The new annual return procedure AR07 will be undertaken online, which the Commission says will facilitate easier completion and updating of information. The new Return will also account for the identification of ‘serious incidents’ which will allow the Commission to intervene before a particular problem snowballs to cause long-term problems for a charity.

The Commission’s chief executive Andrew Hind said: “We will be encouraging all charities to complete their Annual Return online. This is an opportunity for charities rather than a threat and we very much want to hear their views.”

The Commission has also said that for 2007 it is proposing charities with an income between £10 thousand and £500 thousand provide essential information needed to update their entry on the Register, those above £25 thousand report serious incidents and those above £500 thousand also report financial data from their accounts. However all income brackets will no longer be required to fill in standard monitoring information.

The consultation can be found at www.charitycommission.gov.uk under ‘consultation documents’. The consultation closes on 19 March.