UK Statutory Instrument 2005 United Kingdom

Community Interest Company Regulations 2005

View on legislation.gov.uk Ask Guv about this Act

At a glance

Enforced by

CIC Regulator

What's here

20 compliance obligations, 3 practical guides · 1 journey

Who this Act binds

Business-side actors with duties under this Act, ranked by how often they appear.

Trader 10
Director or Officer 3
Applicant 1

Plus 6 non-business duties on Crown ministers, regulators, local authorities or tribunals — shown collapsed under each section below.

Step-by-step journeys using this legislation

Walkthroughs that take you from a real business situation to compliance.

Set up a community interest company (CIC)

3 steps

Relevant guidance

Practical guides for businesses affected by this Act, ordered by how closely they engage with it.

Supporting — topic alignment

3 guides

Meet your ongoing CIC compliance obligations

Set up a community interest company (CIC)

Understand CIC asset lock rules

Other Acts binding the same actors

For each actor bound by this Act, the other UK Acts that bind them most often. Useful for understanding the full compliance landscape facing each role.

Traders also bound by 219 other Acts (top 5 shown)

Value Added Tax Regulations 1995 1995 952 duties
TULRCA 1992 1992 39 duties
Companies Act 2006 2006 39 duties
Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013 2013 39 duties
The Customs (Import Duty) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018 2018 33 duties

Directors and Officers also bound by 224 other Acts (top 5 shown)

Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016 2016 75 duties
Companies Act 2006 2006 63 duties
Insolvency Act 1986 1986 46 duties
CCBSA 2014 2014 22 duties
CAICEA 2004 2004 18 duties

Applicants also bound by 146 other Acts (top 5 shown)

Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016 2016 22 duties
Value Added Tax Regulations 1995 1995 20 duties
Human Medicines Regulations 2012 2012 20 duties
Space Industry Regulations 2021 2021 12 duties
Infrastructure Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2017 2017 10 duties

What this Act requires

Sections that create concrete duties on businesses or carry penalties. Procedural and definitional sections are folded into the “Browse other sections” expander at the bottom of each group. Click any section title to read the source text on legislation.gov.uk.

Part 1 — Citation, commencement and interpretation

Browse 2 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement

s.001

Citation and commencement

s.002

Interpretation

Part 2 — The community interest test and excluded companies

Browse 2 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement

s.004

Other activities not to be treated as being carried on for the benefit of the community

s.006

Excluded companies

Part 3 — Requirements concerning the memorandum and articles

s.007

Company without share capital

Include statutory clauses in articles for CICs without share capital Trader

s.008

Company with share capital

Include mandatory clauses in CIC articles of association Trader

s.010

Declaration of dividends

Ensure CIC dividends are only declared by member resolution Trader

Browse 1 other section in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement

s.009

Alternative provisions

Part 4 — Prescribed documents

s.011

Prescribed formation documents

Submit community interest statement and non-exclusion declaration Director or Officer

s.012

Prescribed conversion documents

Prepare and sign conversion documents to become a CIC Director or Officer

Part 5 — Alteration of objects

s.013

Requirement for Regulator’s approval

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator

Regulator must approve changes to your CIC's objects Statutory regulator

s.014

Documents to be delivered to registrar of companies

Deliver specific statements to the Registrar when changing your CIC's objects Trader

s.015

Decisions etc

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator

CIC Regulator must decide on changes to company objects Statutory regulator

Browse 1 other section in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement

s.016

Exemptions

Part 6 — Restrictions on distributions and interest

s.021

The interest cap

Adhere to the interest cap on performance-related debt Trader

s.023

Distribution of assets on a winding up

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator

CIC Regulator must direct the distribution of assets when a CIC closes Statutory regulator

s.024

Redemption and purchase of shares

Limit share buyback or redemption payments to paid-up value Trader

s.025

Reduction of share capital

Limit lead-out from share capital reductions Trader

Browse 5 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement

s.017

Part 7 — Community interest company report

s.026

General

Prepare and file an annual Community Interest Company (CIC) report Trader

s.027

Information about dividends

Include detailed dividend information in your annual CIC report Trader

Browse 2 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement

s.028

Information about debts or debentures on which a performance-related rate is payable

s.029

Application of the 1985 Act

Part 8 — Managers

s.033

Reports

Submit reports to the CIC Regulator when requested Director or Officer

Browse 3 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement

s.030

Part 9 — The registrar of companies

s.035

Documents

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator

Registrar of Companies must notify the Regulator of CIC insolvency procedures Statutory regulator

Browse 1 other section in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement

s.034

Modifications and amendments

Part 10 — Fees

s.036

Fees payable by a community interest company

Pay required fees for CIC regulatory functions Trader

Part 11 — The Appeal Officer

s.037

Time limits

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator

Regulator must process and forward Community Interest Company appeals Statutory regulator

s.038

Notice of appeal

Include specific details in your notice of appeal to the CIC Regulator Applicant

s.042

Reasons

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator

Appeal Officer must provide reasoned decisions and publish them Tribunal / Court

Browse 3 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement

s.039

Schedules

Browse 2 other Schedules — structural / supplementary

s.003

ALTERNATIVE PROVISIONS PRESCRIBED FOR THE MEMORANDUM OR ARTICLES OF A COMMUNITY INTEREST COMPANY LIMITED BY SHARES, OR LIMITED BY GUARANTEE WITH A SHARE CAPITAL

s.005

FEES PAYABLE TO THE REGISTRAR OF COMPANIES

Read the full Act on legislation.gov.uk

Official guidance

Authoritative sources published by regulators or government explaining this legislation.

Audit exemptions (GOV.UK) (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
OSCR accounts and finance guidance (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
Gender pay gap reporting guidance (GOV.UK) (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance

Enforcement and responsible bodies

The regulators that administer or enforce this legislation.

CIC Regulator

Office of the Regulator of Community Interest Companies

Regulates Community Interest Companies, a special type of limited company for social enterprises that use profits for community benefit. Approves CIC registration …

At a glance

Who this Act binds

Step-by-step journeys using this legislation

Relevant guidance

Supporting — topic alignment

Other Acts binding the same actors

What this Act requires

Part 1 — Citation, commencement and interpretation

Part 2 — The community interest test and excluded companies

Part 3 — Requirements concerning the memorandum and articles

Part 4 — Prescribed documents

Part 5 — Alteration of objects

Part 6 — Restrictions on distributions and interest

Part 7 — Community interest company report

Part 8 — Managers

Part 9 — The registrar of companies

Part 10 — Fees

Part 11 — The Appeal Officer

Schedules

Official guidance

Enforcement and responsible bodies

Explore more