Photo ID for Directors of a Charity? 24 May 2012 at 9:23PM in Charities 5 replies 1.2K views

faerie~spangles

Does anyone know if it is a legal requirement for directors of a small charity to provide photographic ID to HMRC in Scotland?

faerie~spangles

Unashamed
BUMP

Savvy_Sue

I didn't realise that HMRC operated separately in Scotland. However, I know there is separate charity regulation north of the border.

I also know that south of the border, charities have a responsibility to ensure that Trustees are 'fit and proper persons'. In this day and age, part of checking that someone is a 'fit and proper person' must include checking that the person is the person they say they are, so the production of photographic ID to someone, at some point, seems likely to be necessary.

Are you able to indicate who says that this is a requirement?

faerie~spangles

The accountant has requested the photographic ID.

Until now this has never been required.

Savvy_Sue

Then I would say this is money laundering regs.

Does anyone have a problem with it?

I went to see an accountant about my late father's estate. DH came with me to take notes. We were BOTH required to produce photo ID. Then my brother came with me to the same accountant, and he had to produce photo ID.

However, I'd suggest that rather than everyone posting their passports or driving licences off to the accountant, either they should come to the office to see these, OR they should authorise someone within the office to take a copy, and verify that this is a true copy of the original, which this person has seen. Signed, dated etc.

unclebryn_2

Am not sure whether it is a charity-thing or not, but our accountant (i work for a charity) tells us that audit requirements are becoming more stringent. All managers (plus trustees) have to make a signed statement that they are not aware of any fraudulent activity, for example. Certainly in Wales there have been a couple of high profile charity examples of significant fraudulent activity over the last 12 or so months which is resulting in a lot of tightening up.