Advice Note 8: Accounting for Northern Ireland Charities

Accounting Requirements

The Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 1964 applies to all Northern Ireland based charities, whether incorporated or unincorporated. Section 27 of the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 1964 requires the trustees (ie the committee) of a charity:

1. to keep proper books of account with respect to the affairs of the charity
2. to prepare consecutive statements of accounts each consisting of: (i) A receipts and payments or an income and expenditure account relating to a period of not more than fifteen months. (ii) If the value of the property belonging to the charity exceeds £500 and the Department for Social Development so directs, a balance sheet relating to the end of that period
3. to preserve the books of account and statements of account relating to any charity for a period of at least seven years, unless the charity ceases to exist and the Department permits the books and statements to be destroyed.