Independent examination

An independent examination gives trustees, funders and the public some external assurance on the accounts without the cost of a full audit. The examiner checks specific things — that the accounts, whether prepared as receipts and payments accounts or on an accruals basis, agree with the underlying records, and that they meet legal requirements — but does not give the positive opinion an auditor gives.

In England and Wales a charity with gross income over £25,000 must have an audit or an independent examination; an audit is only compulsory above £1 million income, or above £3.26 million in assets with income over £250,000. (Source: GOV.UK, Independent examination of charity accounts (CC31); Charities Act 2011, accessed 9 July 2026.) Between £25,000 and £250,000 the examiner needs relevant ability and experience; above £250,000 they must belong to a listed professional body.

These figures are changing: from an intended 1 October 2026, the scrutiny threshold rises to £40,000, the qualified-examiner threshold to £500,000 and the audit threshold to £1.5 million. Check which rules apply to your year with the audit-threshold checker and the UK Charity Compliance Handbook.