The Charity Commission has launched a second consultation on its plans to take all its services online by 2012, this time on the decision to withdraw paper forms for annual returns and annual updates.

The consultation addresses changes taking place from the financial year ending 1 January 2011.

The following stage of the Commission’s work in this area will be to withdraw paper-based forms for registering as a charity from April 2011.

That will also apply to those registering their charities as new charitable incorporated organisations (CIOs), an option which is expected to be available from the first quarter of 2011.