Can a charitable organisation be removed from the Charities Register?
Charities Act 2005, ss 31, 32
The Charities Registration Board can remove or deregister a charity:
- if it no longer qualifies for charitable status because its purposes and activities are no longer charitable within the terms of the Charities Act
- if there is a significant or persistent failure by the organisation or one of its officers (or collectors) to meet its obligations under the Act (for example, if the organisation fails to file annual returns), or
- if the organisation engages in “serious wrongdoing”.
Charitable organisations can also ask to be removed from the Charities Register.
Tax rules for de-registered charities
Income Tax Act 2007, ss CW41, HR12
De-registered charities who have complied with their own constitution and rules are only subject to tax on their income from the date of the final decision to deregister. A deregistered charity that hasn’t complied with its own constitution and rules will be subject to income tax from the date of non-compliance.
A separate tax on net assets applies to deregistered charities who have not distributed any accumulated income and assets for a charitable purpose within 12 months of becoming subject to income tax.