We use some essential cookies to make this website work.
We’d like to set additional cookies to understand how you use GOV.UK, remember your settings and improve government services.
We also use cookies set by other sites to help us deliver content from their services.
You have accepted additional cookies. You can change your cookie settings at any time.
You have rejected additional cookies. You can change your cookie settings at any time.
Departments, agencies and public bodies
News stories, speeches, letters and notices
Detailed guidance, regulations and rules
Reports, analysis and official statistics
Consultations and strategy
Data, Freedom of Information releases and corporate reports
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
There are 6 steps to setting up a charity. Find trustees for your charity…
Your charity must have ‘charitable purposes’ that help the public (known…
The official name of your charity is known as its ‘main name’. Your…
You must choose a structure for your charity, which will affect things…
You must create a ‘governing document’ (or ‘rulebook’) for your charity…
You must apply to register your charity if both: its income is at least…
Tax exemptions and reliefs for charities - apply for recognition by HMRC as a charity, reclaim tax on Gift Aid, profits and expenditure
As a charity you can get certain tax reliefs. To benefit you must be…
As a charity you do not pay tax on most of your income and gains if you…
To get tax relief your charity must be: based in the UK established for…
If you receive income with tax deducted, for example donations you can…
If your charity has income that does not qualify for tax relief you must…
We register and regulate charities in England and Wales, to ensure that the public can support charities with confidence. The Charity Commission is a non-ministerial department.
Search the charity register to find details of registered charities in England and Wales including contact information, activities, latest financial reports and current trustees.
Apply for a Temporary Work - Charity Worker visa to do unpaid charity work - eligibility, documents, family members
How to manage and review your charity's connection to a non-charity.
Tax relief on donations, Gift Aid, payroll giving, leaving a gift in your will, keeping tax records; find a charity; donating land, property or shares
Decide whether to set up a charitable incorporated organisation (CIO), a charitable company or an unincorporated association or trust.
How to identify partners to work with, draw up agreements and fundraise for other charities.
Charities can register online with HMRC and claim tax relief or get tax back on Gift Aid donations and bank interest, charitable purposes, registration
Charity trustees must 'have regard' to the Charity Commission's public benefit guidance when carrying out activities to which it's relevant.
How to set up a charity: find trustees, choose a name and structure, create a governing document, meet the public benefit requirement, register your charity.
How to link charities to make accounting and reporting easier.
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
Choose a unique name that people will remember when they want to make a donation or to volunteer.
Find out what trustees need to do before deciding whether to make a grant to an organisation that isn’t a charity.
Read about the changes that have been introduced by the Charities Act 2022.
Find out when it's possible to get zero-rated supplies on medical and research goods and services that have been funded by charities.
How to decide what your charity’s purposes are and write them in the ‘objects’ clause of your governing document.
Don’t include personal or financial information like your National Insurance number or credit card details.
To help us improve GOV.UK, we’d like to know more about your visit today. Please fill in this survey (opens in a new tab).