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Charity Commission Login and Account Management Guide
- Julien Haye
- Jul 27, 2024
- 9 min read
Updated: Sep 24
Every charity faces an unavoidable obligation: how do we demonstrate compliance, accountability, and trust in the eyes of regulators, donors, and the public?
Filing deadlines may feel like routine administration, but the evidence tells a different story. Nearly one in ten charities miss their annual accounts submission, placing trustees in breach of their legal duties under the Charities Act 2011. In recent years, the Charity Commission has issued its first-ever Official Warnings against trustees who failed to comply, and has launched statutory inquiries into organisations showing repeated default. Late filing is not simply a technical oversight—it is visible on the public register, erodes donor confidence, and can jeopardise access to funding and tax reliefs.
The consequences of delay go beyond paperwork. The Commission’s own data shows that while 92% of charities were compliant in 2024–25, the remaining 8% risk reputational harm and regulatory action. In Scotland and Northern Ireland, regulators now flag overdue submissions in red on the public record. For trustees, this is more than a compliance box-tick—it is a matter of governance integrity.
Preparedness is not only about managing your operations, but also about fulfilling your duties of oversight. A charity that submits accurate, timely accounts signals maturity to regulators, confidence to funders, and credibility to the communities it serves. Conversely, trustees who allow filings to slip expose themselves to governance risk and, in extreme cases, personal liability.
Managing a Charity Commission account enables trustees to demonstrate compliance with the law, maintain transparency for donors and beneficiaries, and provide assurance to regulators and funders that the charity is well governed. This guide provides clear steps for setting up, accessing, and updating your account so that your organisation can meet filing deadlines confidently, keep records accurate, and strengthen public trust in its operations.
Curious how your charity measures up? Take our free Charity Governance Maturity Assessment and see how your practices compare to sector benchmarks.
Step 1 - Registering Your Charity
Charities in England and Wales with annual income above £5,000, and all Charitable Incorporated Organisations (CIOs) regardless of income, must register with the Charity Commission. Registration places your organisation on the public record, establishes its legal status, and enables trustees to access the Commission’s online services. Completing this process accurately is a statutory duty under the Charities Act 2011.
What you need to register
Before you begin the online registration, gather the following:
Charity purpose: clear description of your organisation’s objectives and activities.
Governing document: such as a constitution, trust deed, or articles of association.
Trustee details: full names, dates of birth, contact addresses, and declarations of eligibility.
Financial information: bank account details, income and expenditure records, and (if available) previous accounts.
Contact information: email, phone number, and address for the charity’s main contact.
How to register
Go to the official Charity Commission website: www.gov.uk/charity-commission.
Complete the online registration form, providing all required details and uploading supporting documents.
Submit your application and keep a copy of the confirmation for your governance records.
Trustee responsibility
Trustees are legally accountable for ensuring the information submitted at registration is complete and accurate, even if the task is delegated to staff or volunteers. Boards should:
Review draft applications before submission.
Keep copies of all documents submitted.
Record the date of registration approval in the board’s governance calendar.
Step 2 – Setting Up ‘My Charity Commission Account’ (MCCA)
Once your charity’s registration has been approved, the designated charity contact must create a My Charity Commission Account (MCCA). This secure login provides access to the Commission’s online services, including filing annual returns, updating trustee information, and submitting annual reports and accounts. Without this account, trustees cannot manage their statutory compliance requirements.
What you need to set up an account
Personal details of the charity contact (full name, email address).
A secure email address that is unique to the individual setting up the account.
A strong password, following the Commission’s security requirements.
How to create the account
Visit the official Charity Commission website at www.gov.uk/charity-commission.
Select “Create a My Charity Commission Account” and enter your details.
Choose a secure password.
Verify your account by clicking the link in the confirmation email.
Once verified, log in to the portal to access your charity’s records.
Use the portal to invite additional trustees or authorised users, assigning permissions according to their role.
Trustee responsibility
Trustees remain responsible for ensuring that the right people have access to the Commission’s portal and that permissions reflect their roles. Boards should:
Maintain a central record of who holds login credentials.
Review access permissions regularly to ensure they remain appropriate.
Avoid reliance on a single individual by ensuring more than one trustee or senior staff member has login access.
Step 3 – Logging Into Your Account
Once your charity is registered and your My Charity Commission Account (MCCA) has been created, you can log in to manage your organisation’s information and meet filing obligations.
How to log in
Go to the Charity Commission login page via www.gov.uk/charity-commission.
Enter the email address and password used when creating your account.
If prompted, complete any verification steps.
Once logged in, you will be directed to your charity’s dashboard, where you can view and update details, file annual returns, and access key compliance functions.
Good practice for login management
Use only authorised accounts: ensure that only trustees or approved staff with designated responsibility can log in.
Secure your credentials: avoid using shared inboxes or weak passwords.
Plan for continuity: make sure at least two trustees or senior staff members have login access in case one is unavailable.
Trustee responsibility
Trustees are accountable for ensuring that portal access is secure and well managed. Boards should:
Review who holds login access on a regular basis.
Require strong password practices for all authorised users.
Confirm that trustees can access the portal directly, rather than relying solely on staff.
Step 4 – Managing Your Charity’s Information
Once logged in, trustees can update and maintain the core details of their charity. Keeping this information accurate is a legal requirement and a key part of maintaining transparency.
What to keep updated
Contact information: charity address, phone number, and email.
Trustee records: add new trustees, record resignations, and update personal details.
Activities and achievements: provide updates on the charity’s work to demonstrate accountability to the public and stakeholders.
Trustee responsibility
Trustees are accountable for ensuring that all information is complete, accurate, and up to date. Boards should:
Review records at least annually as part of their governance calendar.
Ensure trustee appointments and resignations are reflected promptly.
Confirm that public-facing information communicates the charity’s mission and activities clearly.
Step 5 – Meeting Annual Filing Requirements
Every registered charity must submit reports and accounts to the Charity Commission each year. The type and detail of these submissions depend on the charity’s income and structure. Filing on time is not optional—it is a statutory requirement and a visible demonstration of governance discipline.
What needs to be submitted
Annual Return
Required for charities with an income over £10,000.
Smaller charities (under £10,000) must submit an annual update.
Annual Report
All registered charities must prepare an annual report.
Charities with income under £25,000 can submit a simplified version.
Charities with income over £25,000 must provide a detailed report, including governance and financial performance.
Accounts
Receipts and Payments Accounts: for charities with income under £250,000.
Accruals Accounts: required for charities with income over £250,000, prepared in line with the Charities SORP (Statement of Recommended Practice).
Filing process
Prepare your annual return, report, and accounts in the required format.
Log into the Charity Commission portal.
Complete the annual return form online.
Upload your annual report and accounts.
Review and confirm submission.
Keep confirmation receipts for governance records.
Tips for a smooth filing
Start early to allow time for reviews.
Double-check accuracy to avoid rejections.
Maintain copies of all submitted documents for audit and governance purposes.
Trustee responsibility
Trustees must review and approve the annual report and accounts before submission. While staff may prepare the documents, the legal accountability rests with the board. Late or inaccurate filing is a breach of trustee duty and may result in regulatory action, reputational harm, or loss of funding opportunities.
Trustee Responsibilities
Trustees carry ultimate accountability for ensuring their charity meets its legal and regulatory obligations. While staff or volunteers may support the preparation of reports and accounts, trustees remain responsible for the accuracy, timeliness, and completeness of every filing.
Legal duties
Trustees are bound under the Charities Act 2011 to submit annual returns, reports, and accounts on time. Compliance is not optional; it is a statutory requirement that forms part of trustee duty.
Oversight practices
Boards should integrate filing deadlines into their annual governance calendar, review draft accounts before submission, and maintain an audit trail of trustee approvals. This ensures accountability is clear and decisions are documented.
Consequences of failure
Repeated late filing can result in:
Official warnings from the Charity Commission.
Statutory inquiries into governance arrangements.
Loss of funding opportunities, where grant-makers and donors check compliance history.
Reputational harm, as non-compliance is visible on the public register.
Personal risk
In cases of persistent default or serious mismanagement, trustees may face regulatory action and, in extreme situations, personal liability.
Best practice
Filings should not be seen as a compliance burden. Trustees can use reports and accounts to demonstrate transparency and impact, showcasing achievements to stakeholders and strengthening trust in the charity’s governance.
Boards that treat compliance as part of their governance cycle demonstrate maturity to funders and regulators. Book a free consultation to review your board’s governance readiness and strengthen your charity’s oversight practices.
Step 6 – Ensuring Compliance and Governance Discipline
Submitting reports and accounts is not only a legal obligation—it is also one of the most visible ways trustees demonstrate their charity’s governance standards. Timely and accurate filings strengthen public trust, reassure funders, and signal that the board of trustees is fulfilling its duties under the Charities Act 2011.
Why compliance matters
Transparency: filings appear on the public register, visible to donors, regulators, and the community.
Funding credibility: funders often review compliance history before awarding grants.
Reputation: late or missing filings raise concerns about governance and can undermine donor confidence.
Consequences of non-compliance
Public flagging: overdue returns are highlighted on the public register.
Official warnings: the Charity Commission may issue warnings to trustees for repeated failure.
Statutory inquiries: ongoing non-compliance can trigger formal investigation.
Loss of funding opportunities: non-compliant charities may be excluded from grants or lose Gift Aid eligibility.
Trustee liability: in serious cases, trustees may be held personally accountable for misconduct or mismanagement.
Trustee responsibility
Trustees should embed compliance into the board’s governance cycle by:
Scheduling reporting deadlines in the annual governance calendar.
Reviewing draft filings in advance of submission.
Monitoring confirmation receipts and retaining them for audit purposes.
Regularly reviewing the charity’s entry on the public register to confirm that filings are up to date.
Step 7 – Troubleshooting and Security
Even with a well-managed account, technical issues or access problems can arise. Trustees should ensure that the charity has clear processes in place for resolving login difficulties and maintaining secure access.
Common login issues
Forgotten password: use the “Forgot Password” link on the login page to reset credentials.
Locked account: repeated failed login attempts may temporarily lock the account; contact the Charity Commission’s support team for assistance.
Technical errors: if the portal is unavailable or errors occur, use the support contact form on the Commission website.
Security best practices
Strong passwords: require unique, complex passwords for all authorised users.
Authorised access only: ensure only trustees or approved staff can log in.
Multiple access points: avoid reliance on a single individual; ensure at least two trustees or senior staff have login rights.
Regular reviews: audit access permissions annually to confirm they remain appropriate.
Trustee responsibility
Trustees are accountable for safeguarding the charity’s information. Boards should:
Establish an access management policy covering login security, password resets, and permissions.
Record who has access to the Commission portal and review this regularly.
Ensure continuity by designating multiple authorised users.
Effective security practices protect the charity from operational disruption and demonstrate that trustees are exercising oversight in line with good governance expectations.
Cyber risk is now one of the fastest-growing threats facing charities. Download our Cyber and Data Security Checklist for Charities to strengthen resilience and embed digital protection across your governance framework.
Effective use of the Charity Commission portal is a visible demonstration of trustee leadership. It shows compliance with the law, accountability to beneficiaries, and transparency to donors and regulators. By embedding these practices into board oversight, trustees protect reputation, strengthen funding credibility, and uphold their statutory duties under the Charities Act 2011.
👉 Next Steps for Trustees
Trustees who want to go further can:
Benchmark your governance practices with our Charity Governance Maturity Assessment.
Explore the Charity Risk Taxonomy to understand the broader risks your board must oversee.
Subscribe for weekly insights tailored to trustees and board members.
Book a free consultation to review your charity’s compliance cycle and governance readiness.
About the Author: Julien Haye
Managing Director of Aevitium LTD and former Chief Risk Officer with over 26 years of experience in global financial services and non-profit organisations. Known for his pragmatic, people-first approach, Julien specialises in transforming risk and compliance into strategic enablers. He is the author of The Risk Within: Cultivating Psychological Safety for Strategic Decision-Making and hosts the RiskMasters podcast, where he shares insights from risk leaders and change makers.
Disclaimer
The information provided in this article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice or an official opinion. While efforts have been made to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the content, Aevitium LTD does not accept any responsibility for any errors or omissions. Readers are encouraged to consult with professional advisors or directly with the Charity Commission for specific guidance and assistance tailored to their individual circumstances.
