PCCs as Charities > Registration

Registration of PCCs with the Charity Commission - 
What you need to do

PCCs with gross income over £100,000 are required to register with the Charity Commission between 1st October 2008 and 30th September 2009. After this point, PCCs which cross the £100,000 income threshold, should register with the Commission as soon as practical thereafter.

The Archbishops' Council have worked with the Charity Commission to make the process as simple as possible.  We have agreed Approved Governing Documents, and have developed specific guidance notes for Church of England parishes to use when registering. These notes guide you through the process step by step and are available here. You will then need to access the On-Line Registration Portal of the Charity Commission website. A link is provided here for your convenience.

From time to time we will produce additional bulletins on issues relating to the process. You should check these before submitting your application.

After you've registered, you will need to submit an Annual Return and a copy of your Report & Accounts. The Annual Return should be submitted on line. Guidance is available here.

What if my income is exceptionally over £100,000?

If your normal income is £80,000 or less, but exceptionally you exceeded the £100,000 threshold last year due to a grant, legacy or particular building campaign, you can apply for a written determination that you need not register. (Formally, that the basis year would, for example, be 2006 rather than 2007.)  For a standard template letter in Word that you can use as a guide, please click here.

Further questions?

If you have additional questions, click here to explore the most common topics. Each diocese has appointed someone to provide support to registering parishes, and they will be able to answer further questions. Click here for a list of Diocesan office phone numbers.