Regulator profile
Charity Commission
Charity Commission for England and Wales
Enforcement Regulator4 areas of regulation · 7 official guidance documents · 11 laws enforced · England & Wales
What Charity Commission does
Statutory regulator of registered charities in England and Wales. Maintains the public register of charities (168,000+ registered). Ensures charity trustees comply with legal obligations. Investigates concerns about mismanagement or misconduct. Provides guidance on charity law and governance.
Additional information
Non-ministerial government department. Scotland: Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR). Northern Ireland: Charity Commission for Northern Ireland. Contact via online forms at forms.charitycommission.gov.uk
Contact Charity Commission
Types of regulation
Official guidance from Charity Commission
Curated guidance documents to help you understand your obligations.
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Charity Commission for England and Wales
Detailed Guidance
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Charity reporting essentials (CC15d)
Publication
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Independent examination guidance (CC32)
Publication
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Charitable purposes guidance
Detailed Guidance
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Model governing documents
Detailed Guidance
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Report a serious incident
Detailed Guidance
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Trustee disqualification rules
Detailed Guidance
Legal framework
Legislation that Charity Commission directly enforces.
Primary legislation
- Charities Act 1992 Act 1992
- Charities Act 2011 Act 2011
- CPSIA 2016 Act 2016
- Charities Act 2022 Act 2022
Secondary legislation
- The Charitable Institutions (Fund-Raising) Regulations 1994 UK Statutory Instrument 1994
- Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 UK Statutory Instrument 2008
- Charitable Incorporated Organisations (General) Regulations 2012 UK Statutory Instrument 2012
- Charitable Incorporated Organisations (Insolvency and Dissolution) Regulations 2012 UK Statutory Instrument 2012
- Charities Act 2011 (Principal Regulators of Exempt Charities) Regulations 2013 UK Statutory Instrument 2013
- Charities (Dispositions of Land: Designated Advisers and Reports) Regulations 2023 UK Statutory Instrument 2023
- Charities (Annual Return) Regulations 2024 UK Statutory Instrument 2024
Related legislation
Legislation connected to Charity Commission's remit but not directly enforced — establishing Acts, amendments, referenced legislation, and context.
Administered / monitored
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Charities (Exception from Registration) (Amendment) Regulations 2021
UK Statutory Instrument 2021 -
Charities Act 2022 (Commencement No. 1, Consequential and Saving Provision) Regulations 2022
UK Statutory Instrument 2022 -
Charities Act 2022 (Commencement No. 2 and Saving Provisions) Regulations 2023
UK Statutory Instrument 2023 -
Charities Act 2022 (Commencement No. 3, Consequential, Saving and Transitional Provisions) Regulations 2024
UK Statutory Instrument 2024 -
Exempt Charities Order 2024
UK Statutory Instrument 2024 -
Charities Act 2022 (Commencement No. 4 and Saving Provision) Regulations 2025
UK Statutory Instrument 2025 -
Exempt Charities Order 2025
UK Statutory Instrument 2025
Coverage area
England & Wales