Receipts and payments, or accruals? Do we need an independent examination?
Your result
Fill in the four answers and choose Check the thresholds. Your result appears here.
The Commission's thresholds
| Requirement | Years ending before 30 September 2026 | Years ending on or after 30 September 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Annual return to the Commission | Income over £10,000 | Income over £10,000 |
| Trustees’ annual report and accounts sent to the Commission | Income over £25,000 | Income over £25,000 |
| No independent examination or audit needed (unless the governing document says so) | Income £25,000 or less | Income £40,000 or less |
| Unincorporated charity and CIO can prepare receipts and payments accounts | Income £250,000 or less | Income £500,000 or less |
| Accruals accounts required | Income over £250,000 | Income over £500,000 |
| Independent examination required | Income over £25,000 | Income over £40,000 |
| Examiner must be professionally qualified | Income over £250,000 | Income over £500,000 |
| Audit required | Income over £1,000,000 | Income over £1,500,000 |
| Audit required | Income over £250,000 and assets over £3,260,000 | Income over £500,000 and assets over £5,000,000 |
Source: Charity Commission, threshold changes at a glance (GOV.UK, checked 19 October 2026). Charitable companies always prepare accruals accounts. The Commission's annual return guidance (checked 21 October 2026) says CIOs send an annual return with the trustees' annual report and accounts whatever their income.
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This applies the Charity Commission's published thresholds to the figures you type. Your governing document or a funder can ask for more, and the trustees decide. It isn't connected to the Charity Commission, OSCR or Companies House.