The Charity Commission has released its updated annual return, which includes new questions on the amount of income from government and whether the charity has a policy on staff pay.
Registered charities with an income over £10,000 and all charitable incorporated organisations with financial years ending in 2015 must fill out the online form. The information included on the form will then be included on the public register of charities.
The three new questions are:
- In the reporting period, how much income did you receive from a) contracts from central or local government to deliver services and b) grants from central or local government?
- Does your charity have a policy on paying its staff?
- Has your charity reviewed its financial controls during the reporting period?
Charities have ten months from their year-end to complete the annual return.
Sarah Atkinson, director of policy and communications at the Charity Commission, said: “Charities will recognise that the public’s appetite for information about where their money comes from, and how they use it, is growing. It is therefore vital for charities to provide the regulator with up to date information. Completing the annual return is about meeting both your legal responsibilities and the expectations of the public – there’s no excuse.
“As well as improving transparency, I hope the new questions will also promote good governance by prompting trustees to consider carefully their charity’s financial controls and the basis for setting staff pay.”
The Commission is getting tougher on charities which do not file their annual returns and accounts on time. Earlier this week it added 17 organisations to its class inquiry into charities which have not filed on time more than once.
