The review follows class inquiries undertaken by the Charity Commission which identify those charities who fail to file accounts properly in 2 consecutive years.  Fourteen of the 32 charities that were placed into the class inquiry by the Charity Commission in 2015-16 submitted their accounts to the Charity Commission during the year, as did 13 from the 2014-15 class inquiry. 

As well as highlighting that “the majority of the accounts submitted were found to be of good and acceptable quality”, the Charity Commission provides some wider lessons for trustees, auditors and independent examiners including: 

• The trustees of all registered charities must prepare a trustees’ annual report and accounts.
• All registered charities with an income of over £25,000 and all charitable incorporated organisations (CIOs) irrespective of income, must file their trustees’ annual report and accounts and external scrutiny report with the Charity Commission within 10 months of their financial year end.
• It is the responsibility of trustees to ensure the right external scrutiny is carried out where required by charity law.
• It is the responsibility of trustees of charitable companies to ensure that their charity’s report and accounts are filed with both Companies House and the Charity Commission.
• It is the responsibility of an independent examiner to check that their charity client is eligible for independent examination. 

The report also highlights a number of resources to assist trustees and independent examiners on the preparation and scrutiny of the annual report and accounts.  

The press release and report are available on the Charity Commission website.