The Regulator for Charities in England and Wales
Below are some supplementary notes on how to answer specific questions within the Financial Information section of the Annual Return. More detailed guidance can be found within the guidance notes accompanying the paper form or by clicking on the ‘i' buttons within the online form.
The legacies and endowments fields do not have to add up to the total in the voluntary income field as they may form only part of the voluntary income.
Most types of income can be categorised using the specific income headings on the form. This field should, therefore, only be used exceptionally, e.g. for recording gains on the disposal of tangible fixed assets.
Most types of expenditure can be categorised using the specific expenditure headings on the form. This field should, therefore, only be used exceptionally.
This field should only be completed if there has been a revaluation of tangible fixed assets as detailed in the SoRP 2005*. In this case, the figure should be extracted directly from the SoFA*. Do not enter the total value of fixed assets from the balance sheet.
This figure should be extracted directly from the SoFA*. However if the SoFA* shows realised and unrealised gains separately these should be added together and the total entered. Similarly if the SoFA* shows gains and losses separately these should also be added together and the total entered. If the overall result is negative it should be entered with a minus sign.
If a loss is reported in the SoFA this should be entered with a minus sign.
This should be the total depreciation charge for the year if the charity has tangible fixed assets. This is detailed in the fixed assets note to the accounts.
Reserves form that part of the charity’s funds that are freely available.This therefore normally excludes endowment funds, restricted funds and any part of the unrestricted funds unavailable for spending such as those held as fixed assets for own use. This figure is normally found in the Trustees' Annual Report and should be calculated by the trustees each year.
| * SoRP - Statement of Recommended Practice * SoFA - Statement of Financial Activities |