Commission.

Request a review of a Charity Commission decision

Our complaints procedure explains what you need to do if you want the Charity Commission to review a decision.

Sell, lease, buy, mortgage or transfer charity land and property

Find out how to follow charity law and what to do when you need to buy, sell, lease, mortgage or transfer charity land and property.

Sell or lease property to someone connected to your charity

Find out how about selling or leasing charity property and how to complete the online request form.

Set up and register a charity

Our set up a charity step by step guide includes all the information you need.

Spend or transfer permanent endowment

Permanent endowment is money or property that was originally meant to be held by a charity forever.

Our guidance explains the processes around permanent endowment, and how to apply for consent to spend it.

Transfer charity assets

Find out how to transfer a charity’s money, investments or property to another charity if it closes, merges or is replaced by a charitable company or CIO.

Transfer property to Official Custodian

Read our guidance to find out how to ask the Official Custodian for Charities to hold the title to your charity’s land on your behalf.

Trustee and charity senior manager disqualification: apply for a waiver

From 1 August 2018 there will be more restrictions on who can run a charity.

Find out about automatic disqualification rules and how to apply for a waiver from the Charity Commission.

Help with using online forms and services

If you need help to use a form or online service you can contact us by telephone.

We also have an online contact form. If you contact us using this form we aim to respond within 30 working days.

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