ICAEW articles and features
Why small charities may increasingly switch to R+P accounts
Recent changes mean that many smaller charities can reconsider whether accruals accounts remain the most appropriate option. From 30 September 2026, the income threshold for preparing accruals accounts in England and Wales will increase from £250,000 to £500,000. This change significantly expands the number of charities that can choose to prepare receipts and payments (R+P) accounts instead.
Does your charity need a trading subsidiary?
Many charities are exploring new income streams in response to funding pressures. Trading, whether through retail, events, services or commercial partnerships, can be an effective way to generate funds. However, it also introduces legal, tax and governance considerations that are not always fully understood by trustee boards.
DMCCA update: what it means for your charity’s membership income and gift aid eligibility
The UK government has recently published its response to the consultation on the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act (DMCCA) 2024, which introduces a new regime to regulate subscription contracts. While the legislation aims to protect consumers from subscription traps, it had raised significant concerns about a potential loss of membership income and the impact on Gift Aid eligibility within the charity sector.
Why strategic restructuring is no longer optional
As falling donations and rising costs squeeze charity budgets, reactive ‘salami slicing’ is no longer viable. This article highlights key points from our recent webinar and explores how strategic restructuring and dynamic Excel tools can help finance leaders move from crisis management to building mission-led resilience.
Spotting errors after filing – what you need to do next
It’s an uncomfortable moment: a set of charity accounts has been signed, filed with the regulator, and published, only for an error to come to light afterwards. While not uncommon, these situations require careful handling.
ICAEW webinars and recordings
Exclusive
SORP 2026: time to switch to Receipt and Payments accounts?
With the upcoming increase to the accruals accounts threshold and the new Charities SORP introducing more complex lease accounting, this ICAEW Charity community on-demand webinar discusses which charities can opt for cash-based accounting and how to transition from accrual accounts.
Exclusive
Impact and sustainability reporting: turning principle into practice
Learn more about the impact and sustainability reporting requirements in the new Charities SORP, including practical steps on how to put them into practice, in this Charity Community on-demand webinar.
Exclusive
Launch of the first INPAS
On-demand webinar from the Charity Community on the launch of the first International Non-Profit Accounting Standard (INPAS) and what charity accountants need to know.
Exclusive
Trustees' Annual Report: preparing for the Charites SORP 2026 with MHA
Discover how changes to the Charities SORP affect the Trustees' Annual Report and explore the impacts on your reporting in this Charity Community on-demand webinar.
Charity Community
The community focuses on supporting finance professionals in their paid or voluntary roles in the charity and voluntary sectors. It offers regular e-newsletters containing the latest news and updates, as well as technical helpsheets, webinars and discounts on ICAEW events.
Register of award holders (DChA)
A directory of finance professionals who have been awarded the Diploma in Charity Accounting. The directory is searchable by name, location and organisation.
Bloomsbury Accounting and Tax Service
Eligible firms have free access to Bloomsbury Professional's comprehensive online library, comprising around 80 titles from some of the country's leading tax and accounting subject matter experts. Find out who is eligible and how you can access the
Bloomsbury Accounting and Tax Service.
Exclusive
Charities - Sch 8 Group 15
A section on Sch 8 Group 15 to the VAT Act 1994, which zero-rates a variety of supplies either by a charity, or to a charity. Includes a consideration of donated goods and relevant goods.
Exclusive
Charitable trusts
A chapter providing guidance for tax advisers on issues relevant to the taxation of charitable trusts. Covers taxation on setting up, charity tax relief, and charity structures.
Exclusive
Charitable trusts
A chapter providing an overview of the nature of charitable trusts, the practicalities of their registration and operation, and their treatment for tax purposes (including the various reliefs available).
eBooks
The ICAEW Library & Information Service provides full text access to a selection of key business and reference eBooks from leading publishers. eBooks are available to logged-in ICAEW members, ACA students and other entitled users. If you are unable to access an eBook, please see our
Help and support advice or contact
library@icaew.com.
Exclusive
Charity law and governance: a practical guide
Guidance on the legal and regulatory framework within which both registered and unregistered charities in England and Wales operate. This title looks at the meaning of governance in the charity sector and the link between law, good governance and the role of trustees in the stewardship of charitable funds and assets.
Title has been revised to cover the latest developments in charity law and governance, including the 2015 Charities SORP and The Charities (Protection and Social Investment) Act 2016.
Exclusive
How to run a charity (2nd edition)
This guide offers practical support and advice to anyone involved in the management and administration of charities. Looks at the legal framework, finance and managing assets, the role and responsibility of charity boards and trustees in both theory and practice. Includes case studies of both good and bad practice. Updated to reflect the latest legislation including the 2015 Charities SORP and the Charities (Protection and Social Investment) Act 2016.
Charity Commission
The Charity Commission is the regulator for charities in England and Wales and responsible for setting the Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice, along with the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland and the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator.
Charity accounts, financial reporting and tax
Essential information on preparing charity annual returns, accounts and trustees' annual reports collected in one place. The listed resources include introductory guides, example accounts, document templates and technical guidance for auditors, independent examiners, trustees and those managing charity finances.
Example trustee annual reports and accounts
Example trustee reports and accounts prepared under Charities SORP (FRS 102) - second edition 2019. The examples cover a company limited by guarantee and an unincorporated trust.
Register of charities
Search for charities by keyword, classification, income range or other criteria. The register also provides access to downloadable annual reports or annual accounts for many charities, historical data and a top 50 ranking of charities by income, spending, growth and other criteria.
Charity Commission of Northern Ireland
The Charity Commission of Northern Ireland is an independent regulator responsible for setting the Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice, alongside the Charity Commission and the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator.
It provides a suite of guidance on annual reporting providing an introduction to, and overview of, the requirements for charities. Areas covered include receipts and payments accounts, accruals accounts, annual monitoring returns, guidance for independent examiners, template examiners reports and trustees annual reports.
Financial Reporting Council (FRC)
The FRC sets the principles and procedures that external auditors in the UK and the Republic of Ireland are required to follow. The FRC has published guidance relating to charities, including:
HMRC
HMRC produces many resources on charities and tax, including a set of detailed guidance notes and information on Gift Aid and the Gift Aid Small Donations Scheme.
Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator
The Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) is an independent body responsible for setting the Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice, alongside the Charity Commission.
The regulator maintains guidance on
charity accounting in Scotland, including example
receipts and payments accounts and
fully accrued accounts.
Other organisations
Association of Charity Independent Examiners
Body representing independent examiners with information about the role of the organisation, membership and independent examination.
Charity Finance Group
Specialist organisation (previously the Charity Finance Directors' Group), which assists charities to manage their finance functions. The website contains details of membership and abstracts of information sheets for the charities sector.
Charity Tax Group (CTG)
A non-profit membership organisation previously known as the Charities' Tax Reform Group, which makes representations to government on issues relating to the taxation of charities. The site includes details of its campaign priorities and information on membership.
Charities Internal Audit Network (CIAN)
Supported by the Charity Commission and the Institute of Internal Auditors UK and Ireland, the aim of CIAN is to assist its members in the voluntary sector. CIAN offers a forum, latest news, training opportunities and a special interest groups section.
Croner-i Audit and Accounting Sector Guides
Croner-i publishes a Charity Sector guide that provides specialist guidance on the legal, auditing and accounting aspects of dealing with charities.
To find out more, please contact the Library enquiry team on +44 (0)20 7920 8620 or at library@icaew.com. Access to this resource is for ICAEW members and students only.
Articles and books in the ICAEW Library collection
The collection of the ICAEW
Library & Information Service includes a number of articles and books on accounting for charities. Use the links below to see some of the titles available to request in our Library catalogue.
Charity Finance SORP compliance checklist, 2026
This regularly updated publication covers a range of compliance issues relating to charity accounts and audits. It sets out the essential reporting obligations, and is specifically tailored for charities that prepare accruals-based accounts. The Library also holds previous editions.
Charity Finance yearbook, 2026
Aimed at charity finance professionals, this yearbook includes updates and insights on accounting and audit, VAT and taxation, investment strategy, responsible investment and finance, risk management, funding, performance evaluation, governance, legal and regulatory matters, HR and pensions, information technology, and property. Also included are various model job descriptions and model terms of reference.
The taxation of small businesses, 2024-25
A practical, single-volume guide to all aspects of direct taxation of small businesses. The author clearly explains the relevant legislation, and offers practical advice on how to minimise clients' tax liabilities and avoid common pitfalls. This latest edition incorporates changes arising from the Finance Acts 2024.
The charity treasurer's handbook
This book looks at charity finances from the perspective of treasurers and finance officers in smaller charities; treasurers and finance officers of larger charities will find much of the content is applicable to them too.
Tudor on charities, 11th ed.
A comprehensive guide to the law relating to charities, written by expert practitioners. It covers a wide range of topics, including the meaning of “charity” and “charitable purposes”, the special legal treatment of charities, the role of the Charity Commission, the powers and duties of charity trustees, charities taxation, and more.
Charity accounting and reporting: an introduction
Contains sections: what is a charity; accounting and reporting- principles; the trustees' annual report and accounts; receipts and payments accounts; accruals accounts; external scrutiny; taxation; and summary of requirements.
To find out how you can borrow books from the Library please see our guide to borrowing books.
You can obtain copies of articles or extracts of books and reports through our document supply service.
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