You can download a PDF version of this guidance here |
This Guide sets out the legal requirements for preparing charity accounts and getting those accounts externally scrutinised.
The type of accounts that your charity should prepare and the kind of external scrutiny that is required depends on several factors, which we explain in this Guide.
Please read this Guide before you begin to prepare your charity’s accounts in order to be clear about what your charity needs to do.
This Guide is for:
Some charities will also have to prepare accounts in line with other legislation and regulations, for example:
For these charities the Guide will need to be read alongside the other legislation or regulations that are specific to them.
The Guide is split into three parts.
This Guide is for all charities. It gives an overview of the law regarding charities’ accounts and essential information relevant to all charities. It will help you decide what kind of accounts you need to prepare.
This Guide is for charities that need to prepare Receipts and Payments accounts.
This Guide is for charities that need to prepare Fully Accrued Accounts.
All charities should read Part 1, you will then need to read part 2 or 3 depending on the type of accounts you have to prepare.
Key terms are highlighted in bold purple type. Clicking on these terms will take you to either the charity law glossary on our website or to our specific accounting terms glossary.
The main piece of charity law in Scotland that sets out the requirements for being a charity and establishes OSCR.
The Regulations set out in detail what information trustee annual reports and charity accounts must contain and when they must be submitted to OSCR.
The SORP sets the framework for charity financial reporting in the UK for charitable companies, charities with income of £250,000 and more and all other charities preparing accruals accounts.
OSCR publishes general guidance for charities, but we can’t provide specific advice on the full range of things which can happen in or affect your charity.
Below is a list of organisations, professional bodies and publications that can help with some or all of the areas set out in the Guide and more:
Professional bodies: