This in-depth commentary on the Charities Act 2006 outlines the new requirements for qualifying as a charity and examines the concept of 'public benefit'. The author, a former Charity Commission lawyer who has practised in charity law for 20 years, conducts a theoretical and empirical analysis of the reasons why charitable status might be removed by the Charity Commission, looks at the position of charitable property when institutions cease to be charitable and examines the likely effect of the independent Charity Tribunal on the appeals process. The post-Act treatment of controversial charities is also explored.