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Filing charity annual returns during the coronavirus pandemic

Any charity that needs an extension to their annual return deadline can contact the Charity Commission to ask for one.

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Filing extensions are no longer available for COVID-19 related delays. Please see our guidance on preparing a charity annual return.

During the coronavirus pandemic the charity sector will face challenges of looking after its staff, volunteers and trustees who may fall ill, have to self-isolate, or have to look after loved ones. The sector also has a vital role to play in looking after its beneficiaries, many of whom will be amongst the most vulnerable during this public health emergency.

We want to assure charities that our approach to regulation during this period will be as flexible and supportive as possible. Charities’ primary interest, and ours, must be looking after the public and the communities that we serve. Charities can feel confident that we will, where possible, act in a pragmatic way by taking account of the wider public interest during this unprecedented period.

Where you face real and urgent legal issues, you should take advice on these.

As an immediate step, charities that are due to submit an Annual Return imminently, but feel unable to do so, can email us to request a filing extension.

Please include your charity name and charity registration number when you email us: filingextension@charitycommission.gov.uk

We have been discussing the impact of the current situation with government and the sector and will continue to do so over the coming days. Any further measures we can take to help will be communicated in due course.

Please use GOV.UK as the main source of information about the pandemic

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Published 16 March 2020