No - you should only apply to register your charity once its income is over £5,000. You will need to provide evidence of its income in your registration application. This should be one of the following:

• latest annual accounts
• bank statements (most banks provide a treasurer's account for organisations before they are registered)

We won't consider a registration application without this evidence, unless there are exceptional circumstances eg:

• if your charity's high profile means it will receive a significant amount of money in a short time
• if your charity can provide specific, written evidence that it will only get grant funding if it's a registered charity

We won't consider an application simply because the trustees think it will be difficult to get funding without a registered charity number. There are other ways for your charity to establish its credibility – eg HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) can assess whether tax relief can be given. An HMRC number is evidence of charitable status.

• How do I claim tax relief and gift aid for my charity? [FAQ 909]
• Guidance on registering a charity

ID: 813

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