Over 80% of charities filed accounts and reports on time
Over 80% of charities with an annual reporting deadline of 31 October 2024 submitted their accounts and reports to the Commission on time.
There were 2,010 registered charities, whose financial year ended on 31 December 2023, which were legally required to submit their annual reports to the regulator by the end of October. Out of this total, 1,623 (81%) did so.
Head of Compliance and Enquiries at the Commission, Rossa Keown, has expressed his appreciation for the charities which had met their annual reporting deadline.
“It’s great to see such high filing numbers; annual reporting is not just a legal duty but highlights that a charity is open and transparent, helping to reaffirm the public’s trust in them and their work,” he said.
However, while pleased with the October filing rate, Rossa noted that there are around 1,100 charities listed on the register of charities with overdue accounts and reports.
“We believe that some of charities may have closed and not told us, meaning they haven’t filed their final set of accounts. If that is the case, I would encourage those former trustees to notify the Commission so we can update the register as soon as possible,” he continued.
“However, if your charity is still open and your annual return is simply overdue, my advice is to take action as soon as possible to ensure your accounts and reports are filed with the Commission.”
Under the new traffic light system, charities that submit annual accounts and reports on time will be marked green on the register of charities. In contrast, those that miss their deadline will receive an amber mark if they are overdue by 14 days or less, and a red mark if they are overdue by more than 14 days.
The next significant reporting peak for charities will be 31 January 2025, when 2,413 charities, with a financial year ending 31 March 2024, will be required to submit their annual reporting information - no later than ten months after the end of their financial year.
The trustees of those charities will have recently received their seven-month reminder from the Commission, highlighting the fast-approaching deadline.
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
All registered charities have a deadline to submit their annual reports and accounts to the Commission within ten months of their relevant financial year end. This deadline is set in law under section 68(3)a of the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008. This means that the Commission will not be able to amend a status once it is marked as overdue, even though the charity may have a valid reason for submitting late.
Annual reporting deadline reminders are issued to charities prior to the deadline, to remind them to submit the requested information on time. It is vital that charities ensure their trustee details and contact information on the register of charities is accurate and up to date, as otherwise they may miss out on regulatory updates and reminders issued directly from the Commission.
Changes to trustee contact details entered on the charity register can only be made by the charity via the Online services portal on the Commission’s website: Update your charity's details | The Charity Commission for Northern Ireland (charitycommissionni.org.uk).
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