[6] Finally, an electronic application must be completed if the charity’s income is at £5,000 per year, or it is a charitable incorporated organisation (CIO).

[10] Depending on how serious the complaint is, the Charity Commission will either recommend specific procedural improvements, require the expulsion of unsuitable trustees, or remove the organisation's charitable status altogether.

[11] The Finance Act 2010 extended charitable tax benefits (for example Gift Aid) to charities within EU member states, Norway and Iceland, rather than those just inside the UK.

In serious cases of abuse and regulatory concern, the commission has powers outlined in the Charities Acts to conduct statutory investigations.

The commission announced in October 2011, in the context of cost-cutting and a re-focussing of its activities, that it would no longer carry out regulatory compliance investigations.

[16][17] In 2012, the commission refused to grant charitable status to Plymouth Brethren Christian Church, stating that it was unclear whether the body's aims were compatible with the requirement for charities to have a public benefit.

[18] The decision was discussed at a session of the Public Accounts Committee, during which MP Charlie Elphicke accused the commission of being "committed to the suppression of religion".

[19] Between 2022 and 2023, the commission removed 4,146 charities from the register and concluded 5,726 regulatory action cases (includes 68 statutory inquiries).

There had been several attempts at reforming charities before that which had been opposed by various interest groups including the church, the courts, the companies, and the universities.

It sanctioned the use of £150,000 to remove remaining spoil tips from the area after the National Coal Board refused to pay for the work.

[25] The Olive Cooke case, involving a 92-year-old poppy seller who allegedly committed suicide due to overwhelming requests for donations from charities, sparked widespread public fear and media attention across England and Wales.

[26] This scandal prompted a review of the self-regulation of fundraising practices in England and Wales, as well as Scotland, subsequently leading to the introduction of self-regulatory reforms in both jurisdictions.

"[27] Orlando Fraser was appointed as chair of the Charity Commission by the Secretary of State on a three-year term commencing from 25 April 2022.