--- title: New annual filing requirement for charitable trust boards description: New annual filing requirements for charitable trust boards start in April 2027. Ensure your trust's information is up to date to avoid removal from the register. image: https://moranlaw.co/hubfs/Designer%20(1).png --- [![dark-logo](https://moranlaw.co/hubfs/dark-logo.png) ![top-logo](https://moranlaw.co/hubfs/top-logo.png) ![dark-logo](https://moranlaw.co/hubfs/dark-logo.png) ![top-logo](https://moranlaw.co/hubfs/top-logo.png) ![dark-logo](https://moranlaw.co/hubfs/dark-logo.png)](https://moranlaw.co) - Our Services - [Intellectual Property](https://moranlaw.co/protecting-intellectual-property) - [Commercial and Corporate](https://moranlaw.co/commercial-and-corporate) - [For Families](https://moranlaw.co/for-families) - [Elevated Trust Management](https://moranlaw.co/elevated-trust-management) - [Not-For-Profit](https://moranlaw.co/not-for-profits) - [Privacy, Cyber, and Data Security](https://moranlaw.co/privacy-cyber-and-data-security) - [Our Team](https://moranlaw.co/moranlaw-team) - [About Us](https://moranlaw.co/about) - [Careers](https://moranlaw.co/careers) - [Blog](https://moranlaw.co/blog) [Contact us](https://moranlaw.co/contact) - Our Services - [Intellectual Property](https://moranlaw.co/protecting-intellectual-property) - [Commercial and Corporate](https://moranlaw.co/commercial-and-corporate) - [For Families](https://moranlaw.co/for-families) - [Elevated Trust Management](https://moranlaw.co/elevated-trust-management) - [Not-For-Profit](https://moranlaw.co/not-for-profits) - [Privacy, Cyber, and Data Security](https://moranlaw.co/privacy-cyber-and-data-security) - [Our Team](https://moranlaw.co/moranlaw-team) - [About Us](https://moranlaw.co/about) - [Careers](https://moranlaw.co/careers) - [Blog](https://moranlaw.co/blog) [Contact us](https://moranlaw.co/contact) - Our Services - [Intellectual Property](https://moranlaw.co/protecting-intellectual-property) - [Commercial and Corporate](https://moranlaw.co/commercial-and-corporate) - [For Families](https://moranlaw.co/for-families) - [Elevated Trust Management](https://moranlaw.co/elevated-trust-management) - [Not-For-Profit](https://moranlaw.co/not-for-profits) - [Privacy, Cyber, and Data Security](https://moranlaw.co/privacy-cyber-and-data-security) - [Our Team](https://moranlaw.co/moranlaw-team) - [About Us](https://moranlaw.co/about) - [Careers](https://moranlaw.co/careers) - [Blog](https://moranlaw.co/blog) ##### WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND Level 1, 40 Lady Elizabeth Lane Wellington 6011 Postal: PO Box 10538 Wellington 6140 Phone: +64 4 830 2430 Email: [team@moranlaw.co](mailto:team@moranlaw.co) ##### AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND Suite 502, Level 5, Achilles House 8 Commerce Street Auckland 1010 Phone: +64 9 951 1468 ##### SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA Level 26, 44 Market Street  Sydney, NSW, 2000 Phone: +61 2 9091 4258 ![](https://moranlaw.co/hs-fs/hubfs/Designer%20(1).png?width=1280&name=Designer%20(1).png) # New annual filing requirement for charitable trust boards ![Louisa Joblin](https://moranlaw.co/hs-fs/hubfs/New%20team%20member%20social%20photo%20(4).png?width=80&name=New%20team%20member%20social%20photo%20(4).png) [Louisa Joblin](https://moranlaw.co/blog/author/louisa-joblin) October 23, 2026, 4:56:33 PM NZDT An important change is coming for charitable trust boards registered under the [Charitable Trusts Act 1957](https://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1957/18/en/latest/#DLM308796). From April 2027, most charitable trust boards will be required to complete an annual Acknowledgement of Registration (“AoR”) with the [Companies Office](https://companies-register.companiesoffice.govt.nz/) (which maintains the Charitable Trusts Register). What is changing? The new requirement was introduced through the [Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Act 2025](https://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/2025/11/en/latest/#LMS563262). From April 2027, affected trust boards will need to annually: - review their registered details; - update any information that has changed; and - confirm that the information held on the register is correct and that the trust board remains active. There is no fee to complete the acknowledgement. Trust boards will be assigned a filing month and will receive reminders from the Companies Office. Why does this matter? The annual acknowledgement is intended to help maintain an accurate Charitable Trusts Register and identify trust boards that are no longer operating. Trust boards that do not complete their annual acknowledgement may be removed from the register. Registered charities are exempt Charitable trust boards that are registered with Charities Services under the Charities Act 2005 are exempt from the new requirement and will continue to meet their existing reporting obligations through Charities Services. What should trustees do now? Although the new requirement does not come into effect until April 2027, trustees should ensure their trust board's contact details are up to date and regularly monitored. This will help ensure important communications and filing reminders are received from the Companies Office. The new annual acknowledgement will introduce an additional compliance requirement for affected trust boards. Trustees should take the opportunity now to review their registration details and ensure governance records are up to date before the new regime comes into force. If you would like advice on how these changes may affect your organisation, please [contact our not-for-profit team.](https://moranlaw.co/louisa-joblin-moranlaw) Share on: [Share on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https://moranlaw.co/blog/new-annual-filing-requirement-for-charitable-trust-boards) [Share on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://moranlaw.co/blog/new-annual-filing-requirement-for-charitable-trust-boards) Tags: [Charities and Not-for-profits](https://moranlaw.co/blog/tag/charities-and-not-for-profits) ### SPECIALIST AREAS [Intellectual Property](https://moranlaw.co/protecting-intellectual-property) [Commercial and Corporate Law](https://moranlaw.co/commercial-and-corporate) [For Families](https://moranlaw.co/elevated-trust-management) [Elevated Trust Management](https://moranlaw.co/for-families) [Not-For-Profits](https://moranlaw.co/not-for-profits) [Privacy, Cyber, and Data Security](https://moranlaw.co/privacy-cyber-and-data-security) ### The Team - [Scott Moran](https://moranlaw.co/scott-moran-moranlaw) - [Amanda Griffiths](https://moranlaw.co/amanda-griffiths-moranlaw) - [Louisa Joblin](https://moranlaw.co/louisa-joblin-moranlaw) - [Jessie Malcolm](https://moranlaw.co/jessie-malcolm-moranlaw) - [Ffion Merchant-Williams](https://moranlaw.co/ffion-merchant-williams-moranlaw) - [John Hackett](https://moranlaw.co/john-hackett-moranlaw) - [Chelcie Kite](https://moranlaw.co/chelcie-kite-moranlaw) - [Venetia McInman](https://moranlaw.co/venetia-mcinman-moranlaw) - [Fergielyn Catayoc](https://moranlaw.co/fergielyn-catayoc-moranlaw) - [Lucas d’Arbois de Jubainville](https://moranlaw.co/lucas-darbois-de-jubainville-moranlaw) - [Kimberley Will](https://moranlaw.co/kimberley-will-moranlaw) - [Shamara Polliack](https://moranlaw.co/shamara-polliack-moranlaw) - [Tracey Lucas](https://moranlaw.co/tracey-lucas-moranlaw) - [Kathy Hunter](https://moranlaw.co/kathy-hunter-moranlaw) - [Sara Barnes](https://moranlaw.co/sara-barnes-moranlaw) - [Rebecca Evans](https://moranlaw.co/rebecca-evans-moranlaw) - [Flora Dryburgh](https://moranlaw.co/flora-dryburgh-moranlaw) - [Jacky Simperingham](https://moranlaw.co/jacky-simperingham-moranlaw) - [Tom Winfield](https://moranlaw.co/tom-winfield-moranlaw) ### Quick Links - [Contact Us](https://moranlaw.co/contact) - [About Us](https://moranlaw.co/about) - [Careers](https://moranlaw.co/careers) - [Privacy Policy](https://moranlaw.co/privacy-policy) - [Terms](https://moranlaw.co/terms-of-engagement) - [Our Blog](https://moranlaw.co/blog) © MoranLaw Limited 2024 [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/moranlaw) [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/moranlawnzau/) [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557642282289) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Louisa Joblin", "url" : "https://moranlaw.co/blog/author/louisa-joblin" }, "dateModified" : "2026-10-23T03:56:33.205Z", "datePublished" : "2026-10-23T03:56:33.000Z", "headline" : "New annual filing requirement for charitable trust boards", "image" : [ "https://moranlaw.co/hubfs/Designer%20(1).png" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://moranlaw.co/blog/new-annual-filing-requirement-for-charitable-trust-boards", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://moranlaw.co/hubfs/RGB-MoranLaw-logo-primary-BlueAndGreen-2.png" }, "name" : "Moran Law" } } ```