Get ready for annual acknowledgements

Annual acknowledgement for charitable trust boards

From April 2027 most charitable trust boards will need to complete an annual acknowledgement of registration.

Each year, you will need to confirm that your trust board:

• is still operating, and
• has the correct details recorded on the Charitable Trusts Register.

This will help keep the Charitable Trusts Register accurate, so people can have confidence in the information it contains. It will also help keep the register up to date by identifying and removing trust boards that are no longer active.

Registered charities do not need to complete an acknowledgement

If your trust board is also registered with Charities Services, you will not need to complete an acknowledgement of registration with us. You will continue to file an annual return with Charities Services.

Get ready now: Check your contact details

We will email your trust board when it is time to complete its acknowledgement of registration.

Check your contact details now to make sure you receive our reminders. Make sure both your trust board’s contact details and your online account email address are up to date. 

To check or update these details you must have:

• a RealMe® login
• an online account with us, and
• authority to update the register for your trust board.

Complete your annual acknowledgement to remain on the register

It is important to complete your annual acknowledgement of registration. If you do not, your trust board will be removed from the Charitable Trusts Register.

Removal can have significant consequences, including affecting your trust board’s ability to demonstrate its legal status and manage its affairs.

If your trust board is no longer operating, you can apply for removal now

You do not need to wait for annual acknowledgements to begin.

Before applying for removal, you must deal with any outstanding assets or liabilities in the manner specified in your trust board’s rules or trust deed.