Over 2,000 charities reminded of annual reporting deadline – 31 January

The Charity Commission for Northern Ireland is reminding 2,382 registered charities that the deadline for submitting their annual reports and accounts is fast approaching.

Charities due to file by 31 January are encouraged to act promptly to avoid missing their legal deadline and ensure transparency.

“Annual reporting is a vital part of maintaining public confidence in the charity sector and we urge all charities due to file by 31 January to prepare and submit their reports on time,” said Rossa Keown, Head of Compliance and Enquiries at the Commission.

“Our guidance is available to help trustees meet their obligations and we have also created a helpful Top Ten Tips to support charities in meeting their legal duty. Let’s work together to keep our charity sector strong, transparent and compliant,” he concluded.

Top Ten Tips

1. Check your charity’s due date
   While the end of January is a peak filing period with thousands of charities due to submit, not all charities share the same deadline. Verify your reporting period before filing – you have 10 months from the end of your financial year to report.
2. Use the Commission’s support and guidance
   Start with the practical guide: How to complete the Annual Monitoring Return – 10-minute guide.
3. Prepare your documents early
   Gather your financial statements, trustee annual report and independent examiner/auditor’s report (as applicable) well in advance.
4. Check your documents
   Double-check figures and ensure your accounts and reports meet the required format. The Commission has guidance online to help.
5. Respect GDPR
   Don’t include personal information unless legally required or consent has been obtained.
6. Update trustee details
   Ensure charity trustee information is current before filing. This keeps your charity transparent and ensures trustees receive important Commission updates and reminders.
7. Plan for hiccups
   Tech issues or delays in sign-off can cause stress. The deadline is set by law and the Commission cannot grant extensions or amend an overdue status.
8. Reach out
   If you’re unsure, contact us or one of the helper groups listed on our website. But remember, while the monitoring and compliance team is here to help, they have limited resources so response times may be slower closer to the deadline.
9. Keep your status green
   The traffic light system on the register of charities shows how up-to-date a charity is. Filing on time keeps your status green, which reflects well to funders and the public
10. Don’t leave it until the last minute – start your submission today!

You can submit your charity’s annual return here. If you’re having trouble logging in, check out the Commission’s help sheet.

Charities which file on time will be marked as green on the register of charities. Those who fail to file by the deadline will be marked as amber (overdue 14 days or less) or red (overdue more than 14 days).

For more information and guidance, visit: Annual reporting | The Charity Commission for Northern Ireland

Ends

For more information, please contact Shirley Kernan, Commission Communications Officer, on telephone: 028 3832 0169 or email: shirley.kernan@charitycommissionni.org.uk

Notes to editors

The Charity Commission for Northern Ireland is the independent regulator of charities in Northern Ireland, established under the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008.