Charitable organisations: Registration of charities

Registration of charities

The Charities Commission

The Charities Commission (established as an autonomous crown entity under the Charities Act 2005) has two main functions:

• to provide education and support to the charitable sector, and
• to register and monitor charitable entities that wish to obtain income tax exempt status.

Registering with the Charities Commission

The Commission maintains a register of charitable entities. Registration is voluntary, but since 1 July 2008 a charity needs to be registered by the Charities Commission to qualify for the following tax benefits:

• exemption from income tax
• gifts to the charity exempt from gift duty (for gifts made before 1 October 2011)

Go to the registration guidelines on the Charities commission website

For more information

You can:

• go to the Charities Commission website for their:
  • Tax and donee status - how the Charities Act affects charitable tax status factsheet
  • Charitable status of sport and recreation organisations factsheet
  • A Guide to the Charities Act
• phone 0508 CHARITIES (0508 242 748)

Date published: 30 Aug 2011

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