Charities Act 1993 (repealed)

43 Annual audit or examination of charity accounts. E+W

[F1 (1) Subsection (2) below applies to a financial year of a charity if—

(a) the charity's gross income in that year exceeds £500,000; or

(b) the charity's gross income in that year exceeds the accounts threshold and at the end of the year the aggregate value of its assets (before deduction of liabilities) exceeds £2.8 million.

“The accounts threshold” means £100,000 or such other sum as is for the time being specified in section 42(3) above.]

(2) If this subsection applies to a financial year of a charity, the accounts of the charity for that year shall be audited by a person who—

[F2 (a) would be eligible for appointment as auditor of the charity under Part 2 of the Companies Act 1989 if the charity were a company, or]

(b) is a member of a body for the time being specified in regulations under section 44 below and is under the rules of that body eligible for appointment as auditor of the charity.

(3) If subsection (2) above does not apply to a financial year of a charity [F3 but its gross income in that year exceeds £10,000,] the accounts of the charity for that year shall, at the election of the charity trustees, either—

(a) be examined by an independent examiner, that is to say an independent person who is reasonably believed by the trustees to have the requisite ability and practical experience to carry out a competent examination of the accounts, or

(b) be audited by such a person as is mentioned in subsection (2) above.

[F4 This is subject to the requirements of subsection (3A) below where the gross income exceeds £250,000, and to any order under subsection (4) below.]

[F5 (3A) If subsection (3) above applies to the accounts of a charity for a year and the charity's gross income in that year exceeds £250,000, a person qualifies as an independent examiner for the purposes of paragraph (a) of that subsection if (and only if) he is an independent person who is—

(a) a member of a body for the time being specified in section 249D(3) of the Companies Act 1985 (reporting accountants);

(b) a member of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy; or

(c) a Fellow of the Association of Charity Independent Examiners.]

(4) Where it appears to [F6 the Commission]—

(a) that subsection (2), or (as the case may be) subsection (3) above, has not been complied with in relation to a financial year of a charity within ten months from the end of that year, or

(b) that, although subsection (2) above does not apply to a financial year of a charity, it would nevertheless be desirable for the accounts of the charity for that year to be audited by such a person as is mentioned in that subsection,

[F6 the Commission] may by order require the accounts of the charity for that year to be audited by such a person as is mentioned in that subsection.

(5) If [F7 the Commission makes] an order under subsection (4) above with respect to a charity, then unless—

(a) the order is made by virtue of paragraph (b) of that subsection, and

(b) the charity trustees themselves appoint an auditor in accordance with the order,

the auditor shall be a person appointed by [F8 the Commission].

(6) The expenses of any audit carried out by an auditor appointed by [F9 the Commission] under subsection (5) above, including the auditor’s remuneration, shall be recoverable by [F9 the Commission]—

(a) from the charity trustees of the charity concerned, who shall be personally liable, jointly and severally, for those expenses; or

(b) to the extent that it appears to [F9 the Commission] not to be practical to seek recovery of those expenses in accordance with paragraph (a) above, from the funds of the charity.

(7) [F10 The Commission] may—

(a) give guidance to charity trustees in connection with the selection of a person for appointment as an independent examiner;

(b) give such directions as [F11 it thinks] appropriate with respect to the carrying out of an examination in pursuance of subsection (3)(a) above;

and any such guidance or directions may either be of general application or apply to a particular charity only.

[F12 (8) The Minister may by order—

(a) amend subsection (1)(a) or (b), (3) or (3A) above by substituting a different sum for any sum for the time being specified there;

(b) amend subsection (3A) by adding or removing a description of person to or from the list in that subsection or by varying any entry for the time being included in that list.]

(9) Nothing in this section applies to a charity which is a company.

[F13 (10) Nothing in this section applies in relation to a financial year of a charity where, at any time in the year, a charity is an English National Health Service charity or Welsh National Health Service charity (as defined in sections 43A and 43B respectively).]

Textual Amendments

F1 S. 43(1) substituted (27.2.2007) by Charities Act 2006 (c. 50), ss. 28(2), 79(2); S.I. 2007/309, art. 2, Sch.

F2 S. 43(2)(a) substituted (27.2.2007) by Charities Act 2006 (c. 50), ss. 28(3), 79(2); S.I. 2007/309, art. 2, Sch.

F3 Words in s. 43(3) substituted (27.2.2007) by Charities Act 2006 (c. 50), ss. 28(4)(a), 79(2); S.I. 2007/309, art. 2, Sch.

F4 Words in s. 43(3) inserted (27.2.2007) by Charities Act 2006 (c. 50), ss. 28(4)(b), 79(2); S.I. 2007/309, art. 2, Sch.

F5 S. 43(3A) inserted (27.2.2007) by Charities Act 2006 (c. 50), ss. 28(5), 79(2); S.I. 2007/309, art. 2, Sch.

F6 Words in s. 43(4) substituted (27.2.2007) by Charities Act 2006 (c. 50), s. 79(2), Sch. 8 para. 134(2); S.I. 2007/309, art. 2, Sch.

F7 Words in s. 43(5) substituted (27.2.2007) by Charities Act 2006 (c. 50), s. 79(2), Sch. 8 para. 134(3)(a); S.I. 2007/309, art. 2, Sch.

F8 Words in s. 43(5) substituted (27.2.2007) by Charities Act 2006 (c. 50), s. 79(2), Sch. 8 para. 134(3)(b); S.I. 2007/309, art. 2, Sch.

F9 Words in s. 43(6) substituted (27.2.2007) by Charities Act 2006 (c. 50), s. 79(2), Sch. 8 para. 134(4); S.I. 2007/309, art. 2, Sch.

F10 Words in s. 43(7) substituted (27.2.2007) by Charities Act 2006 (c. 50), s. 79(2), Sch. 8 para. 134(5)(a); S.I. 2007/309, art. 2, Sch.

F11 Words in s. 43(7) substituted (27.2.2007) by Charities Act 2006 (c. 50), s. 79(2), Sch. 8 para. 134(5)(b); S.I. 2007/309, art. 2, Sch.

F12 S. 43(8) substituted (27.2.2007) by Charities Act 2006 (c. 50), ss. 28(6), 79(2); S.I. 2007/309, art. 2, Sch.

F13 S. 43(10) inserted (E.W.) (with effect in accordance with art. 1(2) of the amending S.I.) by Regulatory Reform (National Health Service Charitable and Non-Charitable Trust Accounts and Audit) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/1074), arts. 1(2), 3(2)