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The Charity Commission has delayed the conversion of companies into CIOs

19th March 2014

The Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) legal form grants an organisation the benefits of charitable status and also confers limited liability and legal personality but is not required to register with Companies House or comply with company law.

Unincorporated Charities and new organisations can secure CIO status, but Companies, including both charitable and non-charitable companies Limited by Guarantee, Community Interest Companies and charitable Industrial and Provident Societies, cannot.

Whilst the Charities Act 2011 allow these groups to convert, the government must first introduce further secondary legislation, originally expected to be introduced in early 2014. The Charity Commission has stated “the date for companies to be able to apply as CIOs has been delayed, and there is no current date set.”

We will keep you updated.

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